been so misdirected, or should have so misunderstood the fundamental principles of the method. No conclusion, deduced from such attempts-I cannot dignify them with the terin experience-can have any weight with those qualified to judge of the matter; they can only be added to the heap of false facts, as they have been called, with which medicine, and indeed every department of human knowledge, is overlaid, and which are the characteristic and ready offspring of minds too feeble to be habitually conversant with general principles, and too narrow to embrace all the more important relations of the objects of their inquiry." We believe the stethoscope has been condemned on slighter trials than Dr. Forbes alludes to, and often without any trial at all. But we have already extended this article beyond the limits which we had assigned to it, though we shall neither consider our own, nor our reader's time, as wasted, if our remarks on auscultation shall tend to its more general adoption. Before concluding, we think it our duty to say one word on the literary merits of Dr. Forbes's translation. We have read it with care, and have no hesitation in pronouncing it to be one of the best, if not the very best, translated medical works in our language. The sense of the author is given in correct and perspicuous language, while the style is, at the same time, much more condensed than the original. It is evidently the work of a scholar, thoroughly acquainted with the language he is translating, as well as with that in which he is writing. We would recommend Dr. Forbes's work as a model for translators. We now bid our authors farewell; grateful for the information we have derived from their labours. To M. Laennec it is a last farewell; but his translator, we trust, we shall soon meet again on the literary arena, satisfied that we can never do so without increasing our knowledge.‡ * Translator's Preface. p. viii. By this condensation, and using a large page, Dr. Forbes has comprehended in one moderate sized volume, what was spread over two in the original, a great advantage in a book of reference. As it is our intention, in the Review department of our Journal, for the future, to single out, as far as is possible, particular subjects, in the works reviewed, and reflect on them all the collateral lights of experience and research, with a view of forming, in fact, a series of monographs on the principal diseases to which the human frame is liable, so we will again revert to the work now superficially reviewed, and take occasionally one of the more important topics therein contained for our text. By this plan we hope not only to render our Review department still more valuable than it has hitherto been, but we shall thereby defy all attempts at anticipation of our labours by the "flying artillery" of the present times. In each HALF-MONTHLY fasciculus or part of our next and succeeding numbers, we shall give one very extensive, or two moderately sized eclectic articles of the above description, which we hope to render a very important feature in our Journal, and a very great improvement in the Review department. X. 1. Medical Botany. By JOHN STEPHENSON, M.D. and JAMES MORSS CHURCHILL, F.L.S. Nos. IV. V. and VI. for April, May, June, 1827. 2. Flora Medica; containing Botanical Descriptions, Natural History, Chemical Properties and Analysis, Medical Properties and Uses, &c. Edited by a MEMBER OF THE LONDON COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, F.L.S. and assisted by several Members of a Botanical Society. No. I. Nov. 1827. London, Callow and Wilson. Octavo, pp. VIII.-16. Six coloured Plates. SOME of our readers may recollect that, in a former notice of the first of these publications, we commented, at some length, on the importance of Medical Botany, as an accessory science of medicine, and pointed out some causes for the little attention and cultivation it has received in modern times. We likewise expressed our conviction, that its value was already beginning to be better appreciated; and, as if to realize our anticipations of its speedy revival, another work has since started into existence, the consideration of which we must defer, until we have fulfilled our promise of resuming the notice of the subsequent numbers of Messrs. Stephenson and Churchill's publication. No. IV.-APRIL, 1827. PLATE XIII. well represents CONIUM MACULATUM-Common or Spotted Hemlock, for which, we believe other plants, of the same natural family, are often mistaken by ignorant persons; and it is, perhaps. only by such a supposition, that the contradictory statements of authors, respecting its medicinal and deleterious qualities, can be reconciled. Some assert that the root is highly deleterious, and others that it is innocuous at all seasons. Störck states that the sliced root yielded a bitter acrid juice, a drop or two of which, applied to his tongue, rendered it painful, rigid, and so much swelled, that he could not speak; whilst our authors, whose experience coincides with the accounts of other experimentalists, inform us that, "having gathered a considerable quantity of the root in March, we ascertained, contrary to our expectation, that its odour was not so strong as that of the few leaves which were springing from it; and after chewing a drachm, we could discover no acrid power, and the taste, instead of being bitter, was sweet, and much resembled the flavour of a raw parsnip." Orfila, in April, gave an ounce and a half of the fresh root to a dog. Forty-eight hours afterwards, he had experienced no ill consequences, and the following day he was only somewhat dejected. Of the beneficial effects of hemlock in cancerons tumours, we once met with a remarkable example in an old woman, who had likewise diseased valves of the heart. The tumour