Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

them properly, and exhibits plans and figures, by which thefe rules are illuftrated, is an object of great importance to rural œconomy.- -The fame thing may be faid of the memoir in which the very learned and ingenious fecretary to the Society, M. VICQ D'AZYR, gives an hiftorical fummary of the epi zootic difeafe that reigned in the generality of Picardy in the year 1779. The topography of the place, the local caufes, origin and progrefs of the diforder, the defcription of its nature and fymptoms, and of the ftate in which the beafts which died of it, appeared upon diffection, the prefervatives against the fpreading of the diforder, the methods of cure, the manner of removing the infection from the ftables-thefe, together with a comparative table of the beafts that died, and of thofe that were cured, form the contents of this ufeful memoir —This is followed by a mancir concerning the glanders, by M. CHA

ΒΕΟΤ,

ANATOMY.

I Mem. Concerning the Irritability of the Lungs. By M. VARNIER. This academician attempts to prove, by a series of obfervations and experiments, in oppofition to the doctrine commonly received, that the lungs are irritable and fenfible, both internally and externally; that they have their proper and pe. culiar life, like the other organs; that they are active, and even tranfmit their activity in determining, ftopping, diminishing, and accelerating the motion of the other organs of refpiration; that they can even communicate their impreffion fill farther, and, connected with the general fyflem of fenfibility, animate the whole machine, and excite fympathetic movements. From all which, it will appear, that inftead of being paffively dependant, as has been generally fuppofed, upon foreign agents, they are the first and principal agents in refpiration. The numerous and well-conducted experiments on which M. VARNIER founds his hypothefis, merit a very particular degree of atten

tion.

II Mem. Reflexions on the Intention of Nature in the Conformation of the Bones of the Skull, peculiar to newborn Chil dren; in which Advantages arifing from this Conformation, net hitherto fufficiently attended to, are particularly confidered. By M. THOURET. The membranous intervals which, in children, feparate the different bones that form the skull, are generally and juftly confidered as defigned by nature to facilitate the paffage of the infant at its birth, as this imperfect ftructure of the head renders it fufceptible of change of form, as well as of diminution of volume, by the clofing or approximation of the feparated bones. Our academician carries the advantages of this temporary conformation much farther, and fhews, that the compreflion of the brain, which accompanies this clofing of the

bones,

bones, is highly foporific, and produces an infenfibility, which hinders the infant from feeling the pains that must naturally attend its birth, and the mother from being injured by the violent motions in the infant, which thefe pains would excite. Nay, farther advantages ftill refult from this conformation- but we muft refer the reader to the work for an account of them. MEDICAL CHEMISTRY.

I Mem. Obfervations on the Phenomena and Variations, which are exhibited by Urine, confidered in a fate of Health. By M. HALLE. This is a very laborious memoir, and it is to be followed by more on the fame fubject, which we do not remember to have feen before treated with fuch a learned and circumftantial detail. It is here obferved, analyfed, and defcribed in all its phenomena, forms, alterations, odours, and qualities, in the three periods of precipitation, occafioned by coldness and reft, decompofition caused by fpontaneous motion, and complete putrefaction. No fenfe or faculty, whofe exertions could be employed on the fubject, have been idle on the occafion; and we think both chemical and medical readers will applaud the labours of this induftrious and accurate obferver of nature. If this memoir had been a prize-differtation, it would have certainly been crowned with the golden chamber-pot.

II Mem. Concerning the Analysis and Properties of the various Conflituent Parts of Ipecacoanha. By Meffrs. CORNETTE, and LASSONE, the Son.-It has been fuppofed, that the emetic virtue of this root refides in its refinous parts. Our academicians pretend to demonftrate, that the ligneous part of the root is very nearly as emetic as that which is feparated from it, and that the extract of that ligneous part poflefles the fame quality, though in a milder degree.

III Mem. Chemical Researches concerning the different Proceffes that have been hitherto employed in the preparation of Tartar Emetic. By M. CAILLE.

MEDICAL PHYSICS.

