ing or fecreting arteries are thofe, which principally furnish pus: where these are few, or none, the inflammation becomes extended or eryfipelatous. Thus in the tunica conjunctiva of the eye, where the neceffity of numerous exhalents is fuperceded by the action of the lacrymal gland, the inflammation is feldom fuppuratory; while in the urethra, a membranous part likewife, but an exhaling one, pus is conftantly formed. Other. inftances in point might be brought: but we forbear to enlarge on the fubject.

The practical remarks contained in this paper are excellent. 20. A Cafe of Inverfion of the Uterus. By Robert Clegborn, M. D. Profeffor of Materia Medica in the University of Glasgow.'

To this cafe are added fome judicious remarks by Dr. Garththore.

21. The Hiftory of a Contraction of the Fore-arm and Fingers, with fome Remarks and Reflections on bleeding in the Arm. By Mr. Henry Watfon, F. R. S. &c.'

This contraction, as it followed after bleeding, was fuppofed to arife from it. After many vain attempts to relieve this complaint, a free incifion was made a little above the elbow joint: the intention of this operation was to give vent to fome matter, which it was imagined was deeply fituated in the part. This was a mistake: but the woman was for a fhort time relieved, in confequence, as it was thought, of the tightened fafcia being divided. As the wound healed, the disease recurred. A fecond wound, much deeper and larger than the former, was made; and was attended with fimilar relief at the beginning, and with fimilar disappointment in the end.-A third operation was performed; a wound was made nearly fix inches long, and down to the periofteum, which once more fet free every part. The relief, as before, was only temporary: the incifion healed, and the contraction returned. The incifions had hitherto been made above the elbow joint, between the brachiaus internus, and the origin of the fupinator radit longus mufcles. It was determined, before contenting to amputation, to try the effect of a fourth operation: accordingly, an incifion was made on the middle of the biceps, deep into the body of the muscle, and in the direction of its fibres, continuing it from the flesh into the tendon, as low as it could fafely be done. By this, the patient was permanently cured. The inference drawn from this cafe, is, that in fimilar contractions, whether depending on a difeafed ftate of the fafcia or of the tendon, a fimilar incifion fhould be made: but it may be afked, if the fafcia be alone difeafed, why not alone divide it? It is evident, however, that this was fcarcely touched in the opera

Gg 4

tion

tion which finally relieved the patient. If, on the contrary, the contraction depends on the mufcle, would not the divifion of the tendon, at right angles with the fibres of the mufcle, be better than that much more extenfive incifion in the direction of the muscle, which cannot give an equal degree of freedom? Why not divide the tendon, as we divide the ferno-cleido-mafoid mufcle in cafes of wry-neck?

22. A fingular Cafe of Abfcefs of the Liver, which terminated favourably. By George Sandeman, M. D. Physician to the General Difpenfary.'

The termination was by a very great discharge of foetid matter by ftool.

23. A Cafe of a Rupture of the Bladder from a Fall. By Mr. Charles Montagu.'

On diffection, a rupture was found of fuch extent as to admit the whole hand.

24. A Cafe of Hydrophobia. By Mr. John O'Donnel.”

This dreadful cafe differs in no refpect from other hiftories of the fame difeafe, either in its attack, fymptoms, or termination. No new treatment was attempted, nor can we draw any other practical remark from it, than this: that the patient's illnefs was increased by the oppofition of the attendants. Too much cannot be done to foothe perfons in this and fimilar maladies, as is evident in the present inftance, from the effect which was produced by the kind and judicious language of the relator.

25. On the Medical Properties of the muriated Barytes. By Adair Crawford, M. D. F. R. S. Physician to St. Thomas's Hofpital.'

In this valuable communication, Dr. Crawford relates all the trials that were made of this medicine, in cafes admitted into St. Thomas's Hofpital, prior to the month of June 1789. For the hiftory of the difeafes, in which it was exhibited, we muft refer to the book: the general effects of the medicine are briefly fummed up in the following words:

It appears, in general, that very little relief was afforded by it in the laft ftages of cancer and confumption. But in all the other cafes in which it was tried, its exhibition was evidently productive of falutary effects.