had existed ten or fifteen years, and was of considerable size. It frequently became very painful and irritable, but was always relieved by a strong decoction of the plant, used as a fomentation. "On painful sores of a scrofulous kind; on ulcers which remain in many irritable constitutions after the use of mercury; on some malignant sores, especially such as are met with on the tongue; on indurations of the breasts, and of the testes, it frequently exerts a most salutary power. It also allays morbid irritability of the system, and is given with marked advantage in pertussis or hooping-cough, and in those pulmonary diseases which frequently follow inflammation of the thoracic cavity. Chronic rheumatism also, and anomalous pains of the muscles, are often benefited by its use." To ensure the due effects of the plants, our authors judiciously recommend the powder of the leaves, gathered in June, just as it commences flowering. The extract, they remark, "can scarcely ever be relied upon, from the carelessness observed in its manufacture." There is, however, another manipulation resorted to by the manufacturers of this and other extracts, which, as it increases the quantity of the product at the expense of its efficacy, cannot be too generally known, nor too widely exposed. The practice we allude to, is that of macerating the bruised plant in water, until the process of fermentation has decomposed the vegetable matter, and the mass is far advanced towards putrescency, after which it is expressed and evaporated in the usual manner. It is no wonder that extracts thus prepared should prove uncertain and inefficacious; but, were we not certain of the fact, we confess we could scarcely credit, that respectable men should knowingly vend such deteriorated articles, to the great detriment of the lives and health of their fellow creatures, for the consideration of the paltry additional profit they derive from the process. Plate XIV. CITRUS AURANTIUM-The Seville Orange, furnishing the apothecary its peel, orange flower-water its perfume, and curacoa its flavour, may be passed without comment, as likewise may PLATE XV. OLEA EUROPEA-The Olive Tree, which supplies physic and the table with its oil. PLATE XVI. ANAGALLIS ARVENSIS-Scarlet Pimpernel, furnishes the subject of a beautiful plate; but we scarcely think that a plant, of which two or three drachms of extract were required to destroy the life of a dog, ought to have been introduced into the list of poisons, without sufficient proofs of deleterious effects on the human frame. Abounding, as the work generally does, with quotations from works of general literature, we wonder at the omission of a passage in a satire of the late lamented Premier's, alluding to the property of this plant, the "poor man's weather-glass," as it is commouly denominated possesses, of closing its flowers on the approach of rain. "The Anagallis, prescient flower, Shuts her soft petals at the approaching shower."-New Morality. As well as the more sentimental expression of the gentle, Hurdis"With tender sense, The Pimpernel, which to the humid morn, No. V.-MAY, 1827. PLATE XVII. SOLANUM DULCAMARA-Woody Nightshade, or Bittersweet, is correctly represented, but varieties are not uncommon. Several original cases of poisoning by the berries of this shrub, are related in a communication from Mr. Wheeler, of Bayswater. The symptoms which occurred in two children, about an hour after partaking the deleterious repast, were "the most excruciating pains in the whole course of the intestines, attended with great heat in the throat and chest. They could not bear the slightest pressure on the abdomen, and suffered much from nausea, thirst, and prostration of strength." The treatment resorted to was the hot-bath, an emetic, which dislodged the contents of the stomach, leeches to the abdomen, a large dose of calomel, followed by a mixture of castor-oil, manna, and laudanum, "in proper proportions." Injections of beef-broth were also administered. A repetition of the leeches, with mild purgatives and emollient drinks, completed the cure. In a third case, violent vomiting and purging, with contrac tion of the abdominal muscles, were superadded to the symptoms presented in the former two. Two others proved fatal, but no examination of the bodies was made. It is remarkable that these berries, so deleterious to the human frame, are eaten with impunity by many animals. Bittersweet is said by various authors to promote all the secretions: some ascribe to it violent cathartic properties, whilst slight narcotic qualities not unfrequently attend its employment. We need scarcely repeat Dr. Bateman's opinion, that "one of the most effectual remedies for lepra, under all its varieties, is the decoction of the leaves and twigs of the Solanum Dulcamara." Our authors have not noticed the preparation of Solanine from the berries of this species and the S. Nigrum, probably on account of the failure experienced by some who have repeated the process of the discoverer, M. Desfosses. See Majendie's Formulaire. PLATE XVIII. introduces DIGITalis Purpurea-Purple Foxglove, one of the most useful and generally employed of our indigenous vegetables. In some of the western counties, as well as in Germany, it is called Fingerhut, from which appellation Fuchsius derived the scientific name it bears. Its remarkable power of controlling the pulse, and removing effusions, probably by restoring the balance of the circulation, will doubtless long entitle it to an important rank among vegetable remedies. PLATE XIX. PARIS QUADRIFOLIA-Herb Paris, a plant of somewhat rare occurrence, is introduced, as we suppose, on account of the emetic qualities of the root, which several reputable authorities satisfactorily attest it to possess, in the dose of one or two