Obfervations and Inquiries concerning the Ufe of the Load-ftone in Medicine; or, A Memoir on Animal Magnetism. By Meflrs. ANDRY and THOURET.-in the first part of this memoir we have a fummary of the attempts and experiments that have been made with the load-ftone, for medical purpofes, by phyficians of ancient and modern date; and this fummary is entertaining and inftructive. In the fecond part the Authors give us a feries of new observations on the use of the load-ftone, in the treatment of several diforders, made by the members of the Royal Society of Medicine, or their affociates and correfpondents. Rheumatic pains in the face-Tooth-achs- Rheumatism in different parts of the body-Nervous complaints in the reins and head-Spafms in the ftomach-Cramps in the breast-Palpi

[blocks in formation]

tations, convulfive tremblings-Epilepfies, dizzinefs, and other complaints which come under the general denomination of nervous difeafes, are mentioned here as the objects of magnetic applications. The cafes are defcribed, the patients are named, and the load-ftone appears to have produced real and falutary effects on them. The third part contains confiderations on the general effects, the nature and ufe of the magnetic fluid, confidered as a medicine. In thefe it is defigned to prove, that the load-ftone operates on the human body by a principle different from that which is the refult of its ferruginous nature, its attractive influence on iron, as alfo from the other properties and principles of action, that have been attributed to it by empyrics; that its direct action is upon the nerves, which it affects as really as it does the iron; and that, if employed with wifdom, it promifes important improvements in the art of healing.

ART. II.

Memoirs pour fervir à l'Hiftoire des Refugiés François dans les Etats du Roi. i. e. Hiftorical Memoirs of the French Refugees in the Dominions of the King of Pruffia. By Meff. ERMAN and RECLAM, Vol. I. 8vo. Berlin, 1782.

[ocr errors]

is always laudable to perpetuate the memory of cruel and abfurd perfecution, that it may infpire deteftation and horror, and do honour to those who have been the protectors of oppreffed innocence. The prefent work does both. It exhibits a juft and candid view of the fufferings of the French Proteftants under the reigns of Lewis XIII. and his fucceffor, and more particularly under the odious tyranny of their minifters: and it relates the generous inftances of beneficent protection which thofe unfortunate exiles met with from the illuftrious Houfe of Brandenburg. The fpirit of liberality and candour that reigns in thefe Memoirs, renders them fingularly recommendable; and from the hiftorical anecdotes they contain, we find them both entertaining and inftructive. They deferve therefore a more than common degree of attention and regard.

While feveral of the powers, that were in alliance with Lewis XIV. regarded with compaffion the ftate of the French Proteftants, even before the fcandalous revocation of the edic of Nantes, in defiance of all the principles of common juftice and good Faith, Frederic-William of Brandenburg, commonly called the Great Elector, became an interceffor in their behalf. Knowing their unfhaken fidelity to the fovereign that oppreffed them; fhocked alfo at the barbarity of a government, that, on the one hand, refufed them the common and natural rights of citizens, and, on the other, employed every exertion of violence to prevent them for feeking thofe rights elsewhere, he wrote a letter to the French King in their favour. The an

fwer

fer of Lewis, fhews the character of the man who has been fo idolatrously flattered by painters, poets, and courtiers, dazzled with the fplendour of the monarch. "I take care (fays he, in "this letter) that the Proteftants enjoy all the privileges that "have been granted to them, and that they be permitted to

live upon an equal footing with the reft of my fubjects. "For this I have engaged my royal word, and I have done it "from a grateful fenfe of the fidelity they have fhewn in taking "up arms, and oppofing, with vigour and fuccefs, the ill de"signs, which a party of my rebel fubjects had formed against 66 my government." This letter was written the 13th of October 1666, when the moft odious perfecution was actually carried on againft the unhappy Proteftants, fo that we must either accufe the monarch of egregious perfidy, or of a shameful ignorance of what paffed in his own dominions, and was known to all Europe.