Indeed, in fome inftances, it removed diseases, which, I believe, could not have been fubdued by any other remedy; particularly in fcrophulous complaints, in which it feems to have acted with a degree of force and certainty hitherto unexampled in the records of medicine.

• When this remedy was given in a moderate dofe, it appears, in a few inftances, to have increafed the fecretion by the fkin; in a great variety of cafes it occafioned an unufual flow of urine,

and

and it almost univerfally improved the appetite and general

health.

It feems, indeed, to combine within itfelf the qualities of an evacuant, a deobftruent, and a tonic. I have fometimes obferved, that it occafioned vertigo. This effect I afcribed in fome measure to the naufea which it excited. Like every other active medicine, it would, no doubt, if administered injudiciously, be capable of producing deleterious effects.

In a confiderable cofe, frequently repeated, it would leffen the appetite, by the conftant fickness of ftomach which it would occafion; and in a still greater dofe, it might be productive of much danger, by disordering the nervous fyitem, and by operating violently as an emetic and purgative.

It is proper to remark, that the falt which was exhibited in the foregoing cafes previously to the beginning of May, did not confift of the muriated barytes in a ftate of perfect purity.

It contained a fmall quantity of iron, combined with the muriatic acid,

It may, perhaps, be uncertain, whether the virtues of this compound may not exceed those of the pure muriated barytes. I have, however, fufficient reafon to be convinced, that the latter fubitance is a very efficacious medicine; because the effects which have arifen from its exhibition fince the beginning of May, are not inferior to thofe produced by the compound falt prior to that period.

Indeed, difeafes and conftitutions are fo much diverfified, that cafes may occur, in which the combination of the falts, confifting of iron and of terra ponderofa joined to the muriatic acid, may be attended with more falutary effects than either of them could produce fingly. From the hiftory of the foregoing cafes, there is, I think, reason to believe, that the muriated barytes is peculiarly calculated to correct the fcrophulous diathesis: but when this diathefis is accompanied with great debility and with a languid circulation, the efficacy of that falt may probably be increafed by the addition of muriated iron.'

The paper concludes with fome good chemical remarks refpecting the mode of preparing this medicine; and with cautions concerning its ule.

26. A Cafe of Dropfy, in which the Water has been twice drawn off by tapping the Vagina. By Sir Wm. Bishop, Knt.' 27. Two Letters from John Collins, Efq. of the land of St. Vincent, on the Subject of a Species of Angina Maligna, and the Ule of Capficum in that, and several other Difeafes.'

This is a well-written and interefting relation of the benefi cial effects of Cayenne pepper, taken internally, in ulcerated fore throats. The writer is not a medical man.

28. Account of an Exfoliation of the internal Surface of the Tibia, removed by the Application of the Trephine. By Mr. Thomas Whately, Surgeon,'

29. Some

29. Some Account of the Invention and Ufe of the Lever of Roonhuysen. By Robert Bland, M. D.'

This is an intelligent paper, recommending the Lever of Roonhuysen in preference to the forceps. It must be read by thofe who wish to know its contents; it being, in a great part, historical.

30. 'An account of a very uncommon Blindness in the Eyes of newly-born Children. By Mr. Samuel Farrar, Surgeon.'

This temporary blindness exifted in three children of the fame parents. Each was born with an opacity of the cornea of both eyes, which gradually disappeared.

6

31. Three Inftances of fudden Death, with the Appearances on Diffection. By James Carmichael Smyth, M. D. &c.' Of the deaths here recorded, the firft was occafioned by an ulcer in the ftomach; the fecond, by an effufion or extravafation of bloody ferum into the cellular fubftance of the lungs ; and the third, by fuffocation from a fchirrhous tumor fituate on the interior and pofterior part of the larynx.

