absurd and abstruse terms, where no apology for their introduction can be derived from their propriety? Some inconvenience may at first be produced by this change of nomenclature, but as chemical medicines have this, at least, in their favour, that their names almost universally designate the substances of which they are composed, they may soon be acquired, and, when once learnt, will not be easily forgotten.

But it has been said, that, when the chemical composition of a substance is known, the appropriate title is often not only awkward, but, on account of its length, extremely inconvenient; and the article Alum is brought as a proof of the correctness of the observation. This substance is a compound of sulphuric acid in excess with alumina and potass or ammonia, or both potass and ammonia, hence if a physician wish to prescribe burnt alum, he would write in the language of the new nomenclature for the Super-sulphas Aluminae et potassae aut ammoniae aut potassae et ammoniae exsiccatus! This title, to be sure, would make a very formidable appearance, and would be equalled in length only by the face of the physician, who hangs over the bed-side of an expiring patient, whose life he has entrusted to the powers of this inadequate medicine. No one out of the faculty would imagine, that all this magnificence of sound was expended on so trifling a substance as Alum. We are not disposed, however, if we be allowed to make use of a strong but vulgar phrase, to wade through thick and thin, in support of this system. The judgment of a College of physicians ought undoubtedly to be exercised on the propriety of admitting such wire-drawn appellations into the vocabulary of their pharmacopoeia. The convenience of its members ought not to be sacrificed to a fastidious adherence to the correct, though inconvenient, rules of pedantick chemistry; and we therefore have observed with pleasure, that the London pharmacopoeia, though justly censurable for its incorrectness and its retrograde course in some other things, has judiciously rejected this extended name and designated the article by its simple latin name Alumen.* But we fear we

* We shall in this place advert to a note of Dr. Thacher on the article nitric acid, in the materia medica of his dispensatory. After observ. ing that the discovery of the mode of fumigating with this acid by Dr. Carmichael Smyth, was rewarded by the British Parliament with a gift of five thousand pounds, Dr. T. proceeds: "It is remarkable that, while

have already drawn too largely on the patience of our readers; and lest they should justly protest against our frequent calls, we shall take the liberty of referring all those who are interested in this subject, to the remarks of Dr. Bastock on the reform of pharmaceutical nomenclature, to be found in that valuable institution, the Boston Medical Library.

The division of this work on the preparations and compositions, is followed by an appendix containing papers on medical prescriptions, on the nature and medicinal uses of the gases, on medical electricity and galvanism, an abridgment of Dr. Currie's work on water, and on the cultivation of the poppy plant and the method of preparing opium. The work closes with tables on ancient and modern synonimes, with an useful table," shewing the proportion of antimony, opium and quicksilver, contained in some compound medicines," and lastly with a posological and prosodial table, taken from the Massachusetts Pharmacopoeia. As these appendices are mere abstracts from foreign works on the subjects of which they treat, it will be unnecessary to prolong the review by any observations on them.

We have observed a considerable number of typographical and orthographical errours diffused through the dispensatory, which in general are of no great importance. In a note on the gases, the word minus should have been inserted before 56° ; and under the head of Maranta Arundinacea, where this is said to resemble in properties Sago, Jalap and Tapioca, the word Jalap we presume was accidentally inserted by the author or by a mistake of the printer. It should have been

Dr. C. Smyth insists on the efficacy of the nitrous acid vapour, M. Guyton is equally positive that the suffocating fumes of the muriatick acid are the most certain destroyers of contagion. The plans both of Guyton, Morveau and Smyth, founded on the alkaline nature of contagion, are in direct opposition to the theory of Septick acid, so clearly established by Dr. Mitchell of New York, and universally received in the United States." This language is too strong. The theory of Dr. Mitchell, so far from being clearly established, and universally received, is known only to the readers of the Medical Repository, and adopted only by a few of the Tyros, who make their annual debut in medicine under his auspices. It is hardly mentioned in the recent works on chemistry. It has not, however, been invented in vain. It attracted the attention of the celebrated Davy; and the confutation of an unfounded hypothesis terminated in the discovery of the peculiar properties of one of the most wonderful substances in nature, the nitrous oxide gas.

printed Salop. We now take leave of this work. We think it a valuable accompaniment to the Pharmacopoeia. We hope the respectable apothecaries, throughout the state will make it a shop-book, and thus afford to Dr. Thacher an opportunity of reaping that reward, which is due to his industry and perseverance.

The natural and civil history of Vermont, by Samuel Williams, L. L. D. member of the Meteorological Society, &c. &c. in 2 volumes. The 2d edition, corrected and much enlarged. Burlington (Vt.) printed by Samuel Mills, 1809. pp. 1000.