Notwithstanding thefe fair promifes, the ftate of the Protestants became ftill worfe from day to day. In the face of the laws and folemn conventions, that feemed well adapted to fecure their privileges, they were trampled under foot; and thus even before the æra of the grand emigration, we find numbers of Proteftants leaving their country, and fettling in England, Holland, &c. Our Authors mention the particular circumftances that were adapted to draw many of them into the electorate of Brandenburg, which had always been remarkable for the spirit of toleration, whofe fovereign was fo diftinguished by his great and eminent virtues, and whofe people profeffed the fame religious doctrines for which the French Proteftants were perfecuted.

So early as the year 1661, feveral French families were eftablished at Berlin. A French church was erected for them there in the year 1672, and after the revocation of the edict of Nantes in 1684, their numbers became confiderable. The intrigues of Madame de Maintenon, Le Tellier, and Louvois for fetting on foot the perfecution, the infamous ufe which Bouet made of his eloquence and influence for this purpose, and the horrours of the dragoonade or miffion of fixty thousand foldiers, moftly dragoons, by his moft Chriftian Majefty, to convert the Proteftants, are related by our Authors in an interefting manner. It is impoffible to read this period of the French hiftory without the warmest indignation against the, minifters, miftreffes, and priefts, who availed themselves of the vanity and fuperftition of an ignorant and ambitious monarch, to deprive of all the rights of men and Chriftians feveral millions of the best fubjects of the kingdom of France. When the Chancellor Le Tellier figned the act, which ordered the demolition of the churches of the Proteftants, fupprefed the fchools for the inftruction of their

children,

children, prohibited the public or domeftic exercife of their religion under pain of the galleys and confiication of their goods, enacted that their children fhould be baptized in the Romish churches, and brought up Papifts, with many more abominations of that kind, he called out with rapture, Lord lettest new thy fervant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy falvation. Were we willing to fuppofe, for the honour of humanity, that the old man was in a phyfical ftate of imbecility and diforder when he uttered this exclamation, yet what muft we think of that great luminary of the Gallican church, Boffuet, who, in his funeral eulogy of this fame Tellier, extols this furious inftance of his piety; and then turning the bellows of his adulation towards the monarch, puffs forth the following memorable blast of eloquence."Moved by the view of these marvels, (i. e. the "dragoonade and the revocation) let us pour forth our hearts "before the piety of Lewis. Let us fend up our acclamations "to Heaven, (i. e. we suppose, by what follows, to Versailles) and "fay to this new Conftantine, this new Theodofius, this new "Marcian, this new Charlemagne, what the fix-and-thirty "fathers formerly faid in the council of Chalcedon, You have "confirmed the faith, you have exterminated the heretics; this is "the worthy work of your reign; its diftinctive character. Through 66 you, herefy is no more: God, alone, could have done this wonderful work: King of Heaven preferve the King of the Earth: This "is the prayer of the churches: this is the prayer of the BISHOPS."

[ocr errors]

-He meant it no doubt for a climax.

Among the calamities which overwhelmed the Proteftants, the merciless treatment of their minifters was not the leaft. These learned and virtuous men were, by the revocation of the edict of Nantes, banifhed the kingdom, and were obliged to leave behind them not only their fortunes, friends, and relations, but even fuch of their children, as were feven years old and upwards. It was a moving fpectacle to fee a venerable tribe of confcientious men, with their wives and infants, torn from all that was dear to them in life, exiled from their native land, encountering the diftreffes of poverty, and feeking an afylum in foreign countries. Thofe that remained in France, notwithstanding the barbarous act of exile, became the objects of new and ftill more fanguinary edicts. They were condemned to death; a price was fet on their heads, as if they had been monsters of prefligacy; and a premium of two hundred and fifty pounds (5500 livres) was offered to those who should be aiding and affitting in the feizure of a minifter. It is cafy to conceive, what infamous acts of perfidy muft have been encouraged and occafioned by this inhuman edict.

It is well known what multitudes of unhappy families followed the calls of confcience and liberty, and left a kingdom,

where

« AnteriorContinuar »