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operator in Edinburgh, both in difcovering the prefence of a ftone in the bladder, when none of his colleagues could feel it, and alfo in extracting it in a very fhort time.

If the author's account is candid, he certainly brings proof of one out of two things-his own fuperior abilities, or the great deficiency of those with whom he is accustomed to act. He does not, at the fame time, go further; for many of the difficulties in that operation are not hinted at. He feems never to have met with irritation in the urethra, so as to refuse the staff; the stone inclofed in a fac; or, at the fundus of the bladder; all which, other furgeons have found too frequently to happen: and he proposes the finger as the only found, for determining whether the bladder contains more ftones, which, in a fat man, could never reach the bladder at all. The account is therefore very incomplete, and rather exhibits a difplay of the fuccefs of an individual, than affords rules for the direction of young furgeons, who may not be fo fortunate as always to meet with favourable cafes.

Such are the chief matters we have obferved in the first voJume of this work; but as the fubjects are fo numerous, and differ fo extremely in the degree of their importance, that many of them muft neceffarily be paffed over in a review of this kind, we fhall, in confidering the two remaining volumes, confine our remarks to objects of importance, and point out where the author has, in too many inftances, taken only a confined view of his fubject. In puncturing the bladder he recommends making the puncture above the pubes, and laterally, but condemns the puncture by the rectum. By this method, he objects, the faces get into the bladder; but of this opinion there is no proof; every fact publifhed contradicts it, and this mode has proved, in other refpects, more eligible than either of the former. In puncturing above the pubes a flexible gum catheter is a much better inftrument to leave in the wound than a filver canula, and is attended with the great advantage of lying quietly; and the bladder, in its action, cannot flip from the inftrument.

On Fflula in Ano-The author fuppofes the abcess to form at a distance from the gut, and to approach it in its progrefs, by enlargement. In the true fiftula in ano the feat of the difcafe appears to be in the parts close to the outfide of the gut; and from that fpot there is, in cafes of a certain ftanding, a canal, with a smooth membrane and thickened coats, extending to the external orifice.

In Tapping-The flat trochar is preferred, without mention- < ing its difadvantages, both in the ftream being fmaller and its oritice more liable to be ftopped. Nor is a very good inftru

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ment taken notice of, which is a canula without an opening at the end, having lateral orifices which may be passed through the original canula when obftructed; and in this way prevents the injury that may arife from pushing with a probe. On fophogotamy The operation of opening into the cefophagus is defcribed without mentioning the fmalleft rifk of, wounding arteries, which cannot readily be got at in order to take them up. On Injuries to the Brain.-The time of fuppuration taking place is here treated in a negligent manner, and is faid to be a few days: whereas the best authors fix it from eight to fourteen; a point of knowledge of no fmall confequence to young furgeons. The trepan is recommended in preference to the trephine, although generally exploded in London, for the obvious reafon, that it occafions more risk of wounding the dura mater. The author feems here to prefer the ease of the furgeon to the fafety of the patient. On Dropfy of the EyeIt is here prope fed to puncture behind the iris, to let out the water from a part where it is not, in preference to where it is. This is new. But it is confined to Edinburgh; and, we hope. to the practice of the author. The orbicularis palpebrarum is faid to have its fibres mixed with thofe of the occipito-frontalis and corrugator fupercilii: this is a new fut. He mentions alfo the aqueous and vitreous humours having a difference in their refractive power, which is alfo new. Couching is preferred to extracting the cryftaline lens. It is afferted alfo that the lens is always abforbed when depreffed: which is certainly not true, as we have seen it rife and obftruct the light. His objections to the extraction are inadmiffible, fince no one fhould attempt to perform the operation, who is not able to avoid them.

In extracting Polypi, the ligature is recommended in preference to the forceps. To this there is one material objection; that it is not poffible, nine times in ten, fo to apply it as to bring away the whole. For this fact Mr. Pott is fufficient authority. On Warts after the Venereal Difeafe.-The author mentions having removed 10,000. The number is extraordinary; but it appears to us ftill more fo, that out of fo many, none grew again; which happens to furgeons of lefs experience, where the fciffars are employed. In removing Cancers, it is advised to fave the nipple, which too often is tucked in, and adheres to the tumor; but this circumstance is not mentioned. The neceffity of faving fkin is fpoken of too vaguely; and, as the difeafe often returns in the skin, that part frequently is not removed with fufficient freedom. The direction of the first incifion fhould be in the line of the fibres

of the pectoral mufcle, which is contrary to that mentioned by

the author.

On Suppuration.-A power is here fuppofed in poultices of promoting fuppuration, in the parts to which they are applied, beyond what they poflefs. On Tetanus-there are many very ingenious obfervations; but as the whole theory laid down depends on the existence of a nervous fluid, till that shall be proved they must be confidered as mere fpeculations. The modes of practice propofed, and the cafes in illuftration of them, are deferving of attention; and promife fuccefs, where recourfe can be had to them at an early period.

On penetrating Wounds.-Where they are made by mufquet bullets, there are many remarks which are not confirmed by practice. Such wounds are faid to inflame violently, whereas they inflame less than others. It is advised to lay them open; but they are found alfo to do well when not opened: upon this fubject the author fhould have, ftated his inoxperience. Amputation is recommended when joints are wounded by bullets, a practice which is not neceffary; as the inflammation does not in many inftances extend beyond the course of the ball. Gun fhot wounds are faid to bleed in an alarming manner, but they never bleed till the floughs fcparate.

