redrefs, yet in this we fhall all agree, that fomething however Should be done.

We fhall only remark, on the whole, that this effay contains many fenfible and ufeful obfervations; that the Author has urged feveral objections, worthy of notice, against the prefent mode of coinage, and obviated many of the difficulties, which had been raifed against any alteration in the present ftandard. But as this effay feems to be only a part of the Writer's plan, we fhall fufpend our judgment, and conclude with intimating our opinion, that his farther thoughts on this fubject will not be unacceptable, or unuseful, to the public.

ART XVI. Cautions against the Use of violent Medicines in Fevers: and inftances of the Virtue of Petafite Root, &c. By J. Hill, M. D. Member of the Imperial Academy. 8vo. 6d. Dilly. 1771.

N the late general alarm of the plague's raging in fome parts of Europe, and threatening to make its approaches to this ifland, the Doctor, Good Man! duly confidering our dangerous and defencelefs fituation, with only a few regu lars at hand to meet the dreaded invader, was induced to make a general mufter of the vegetable national militia, and to draw out from thence fuch of the corps as were found beft qualified to repel his attacks. But leaving our metaphor before it becomes troublefome, we fhall proceed in fober phrafe to observe that the powers recorded in old herbals, and difpenfatories, of the herb Petafites, or Butterburr,-or rather, perhaps, its appofite and fignificant vulgar appellations of Pestilence-wort, and Fever-root, induced him to bring it forth (to ufe his own peculiar cant) as The ONE MEDICINE, on which there feemed a hope of rational dependence.' Impelled by thefe cogent reafons, he first tried its powers upon himfelf; and finding that it neither did him good or harm, he boldly preferibed it, with the like happy event, to others; on whom, as far as appears to us from this pamphlet, its effects were fuch as might have been expected from the administration of an equal dofe of powder of p. Being now from hence fully convinced of its unparalleled and fpecific efficacy in the cure of a fever, he here recommends to the public a dependence upon it, to the almost total neglect and exclufion of every rational indication of cure in that diforder; and relates eleven fingular hiftories, with a view to convince the moft incredulous, of its virtues. We fhall faithfully give the fubftance of the three firft cafes, as they occur in this publication.

Aftrong labouring man laid a wager, won it, got drunk with his winnings, and was put to bed. He was afflicted, we are told, with a violent headach, and was befides both hot and thirty. He was plied with Petafite-tea, and in the space of

24 hours

24 hours all the febrile fymptoms vanifhed; fo that he loft only a day's work. The following cafe is a companion of the former, but proceeded from a more complicated caufe. A worthy tradefman was brought home from a city-feaft, gorged with venifon, and with his fkin full of claret.-The symptoms the fame as in the former cafe. He was kept low, and drenched with baum and petafite-tea. In three days the fubject of this rare and deplorable history was in a condition to tuck a napkin, and attack a fresh haunch. The cure recorded in the next cafe was not more astonishing, but more speedy. A gentleman was thrown into a violent paffion by his fervant, and beat him till he was obliged to difcontinue the exercife through mere wearinefs. The fymptoms were as follow: He waxed hot, his face was flushed, his pulfe quickened, and his tongue, which we may fuppofe bore fome fhare in the difcipline, became dry. He went to bed, where he drank a quart of this divine beverage, fell asleep, and awoke in the morning as cool as if nothing had happened. In the ninth cafe, the Author feems to us diftantly to infinuate that Petafite is likewife a damper of religious enthufiafm. A good Lady, thrown into diforders both of mind and body, by an early attendance at a chapel, where there was a favourite preacher of a peculiar turn,' was not only relieved by it of her bodily complaints; but, we are told, that though he is now full as pious, he is lefs outrageously enthufiaftic' than before!