scruples, and recommend it as a substitute for ipecacuanha; but its rarity must preclude its extensive employment as a succedaneum; as well as diminish the chance of much danger resulting from its deleterious qualities. It occurs, however, in many woods in the midland counties. PLATE XX. TUSSILAGO FARFARA-Colt's Foot, admirably depicted from the pencil and graver of Clarke, has been accounted excellent for coughs and pulmonary complaints from all antiquity. Galen, Pliny, and Dioscorides, recommend the smoke of the dried leaves to be inhaled through a funnel, and it is still in popular use as a substitute for tobacco. Our authors, regardless of these authorities, consider it an unnecessary and useless appendage of the Materia Medica. No. VI-JUNE, 1827. PLATE XXI. HELLEBORUS FETIDUS-Fetid Hellebore, or Bear's Foot. The letter-press accompanying this plate, representing a second species of hellebore, presents us with little information that is novel. It was once extensively employed in regular practice for its anthelmintic properties, expelling lumbrici, according to the testimony of respectable authors, with more certainty than almost any other medicine; and it is still commonly used by the vulgar for the same purpose, who give one digit of a leaf to a child a year old. It acts either as an emetic or a cathartic, according to the dose administered. The principal value of a knowledge of this plant in the present day, depends upon the deleterious effects its improper exhibition sometimes occasions. The treatment required in such cases must be the same as for H. Niger. PLATE XXII. ARUM MACULATUM-Common Arum, Wake Robin, or Cuckoopint, furnishes another beautiful subject for pictorial representation. In a recent state, the white fleshy roots of this plant are extremely acrid, occasioning, when tasted, an insupportable sensation of burning, which lasts seve ral hours. From Bulliard's relation of the cases of three children poisoned by eating it, we gather, that it causes inflammation of the whole tract of the digestive tube. Exhibited medicinally, it powerfully stimulates, and promotes all the secretions; to obtain which effects, the root must be used fresh or recently dried, as its acrid properties are soon dissipated by keeping. PLATE XXIII-ASARUM EUROPÆUM-Common Asarabacca, a plant possessing strong emetic and cathartic qualities, was much employed before the introduction of ipecacuanha. Its chief use in the present day is as an errhine, a small pinch of the powdered leaves occasioning an abundant flow of mucus, and sometimes blood, from the nostrils. PLATE XXIV-ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS-Common Rosemary, derived from ros and marinus, instead of Rosa Mariæ, as the author of the Catholic Friend, such additional light thrown upon this disease, (asthma,) that it may henceforth, in a great measure, be considered as raised from the obscurity of hypothesis into the light of rational pathology." In the following remarks by Dr. Forbes, on the treatment of asthma, we perfectly concur. "Among the remedies that best deserve notice in asthma, I would mention a mild and spare diet, residence in a more temperate climate, and warm bathing. The first of these measures will be found very beneficial in cases compli cated with gastric irritation; the two last are especially indicated in that class of cases which date from the disappearance of cutaneous eruptions under the use of powerful external applications. This method of cure is, I am convinced, the fruitful source of many internal irritations and inflammations, and, among others, of bronchitis and asthma. Although the doctrine of repulsion may be deemed by some theorists somewhat absolute, I feel assured that its truth will be assented to by most observant practitioners of experience. I therefore consider it my duty to caution the student against a practice, which accords too well with the energetic empiricism so much in favour in this country, not to be readily adopted from analogy, even if not inculcated by positive precept." -(Note, p. 418.) But to notice all the valuable articles in the volume before us would be to go over the table of contents. In no other work is the same accurate and comprehensive information, on the various subjects of which our author treats, to be found. It is truly a classical production, not only to be read but studied--a work of reference, in short, which almost every practitioner might advantageously recur to while the disease is under his observation. By comparing the descriptions of Laennec with nature, the clinical student more especially, to whom the work is invaluable, will learn to estimate the graphic delineations of the author, while he will greatly increase his knowledge of disease, and improve his powers of observation at the same time. The second division of the work, which treats of diseases of the circulating system, is less perfect than the other; but Dr. Forbes's notes and references go far to supply its deficiencies. We make a single extract from one of the former, because it contains a practical admonition of great importance. "I would therefore lay it down as a valuable practical rule in chronic affections of the heart, that previously to having recourse to any remedies intended to act directly on it, we ought to be assured that the digestive organs are in a healthy state-that their mucous surfaces are free from irritation-their vascular system not morbidly distended, and that the liver is performing its secretory function freely and regularly."* *Note, p. 687. We recommend the careful perusal of the whole of this note to every medical man. In the concluding part of it, as on many other occasions, the translator bears testimony to the benefits derived by the profes. sion from the labours of Broussais. |