In more moderate cases of cutaneous eruption, Begin recommends emollient lotions frequently repeated. In the early stage of furunculi, he applies leeches to their base, with the happiest effect; abating that violence of inflammation which produces so much pain, and which tends to make them assume a gangrenous character. A similar treatment of other erosive cutaneous affections at their commencement, and which, if neglected or ill treated, are liable to put on the character of ulcers, or cancers, is recommended on the authority of M. M. Fallot, Pons, Lallement, Marechal, Treille, and Tetu.. Chap. 3. Debilitating applications to the organs of sense. Emollient fumigations recommended for lachrymal tumours. For the ear-ache (and we may add the tooth-ache) cathartics and low diet. Inflammatory affections of the nasal cavities call for leeches and emollient fumigations. Chap. 4. Debilitating applications to the genital-urinary apparatus. Nymphomania: leeches applied to the malleoli, to the hypogastric, or lumbar region, warm baths, frequently repeated; sedative injections of marsh mallow infusions, with gentle opiates. Sometimes cold external applications to the hypogastric and lumbar region, and the parts more immediately near the seat of the disorder. Chap. 5. Debilitating applications to the organs of respiration. General considerations: acute inflammation of the organs of respiration; in speaking of croup, he seems to us not to insist enough on the utility of emetics early applied. On chronic inflammation of the respiratory organs. Chap. 6. On debilitating applications to the digestive appa ratus. We shall give the heads of his sections at length, referring to the book for his observations included under them. General considerations: importance of the digestive organs : their relations: various effects of gastro-intestinal irritations: their study indispensable to therapeutics: manner of acting of debilitating medicines, when applied to the intestinal canal: manner of acting of abstinence from food: necessity of observing the effects of ingesta, so as to ascertain when abstinence may be insisted on, or relaxed: of the manner of acting of emollient drinks: acidulated drinks generally useful: their temperature should be moderate: in too great quantity they may do harm: on the manner of acting of capillary bleedings from the abdomen: manner of acting of cold, which may be of great importance in dangerous cases. On the employment of debilitants in acute irritations of the digestive organs: gastro-enteritis presents two general aspects, according as reaction is excited, or a prostration of the vital forces produced: on typhus: on the treatment of indigestion: on slight cases of gastro-enteritis: of more violent irritations: of gastro-enteritis complicated with symptoms of general debility: with mucous symptoms: treatment of the cholic of Madrid: of cholera morbus: it is sometimes necessary to recur to external revulsives, and even to diffusible stimuli exhibited internally: treatment of the cholic occasioned by lead: of poisoning of the use of the stomach-pump: of worms: adynamia may be the result of all kinds of gastro-enteritis: in such cases it will be necessary to moderate sanguineous evacuations, and to employ emollients internally: meteorism and tympanitis yield to this treatment: gastro-enteritis with ataxy, may be usually referred to gastro-encephalitis: treatment of gastro-enteritis produced by infection: treatment when complicated with hemorrhage: perforation and softening of the coats of the stomach and intestines, are the effects of inflammation, and can only be prevented by methods that reduce inflammation: treatment of hepatitis: jaundice only an effect of hepatitis: treatment of inflammation of the spleen, and pancreas, and mesentery: treatment of slight and intense colitis: and of peritonitis. Treatment of chronic irritations of the digestive canal.-The phenomena of chronic gastritis are very variable: the difficulty consists more in ascertaining them than in applying the proper remedies they require strict regimen, also, local bleedings, fomentations, warm bath, &c.: treatment of hypochondria: use of cold in the treatment of chronic gastritis: many cases of this description remain stationary for a long time: injurious effects of stimulants employed against supposed weakness of the stomach: chronic enteritis: du carreau (an enteritic inflammation to which young children are subject) of chronic diarrhoea: chronic hepatitis. Chap. 7. Debilitating medicines applied to the lymphatics. Chap. 8. The same applied to the nervous system: elaborately treated in four sections. Chap. 9. Debilitating medicines applied to the sanguineous system. Treated in six sections. Chap. 10. Debilitants applied to the living organized system generally. Of medicaments directly stimulant. Chap. 1. General considerations. Chap. 2. Stimulants applied to the external organs. Chap. 4. Stimulants applied to the genito-urinary organs. Chap. 1. General considerations. Chap. 2. Revulsions applied to the skin and cellular tissue. Chap. 3. Revulsions applied to the locomotive apparatus and the nervous system. Chap. 4. Revulsions directed to the organs of digestion and of secretion. Chap. 5. Treatment of intermittent irritations. Chap. 6. Combination of different medications with each other. The inconvenience of complicated prescription. Method to be pursued for the improvement of therapeutics, and the more successful treatment of diseases. It is manifest that this work comprehends a view of therapeutics very different from what we usually meet with in GreatBritain, or in this country; and that it therefore deserves to be better known among us than it is. It has fair pretensions to be considered the best elementary work on the subject with which we are acquainted; the different heads are treated reasonably, intelligibly, and without pretension. In our Southern States, it will probably be deemed not of a character sufficiently energetic and decisive in the modes of treatment recommended. On the other hand, the free use our medical men are apt to make of calomel, and the other Herculean remedies, seems to have been carried much further than occasion always requires: and many symptoms usually ascribed to the disease, appear to us more fairly ascribable to the medicines employed, and the bold, not to say rash manner in which they are sometimes exhibited. At any rate, we are well persuaded that no one can attentively read this work without being the wiser for the perusal, and therefore we recommend it without scruple or hesitation.