There is a particular kind of experimental enquiry, the drift of which is a-kin to that of the Opus magnum, and to which the ingenious and knowing Author feldom fails to subject those British herbs which he recommends to the public; and that is, whether the faid vegetables may not be poffeffed of the faculty of rendering their patron's exiftence fomewhat more comfortable, by their capability of being tranfmuted into fome of the nobler nietals. The public papers have lately informed us, that the powers of the butterburr in this refpect are now put to the test, under the direction of this great alchemist, by Meffès. E. and C. Dilly, and R. Baldwin; who propofe to tranfmute fix papers of this hitherto neglected root, gathered from the right foil,' into three folid fhillings. The prefent pamphlet is likewise advertifed to be had at the fame places, we think, very injudiciously. There are many whofe credulity may render them the dupes of the Author's well-known advertifing powers, who are not unprovided with a fcanty pittance of common fenfe fufficient to enable them to fee at once the extreme ridicule of this larger publication. If the Author himfelf really believes in the fpecific virtues of Petafite, on the authorities here produced, we fincerely pity his credulity. If he does not, we cannot too feyerely reprehend this interefted and immoral practice, of lul

ling the patient into a ftate of negligence and feeming fecurity, on the invasion of an acute and dangerous diforder, on no other apparent grounds than the dreams of old women and herbalifts, and affurances of an incapacity, in the fuppofed remedy, of doing him any harm.-As if there were no harm or dishonesty in robbing the poor Febricitant of his precious time, and leaving him, nearly defenceless, to cope with his alert antagonist, provided with no other arms than a bafon of Butterburr and a glifter of Water-gruel.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For MARCH,

MEDICA L.

1772.

Art. 17. Nature the best Physician; or, every Man his own Doctor. Containing Rules for the Prefervation of Health and long Life; from Infancy to extreme old Age. To which are added, a Collection of natural, fimple, and palatable Receipts for the Recovery of Health, to thofe who are already afflicted with any of the various Disorders incident to the human Body, not only fuch as are easy to be purchafed by Perfons of the loweit Capacity; but proper for thofe in higher Stations, who loath nauseous and unwholfome foreign Drugs. By a Lover of Mankind, who has made the Study of the human Conftitution his principal Employment upwards of 20 Years. 8vo. 1 s. 6d. Cooke.

H

OW little this work correfponds with the title-page, may be feen from the following monftrous prefcriptions; in which enormous dofes of corrofive fublimate, allum, and verdigrease, are, directed.

A Fiftula.

'Grind an ounce of mercury fublimate in a glafs mortar, with a glafs peftle, as fine as poffible. Put it into a glass bottle, and pour on it two quarts of pure fpring water. Cork it clofe, and for fix days shake it well every hour. Then let it fettle for 24 hours. Pour it off clear; filter it in a glafs funnel, and keep it for ufe clofe ftopt. Put half a spoonful of this water in a phial, and add two fpoonfuls of pure fpring water. Shake them well together, and drink it fafting. It works both by vomit and by flool, but very fafely. Keep yourfelf very warm, and walk as much as you can. neither eat nor drink till two hours after it has done working. Take this every other day. In about 40 days this will alfo cure any cancer, any old fore, or king's evil, broken or unbroken. After the first or fecond vomit, you may ufe water gruel as in other vomits.

For a Fiftula.

The first time

Take a pint of red wine vinegar, half a pound of honey, two ounces of allum, one ounce of verdigreafe, and four pennyworth of camphire; boil them all together; when you put in your verdigreafe the medicine will look green, then let it boil till the fcum looks red like brine, and keep fkimming it; then drink a quarter of a pint cach day.'

Art.

Art. 18. An experimental Inquiry into the Properties of the Blood, with Remarks on fome of its morbid Appearances, and an Appendix relating to the Discovery of the Lymphatic System in Birds, Fish, and the Animals called Amphibious. By William Hewfon, F. R. S. and Teacher of Anatomy. 12mo. 2s. 6d. fewed. Cadell. 1771.

The three firft chapters of this Inquiry have already appeared in the Philofophical Tranfactions: the fourth contains fome further experiments and obfervations on the same subject: and the fifth.and last chapter treats of that fingular appearance, a white ferum of the blood; which our ingenious Author concludes to arife from an extraordinary reabforption of fat from the cellular membrane.

Mr. Hewfon has taken great care and pains in his experiments; and has made a number of very curious and useful obfervations; for which we must refer the Reader to the Inquiry itself.

The Appendix contains Mr. Hewfon's claim to the discovery of the lymphatic fyftem in birds, fish, and the animals called Amphibious. The following article, viz. A State of Facts, &c. contains Dr. Monro's claim to the fame difcovery.

Art. 19. A State of Facts concerning the firft Propofal of performing the Paracentesis of the Thorax, on account of Air effufed from the Lungs into the Cavities of the Pleurae; and concerning the Discovery of the Lymphatic Valvular obforbent System of Vef fels in Oviparous Animals. In Anfwer to Mr. Hewfon. By Dr. Alexander Monro, Phyfician, and Profeffor of Phyfic and Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh. 8vo. I s. Edinburgh. Sold by Cadell in London.