The loofe cartilages formed in the knee joint, from fome ftrange error, are called fefamoide bones; and the mode recommended for extirpating them, is by a tranfverfe incifion, which we would by no means advife any practitioner to adopt.

The treatment of abfcefles in the cheit, by leaving in a canula, as a general practice, is improper; as more inflammation will be induced than when the orifice is allowed to heal. General inflammation in the abdomen is faid not to form matter in the general cavity. The author fhould have faid he had never feen it; nevertheless, there is no fact in furgery better eftablithed. On Burns-the obfervations and the practice are very judicious. Applications of the belt white wine vinegar are what the writer molt approves, in which he is warranted by experience. Buboes, the author fays, are to be cured by rubbing in mercurial ointment on the oppofite thigh: there is no doubt of their being fo cured, but they will yield fooner if it is applied to the fame fide. All buboes are directed to be opened by a lancet; but more knowledge will fhow the author that many, very many, cafes, may be treated with great adVantage in a different way.

On Pfas Abfcfes-The author prefers fetons to Abernethy's mode of treatment, from which it would appear he had not feen comparative trials, in which the inflammation. from the feton has been productive of the worit confequences.

In Fractures of Bones-the author's treatment is good, and the cafes illuftrate his practice; but his notion of the callus being a liquor exuded from the veffels of the bone is incorrect. It is formed from the extravafated blood, or, where that is wanting, from the coagulating lymph. On Luxations.-His preferring the extention by the, hands, and not by pullies, proves he has not had fufficient practice to fee that the worlt cafes require a regular and uniform extenfion, which is not to be procured by employing a number of people. The Obfervations on Amputationale very correct in recommending the beft modes in ufe. But the mode of bringing the skin together is fuch as few practitioners will implicitly adopt. The cafes here, as in fome other parts of this large work, appear more calculated to give an enlarged idea of the author's practice, than to instruct the reader.

The language of this author is in general easy and proper. It fails indeed occafionaily in the application of ball, will, &c. for which there feems to be hardly any remedy fo far north. His defcriptions are fufficiently clear. But why he should give different names to the fame fubftance, in various parts of his work, and fometimes in the fame page, it may be difficult to explain. Lint, caddice, and charpes, are thus indifcriminately applied, which a reader not accuitomed to the Scottish or French terms, might mistake for different drellings. If this is done from an ambition of elegance, in avoiding repetitions, it is certainly misplaced in a fcientific work, of which the primary object must be perfpicuity.

ART. V. Gleanings through Wales, Holland, and Weftphalia, with Views of Peace and War at Home and Abroad. To which is added Humanity, or the Rights of Nature. A Poem, revifed and corrected. By Mr. Pratt. 3 Vol. 8vo. Il. Is. Longman. 1795.

MR.

R. PRATT having before entertained the public as a writer of poetry and novels, fometimes in his own name, and fometimes under the affumed appellation of Courtney Melmoth, now appears before them in the no less respectable character of a traveller. He calls himself a refidentiary traveller, meaning by this appellation to intimate that he refided for a greater or lefs period, in every place which he defcribes. Thus far he is undoubtedly entitled to commenda

tion; for nothing can be more prefumptuous and unfatisfactory, than the crude and undigefted effufions of many modern travellers, who write with the fame rapidity with which they run from one place to another. A curious eye and a skilful hand may indeed agreeably delineate fcenes and objects, after a flight and hafty furvey; but to know the manners, the real cuftoms, and the policy of a people, requires the careful and deliberate obfervations of time and experience, aided by natural fagacity. If we are not quite pleafed with Mr. Pratt's ftyle and writing, if we object to the too vifible and laboured imitation of Sterne, and if we think there are fome abfurdities and many marks of affectation in his volumes, we are ftill ready to allow that his produce alfo frequent inftances of ingenuity, of fhrewd remark, and real fenfibility.

We give the following as an entertaining fpecimen of the author's manner; and we can affure the reader he will find a great many of at least equal merit. The scene of the defcrip

tion lies in South Wales.

"We took shelter at a most miferable looking hut, at the fide of the heath, and accepted the protection it offered, with as entire good will, as if it had been an eastern palace. My horfe was obliged to crawl into a kind of outhouse, where a fwine driver and his pigs had the inftant before taken refuge; and, while I was reconciling my fteed to this fociety, a Jew pedlar and his pack, and another traveller, with his dog, crouded in. Neceffity, as Shakspeare fays, brings one acquainted with ftrange company: not that these are the words of that immortal Bard, and of courfe my memory has injured even the fentiment: but you, who have literally his works by heart, can do him juftice,

"A being, fcarcely human in appearance, invited me to enter the hut. I entered. Its inhabitants-how fhall I defcribe them? Fancy fomething which affembles the extremes of filth, penury, health, and felicity-perfonify thefe amongft men, women, and childrengive to each of them forms and features, which confer a fort of grace and beauty, on the household of the barber of Barmouth by comparifon. Put all this filth, penury, health, and felicity into motion; and having formed your groupe, imagine that you fee it unfhod, unflockinged, uncapped, and nearly unpetticoated and unbreeched; Young and old were bufied in counting the finest and fresheft herrings I ever faw, that infant brought in from the fishing-boat. The father of the family, to whom the boat belonged, declared he had never had fo profperous a voyage; and, though he was almoft blown away, he would hazard twice as much danger for fuch another drag: look what a fize they are of, and how they fhine, my boys and girls-i'faith, they feemed plaguily afraid of the hurricane, and came in fhoals to the nets as if they took shelter in them-little thinking, poor fools, that this was a jump from the water to the fire; and now I talk of that, here put half a dozen of them into the pan, for I am deuced hungry,

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