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bear the tincture perfectly well, when opium in substance does not agree with them.'

In anfwering fome objections that have been ftarted against this mode of cure, the author allows, that quickness of the the pulfe and copious fweats, will fometimes fupervene at the beginning of a courfe of opium; but thele fymptoms will either go off of themfelves, or elfe will be removed by giving the bark along with the opium. Weakness and fuper- . vening fallownefs of complexion, will likewife give way to this medicine. Trembling of the hands, which might caufe alarm, he alfo confidently afferts, is of no confequence, as it will foon disappear. Several other objections he feems to anfwer in a fatisfactory manner; but all objections arifing from hypothefis, muft give way to facts, and accordingly we find a relation of twenty-one cafes in the remaining part of this paper. We have endeavoured to exhibit the most material circumftances attending these cases, in the following Table, which we hope, with what has been already faid, will convey a very full idea of Dr. Michaelis's obfervations. The Table itself does not stand in need of any explanation: It may only be neceffary to premise what could not be expreffed in the table, that the patients had taken no medicines, at least no mercury, except where this is noticed.

ENG. REV. Vol. V. JUNE. 1785.

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This is certainly a fair profpect; but have others found the fame good effects from opium? We fear not. We know indeed, that in one or two inftances it has produced a permanent cure, but in many others it has only alleviated the fymptoms. Accordingly, the other phyficians in America foon defifted from its ufe, and this has likewife been the cafe in our own country. But confidering the attention it has excited, we cannot remain long without further information on this fubject. But whatever may be the final decifion, Dr. Michaelis's paper is curious and valuable, if it were only for an account of the effects of opium given for a confiderable time in large dofes. We hope full confidence may be placed in his obfervations. His excellent thefis, and the way in which this paper is written, incline us to believe this. But we must acknowledge, that feveral medical perfons who were in America with Dr. Michaelis do not speak of him with fo much refpect as we thought he would command wherever he went.

Of the articles which remain, the fucceeding, viz. “Obfervations on the caufes, fymptoms, and cure of confumptions, &c.' is the most curious. It contains feveral new obfervations, and does credit to Dr. Stark's accuracy. But we are afraid, that many of the expreffions are far too general, and that all the diftinctions are not well founded. Do large blood-veffels, for example, never open into vomica? Several queftions of this nature will arife in the mind of the attentive reader; and his doubts will not be diffipated, when he is told by the editor of thefe obfervations, Dr. C. Smith, that the author was a young phyfician, whofe experience was confined almost entirely within the walls of St. George's Hofpital, a circumftance, which, while it muft raise him in the estimation of his reader, fufficiently indicates that his general conclufions fhould be received with great caution.

The remaining articles are:

An account of a hydrocephalus internus of prodigious fize in an adult, by Dr. Michaelis.

An account of a method of curing the hydropthalmia by means of a feton, by Mr. Ford.

An account of a tumour, fuppofed to have been a diseased kidney, by Mr. Fearon.

An account of a cancerous affection of the stomach, by Dr. Sims.

Another, by Dr. C. Smith.

An account of a painful affection of the antrum maxillare, from which three infects were discharged, by Dr. Heyfham, of Carlifle.

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An account of an hairy excrefcence in the fauces of a newborn infant, by Mr. Ford.

In the preface we are given to expect a fecond volume in no long time, an intimation which we received with plea fure, as the prefent volume cannot fail to imprefs the public with a very favourable opinion of the fociety.

ART. VIII. An Attempt to prove the Existence and abfolute Perfection of the Supreme Unoriginated Reing, in a demonftrative Manner. By Hugh Hamilton, D. D. F. R. S. Dean of Armagh. 8vo. 3s. 6d. fewed. Robinfon. London. 1785.

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F all the branches of human knowledge, natural theology is undoubtedly, on account of the dignity of its object, the nobleft, and merits our moft ferious attention. It is the prerogative of man, among all the inhabitants of this earth, to be capable of knowing his creator, of worshipping him, and of imitating his perfections. There is no Ipecies of fcience that tends to much to enlarge and elevate the mind as the knowledge of God. It is the ftrongeft fupport of every virtue, and the only rational foundation of tranquillity and peace of mind, of hope and comfort, of magnanimity and fortitude, in all the various circumftances of life. All genuine piety muft be founded on juft ideas of the perfections and providence of God. It is true, Revelation teaches the truths of natural religion, as well as other truths which our reafon could never have discovered. But it is equally true, that reafon, as well as revelation, comes from God. Both are lights granted to us by the Father of Lights, and we ought to make the best use of both, and not to extinguish the one that we may use the other. It must be confeffed indeed, that revelation has been of great use to enlighten men even with regard to the truths of natural religion. This is evident by comparing the fyftems of natural religion which are to be found in Chriftian countries with thofe that have appeared among the moft enlightened Heathens. But there is no good caufe why we fhould not ftill make use of our reafoning powers. Revelation is given to men as reafonable creatures, and it is by reafon alone that we can judge of the truth of revelation, and whether any fyftem is juftly entitled to that appellation. It is by reafon alfo that we muit judge of the meaning of what is revealed, and guard against fuch interpretations of it as are abfurd, impious, or inconfiftent. The existence of a Supreme Being, the maker and governor of the world, is fo loudly proclaimed by all the works of nature that fall within our obfervation, more especially in the wonderful conftructure of our bodies, and the

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