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HE first edition of Dr. Williams's history of Vermont we noticed, under the head of retrospective review, in our number for August last. A second has since appeared, and, from its increased bulk and the promises of its title page, we hoped that publick expectation would be fully realized. Great therefore was our disappointment, when we found, that the corrections were slight, and that the additions consisted either of a history of events, familiar to every reader, and but little connected with his subject, or of relations too insignificant to deserve notice.

The first addition is about the Canadian wars; which, as Vermont was then unknown, and as its lands did not begin to be settled until the subsequent conquest of Canada, has little connexion with his subject. The relation is taken from Belknap, Hutchinson, and other authors generally known; and Dr. W. neither controverts their facts, nor adds to their statements information from original documents. The next addition contains a history of the revolutionary war in the northern states, till the capture of Burgoyne. This, as the scene of action was occasionally in and near Vermont, might be with propriety introduced, if it were not to be found elsewhere; but as the relation is taken from common books, where a more complete view of the subject is given, it might well have been. omitted.

The next and last addition of any magnitude, is a history of the state government from the year 1791 to the year 1806, in itself extremely trivial, and the interest is not increased by the manner of relation. Being principally composed of the Governours' speeches and legislative answers, it cannot

serve to raise the character of the state. The legislature has not seldom been principally composed of persons, deficient in the requisite talents and virtues, actuated by passion and interest, and regardless of publick opinion. Dr. W. gives from the records an account of a debate upon an address to the President of the United States, in which the committee who drew it up declared it to be unanimous, and no reasons were listened to for striking out the word, though of 138 members, 60 were opposed to it. "After two days," says the author, "they voted to reconsider their decision, and tired at length with their own inconsistencies and debates, uncertain what they meant, and fearful of the displeasure of their constituents, after having made some small corrections they adopted the address, yeas 86, nays 59." Of course, we suppose, the long contested

word was retained.

The natural history, by far the most important part of the work, remains exactly as in the former edition. The catalogue of animal and vegetable productions is not increased by a single name. Two sentences are added to the chapter upon agriculture; but nothing to inform us of the changes, and the improvements that have been made in the last 15 years, a period constituting a large portion of the political existence, and more than a quarter part of the time from the first settlement of the state; nor are we informed to what period the price of labour &c. is meant to apply, except that the additional sentences are marked 1806. Some paragraphs are added to the chapter upon literature, revenue, government, but no use is made in the chapter upon population of the census of 1800.

Upon the whole, this edition is little more than a job. Dr. Williams has enlarged his history in the easiest way, but in a way which can hardly increase his reputation. When this work first appeared, the literature of our country was in its infancy; its natural history but little known; every writer who laboured to inform the publick was favourably received, and inelegance, and errour were easily forgiven. But we have arrived at a different period of society. Our country has greatly advanced in letters; our natural productions have been more attentively studied, and one would be inexcusable for publishing the same crude notions now that might have gained him applause twenty years since.

Without further animadverting on this work, we shall notice the appendices to this edition. The first (No. 3. vol. 1st)

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is a long dissertation upon frogs found in digging two wells at Burlington in Vermont, at the depth of from 5 to 11 feet below the surface, where, from the nature of the soil, there could be no communicaion with the atmosphere. They were not torpid, but perfectly animated, and from Dr. W's account they appear to have been in the full enjoyment of all their faculties. Dr. W. was not himself present when they were discovered, but mentions a gentleman of respectable character who was, and he himself saw and dissected them. That animals occasionally remain for years in a torpid state, seems to be generally acknowledged, but that any should live in the possession of its faculties, excluded from air, light, and motion, seems scarcely credible. A remarkable circumstance is, that the same phenomenon occurs twice in the same village, within a few days, the frogs being found in two wells half a mile distant from each other. The number likewise in one well is very great, being no less than 13. Dr. W. supposes that these frogs got into that situation, either in the same state in which they were discovered, or in embryo, by means of the hollow of decayed trees, every vestige of which has been gone for ages, and were buried to that depth by the accumulation of decayed végetables. The soil was gravel, which indeed we never before heard was formed from vegetable matter. He imagines that they derived their support and food from the earth, and that they might have continued to live in the same state as long as the earth afforded moisture and aliment. This supposes the existence of animal life without atmospherick air, and its continuance without decay, contrary to analogy and experience. The animal powers may undoubtedly be suspended, but if in action must decline and gradually wear out. If the facts really existed as they are stated, we should be presented with a phenomenon to us wholly inexplicable; but we are rather inclined to believe that it was a trick practised by the workmen upon their philosophical employer.

The next appendix is on the fascinating power of serpents. Dr. Williams, aware of the incredulity of the philosophical world upon this subject, endeavours to prepare the minds of his readers for the relation by quotations from Cotton Mather, Paul Dudley, and Professor Kalm. He then proceeds to give an account of the charming of birds, which is followed by four instances of human beings having themselves felt the fascinating power. One case was of a lady, two of boys, and one of a