32. Of the Danger of wounding the Epigastric Artery in the Operation of Tapping for the Afcites. By the fame."

That this accident has occafionally happened, and may again happen, even to the most skilful operator, is certain: the occurrence, however, is fo unlikely to take place, and is, in reality, fo infrequent, as fcarcely to afford any objection again ft performing the operation.

33. Of the Aphonia Spafmodica. By the fame."

Three cafes are here related, where the lofs of speech and voice, fo far from being a paralytic fymptom, was evidently the confequence of a ftate of mufcular contraction.—An inftance of a fimilar complaint is given by Dr. Wells.

34. Of the Ufe of Cantharides, taken in fubftance, in certain Diseases of the Bladder. By the fame.'

Dr. Smyth celebrates the praises of cantharides, as a medicine of uncommon efficacy, especially in the ifchuria, or fuppreffion, and in the incontinency of urine, brought on by over diftenfion of the bladder. He obferves, likewife, that he has derived benefit from giving the cantharides in fubftance, when neither the tincture, taken internally, nor blifters applied to the facrum, produced any effect.-He never found it neceflary to exceed three or four grains of the powder for a dofe.

Such are the contents of the 2d vol. of Medical Communications for the publication of which,, the Society is, in our opinion, entitled to the thanks of the public.

ART.

ART. XV. A Treatise on Air; containing new Experiments and Thoughts on Combuftion; being a full Investigation of M. Lavoilier's Syftem; and proving, by fome ftriking Experiments, its erroneous Principles; with Strictures upon the Chemical Opi nions of fome eminent Men. By Richard Bewley, M. D. 8vo. Pp. 215. 35. 6d. fewed. Evans. 1791.

ΤΗ

HIS Doctor Bewley has fo warmly efpoufed the theory, and has fo perfectly hit off the peculiar (we had almost faid inimitable) ftyle and manner of our old acquaintance, Doctor Harrington, that we fufpect he is no other than Dr. H. himfelf; who, poffibly, thinks, under the fictitious fanction of a refpectable name, to obtain greater attention than he could, perhaps, have attracted under his own. The prefent writer, whoever he is, laments, very feelingly, that philofophers have neglected fo great a chemift; and he complains that, without fo much as mentioning his name, they have ftolen his difcoveries:

The idea and proof (he fays, p. 53.) of heat or fire being chemically attracted by water, juft as alkalies attract acids, (not a vague idea of its becoming latent,) was the discovery of Dr. Harrington. And I take this opportunity to declare, that this, with many more of that gentleman's difcoveries, have been mentioned by his enemies, without ever having glanced at, or even fuggefted his name. A behaviour in them fo uncandid and ungenerous, compels me to make use of this pointed language, and to do all in my power to redress injured merit. I meant to have drawn a whole length picture of the unkind ufage he has received, and of the unjust manner in which his difcoveries have been treated, and with the plagiarisms of others from him. This however I am prevented from doing, as he informs me that he has been making obfervations for fome time, which he intends to publish. His enemies have acted a very unfair part; every one of them thought they had a right to buffet, and pilfer from him at the fame time: though I could all along clearly obferve, that his writings were regularly operating upon the different chemical opinions; and that they are upon the eve of bringing about a general revolution in the chemical fyftem.' - Dr. Priestley has followed Dr. Harrington,-though, from an illiberal policy, he has omitted to mention that gentleman's name.' P. 84.

ton.

That difpofition, which has been the ruling mark of our aerial philofophers, is, to make it a point not to name Dr. HarringWhat does Mr. Kirwan do? he does not make or call this air dephlogisticated, but calls it deacidified.-I fuppofe he means, by this, the air is more neutralized; could he not have faid, agreeable to Dr. Harrington, more phlogifticated.' P. 150.

M. De Luc, after Dr. Harrington, fuppofes, that the air is renewed and purified again in the clouds; and he endeavours to account for it upon the ridiculous hypothefis of water being formed of inflammable and dephlogifticated airs, which is decompounded