Dr. Monro has been, formerly, diftinguished as a polemic writer; and Mr. Hewfon acquits himfelf with great adroitnefs.-What poor Monthly Reviewer then, who wishes to fleep in a whole skin, would be fo daring as to ftep forth, and take upon him to determine between two contending keen anatomists?

Art. 20. A free and candid Examination of Dr. Cadogan's Differtation on the Gout, and Chronic Difeafes. In which are contained, fome Obfervations on the Nature and Effects of Alkalis and Acids. By William Carter, late Fellow of Oriel College, Oxon. 8vo. I s. Baldwin, &c.

We recommend this pamphlet to the perufal of those who may be too much difpofed to place an implicit faith in the whole of Dr. Cadogan's obfervations and directions.

Art. 21. A new Method of curing and preventing the virulent Gonorrhea. To which is added, a chemical Investigation of a Remedy called the Prefervative antivenereal Water. Written origi nally in French, by J. Warren, M. D. of the University of Edinburgh. Tranflated by a Surgeon. 8vo. 1 s. Flexney, &c. 1771. The method of cure or prevention here recommended, is to use an injection of the cauftic alkali properly diluted with water. This method has been practiced for feveral years by fome of the faculty, and has both its advocates and cenfurers.

We have here a candid account of its effects, in the cafes which Occurred to our Author.

Art,

Art. 22. An Efay on the Cure of the Venereal Gonorrhoea, in a new Method. With fome obfervations on Gleets. By W. Ellis, Apothecary, 8vo. 2 s. 6 d. Pearch. 1771.

Mr. Ellis is of opinion that there is a fpecific difference between the infectious matter which produces a gonorrhoea and that which produces a confirmed lues:-that the firft of thefe does not require the use of mercury, but may be effectually cured by taking the balfam capaiva in the manner he directs, and by ufing an aftringent injection.

For other particulars we must refer to the pamphlet itself, which contains fome ufeful obfervations.

Art. 23. A Differtation on the Dropfy. Diftinguishing the different Species of Dropfy, the various Caufes of the Disorder, and the most effectual Method of Cure. By W. Lowther, M. D. 8vo. Is. Cooke. 1771.

This differtation is full of hard words and cramp phrafes, and is, written with a view to celebrate the great and unknown virtues of Dr. Lowther's Diuretic Drops.

Art. 24. Opufcula Medica, iterum Edita, Auctore Georgio Baker, &c.-A fecond Edition of the Opufcula Medica of George Baker, Phyfician in Ordinary to her Majesty Queen Charlotte. 5 s. Boards. Elmiley. 1771.

8vo.

Thefe opufcula are four in number; the two first treat of the catarrh and dyfentery, which were epidemic in London in the year 1762. The third is an academical prælection on the affections of the mind, and their confequent difeafes. The fourth contains Dr. Baker's Harveian oration.

Art. 25. An Effay on the Disorders of People of Fashion. By Mr. Tiffot, D. M. F. R. S. London; of the Med. and Ph. S. of Bafil; of the Oeconom. S. of Berne; and of the S. of Exp. Ph. of Rotterdam. Tranflated from the French, by Francis Bacon Lee. 8vo. 3 s. fewed. Richardfon and Urquhart, &c.

Dr. Tiffot derives the diforders of people of fashion, from the following very fruitful fources; luxury in eating and drinking; want of air, exercife, and due fleep; and, above all, from the pallions.

He points out their general and particular effects in producing difeafes, and the means of removing or obviating thofe difeafes.

The effay is written in a fprightly and fomewhat declamatory style. The tranflation is in feveral parts very indifferently executed; and there are many typographical errors.

Art. 26. A Difquifition on Medicines that diffolve the Stone. In

which Dr. Chittick's Secret is confidered and difcovered. In two Parts; the Second Part now first published *, and the Firft confi

derably improved. By Alexander Blackrie. 8vo. 5 s. Boards.

Wilfon, &c.

1771.

The public is already indebted to Mr Blackrie for his fuccefsful inquiries on the fubject in queftion. The fecond part is now added, and contains fome brief obfervations, which are à further illuftration and confirmation of what had been advanced in the first.

The fecond part is fold feparately, price 2 s. 6d. in boards.

Art.