* We subjoin to this article the following extract of a letter, received from Philadelphia, dated Febraary 7, 1828.-" It is strange what a disposition there is in the United States to suffer the productions of native genius to fall into oblivion. Dr. Rush's works are no longer to be had in the country, and they will not bear the ART. IV. History of Roman Literature, from its earliest period to the Augustan Age. By JOHN DUNLOP, Author of the History of Fiction. 2 Vols. From the last London Edition. E. Littell. Philadelphia. 1827. ture. MR. DUNLOP is already known to many of our readers by his interesting and popular History of Fiction. By the accomplishment of the present undertaking he will have greatly added to the obligations which he has already imposed upon the public. He is supplying a very important desideratum in English literaThe execution of the work thus far, is, upon the whole, worthy of the design, and few books can be mentioned in which so much useful knowledge is conveyed in so agreeable a style. There is, however, very little novelty either in the views of our author, or in the learning with which he illustrates and enforces them. The numerous subjects that fall within his comprehensive plan, have been long ago 'bolted to the bran' by many erudite men, and nothing remained for the historian but to collect and arrange the abundant materials that had been prepared for him, and to embellish them with the graces of an elegant and attractive style. If we may be allowed moreover to speak our minds with perfect freedom, we will confess that there is something wanting, after all, in Mr. Dunlop's manner of treating his subject. He does not appear to us to write altogether con amore. At least, there is not that hearty zeal, that captivating and contagious enthusiasm which breathes through the pages of Schlegel and Sismondi, and imparts to them so lively an interest and such a warm, delightful colouring. In a word, the history of Roman literature, however great an acquisition to the general reader, partakes too much of the character of mere compilation, and though, as compilation, uniformly satisfactory, exact and elegant, is occasionally, withal, rather cold and spiritless. expense of republishing. The name of Dr. Miller, formerly Professor of the prac tice of physic in New-York, has never been heard of by the majority of the profession, and seems almost forgotten by the few who have. "The last number of the North American Medical and Surgical Journal contains a review of his works, in which it will be seen that he has anticipated the fundamental principles of Broussais, and laid them down with great clearness and precision. He wanted nothing to make his system perfect but a knowledge of the doctrine of tissues. Had Bichat's book fallen in his way, it is probable that he would have left little for Broussais to do. Broussais met with Dr Miller's paper on yellow fever some years ago, (probably at Antwerp) he was much pleased with it, and complimented him in some of his late writings. Dr. Jackson inclines to think that Miller's paper might have set Broussais' mind to work on the subject. Dr. Jackson's practical exposition of Broussais' doctrines in this city is meeting with continued and increasing success among the profession here." Perhaps, however, we are imputing to the workman what ought to be considered as, in some degree at least, the defects of his materials. Roman literature, especially the earlier Roman literature, which occupies so large a space in the work before us, is far less calculated to inspire enthusiasm, than that of the Greeks, or even that of the South of Europe, especially about the period of the revival of letters. The reason may be given in a single word-it is altogether exotic and imitative. Greek literature, on the contrary, was perfectly original. That wonderful people was, in this respect, at least a primitive race-a nation of AUTOXOVES. There is no trace in their poetry and eloquence of any foreign influence or heterogeneous admixture. With them every thing was barbarous that was not Greek. Their genius drew its inspiration from the living fountains of nature-from the scenes in which it actually moved-from events which immediately affected its own destinies-from opinions that had laid a strong hold on the popular belief-from the exaggerated traditions of an heroic ancestry-from everything, in short, that is most fitted to excite the imagination, and to come home to the heart, and all its deep and devoted affections, The theme of their matchless Epic was the war which first united them in a great national object, and proved that they were formed to conquer and to subjugate barbarians. The calamities of the Labdacidæ and the Pelopidæ, furnished the scenes of their "gorgeous tragedy." The animated interest of their Olympic contests inspired the muse of Pindar, and the valour of Hai modius and Aristogiton was celebrated in many a festal hymn, and by many a tuneful lyre. Their elegant and poetical mythology peopled all nature with animated and beautiful forms, and consecrated, ennobled, and adorned the most ordinary objects. A local habitation, a temple, a grove, a grotto-was assigned amidst the scenes of daily toil and the resorts of busy life, to every divinity in their endless calendar. Their Parnassus was no unmeaning common-place-no empty name as it is in our modern poetry. It was "haunted, holy ground"-breathing inspiration from its caves, and covered all over with religious awe. Attica, says Strabo, was a creation and a monument of gods and godlike ancestors. Not a part of it but is signalized and celebrated by history or fiction. Is it any wonder that objects like these, that scenes so full of religion and poetry should have awakened all the enthusiasm of genius, which, in its turn, was to reflect back on them its own glory, and to hallow them * Isocrates, Ελενης εγκωμιον. † Ιεροπρεπης ἐπὶ πᾶς ὁ Παρνασὸς ἔχων αντρα και άλλα χωρια, τιμωμενά τε και ἁγιστευομένα. δίταυο, Β. ix. c. 3. Ibid c. 1. |