The intimate nature of the remote cause of fever is obscure,-not less obscure, perhaps, than the nature of the matter of electricity. It is subtile, but still it is a matter capable of concentration and of diffusion. Its force and concentration are measured by effects, but nothing is known of modification or form. It enters the human body, but the channels by which it enters are not known with certainty; it probably undergoes changes, between the period of entrance and the period of cbvious action, but they are not perceived distinctly. Its effects, upon the living system, are visible; but, in its own substance, it has not yet been submitted to the human eye; the causes, by which it is concentrated, by which it is diffused and even dispersed, are numerous and obvious; and the laws, which regulate its motions, may often be traced. It seems to accumulate within the system by a regular, but unknown process; in a certain state of accumulation, it seems to explode, in a manner similar to the explosions of electricity. An accurate idea of the changes which it undergoes, from the period of entering the system, till action becomes obvious, cannot well be formed; it cannot even be known precisely, whether the open and declared action of the cause be owing to a change produced upon the matter of the cause itself, by a regular process; or to an approxima tion of the system to act, at certain periods, in correspondence with causes disposed to disturb the ordinary health. The process is here obscure but this fact is certain, that at particular periods more than at others, an aptitude of collision arises, or that a form of febrile action manifests itself more frequently about the fourteenth day, after communication with an infected source, than at any other. It is hence probable, that revolutions in the frame, unknown to the most careful observers, have an influence in determining the collision of febrile action at certain times more than at others; and the opinion gains confirmation, from the circumstance, that these events take place chiefly at septenary periods,―at a seventh, fourteenth, twenty-first, &c. from the time of exposure to the source of infection. This infers a longer space between exposure to the cause and consequent action of the cause than is usually allowed by writers, but the author speaks from his own observations,-made upon numerous bodies of men,-upon healthy men placed as attendants in infected hospitals, and upon healthy soldiers sent to the concentrated sources of endemic fever. Among such, fever scarcely ever appeared before the seventh day, commonly not before the fourteenth; and, in numerous instances, not till the expiration of six weeks or even two months, though the cause of disease, during this time, was ordinarily in great activity.'

In treating of the cure of the first stage of fever, the author proposes, in addition to the usual methods of practice, to wash the body with cold water; and, which he says is still more effectual, to make the patient travel some miles in a carriage, or cart.

For the cure of the yellow fever, Dr. J. recommends bleeding at the arm, to the amount of twenty ounces, followed by purgatives; calomel and James's powder are particularly men

tioned;

its

tioned; these must be succeeded by the effusion of cold water, and a large blister between the shoulders. If this method be pursued within six hours from the attack, Dr. J. thinks that the disease will almost always be cut short, or changed to an intermittent type.

If a day shall have elapsed from the attack, repeated bleeding and effusion of cold water are directed, with the purgatives and blister, as already mentioned: but to these Dr. J. adds the adoption of the bold measure of moving the patient in a cart, carriage, or spring-waggon, through the pure air, sheltered by boughs of trees, in the best manner possible, from the direct rays of the sun.' If motion be found useful in this fever, would not swinging the patient in a horizontal posture be preferable to the rough treatment here directed?

Brisk purging, friction of the abdomen, ablution with cold water, and agitation in a carriage, are pointed out as the proper remedies after the evening of the second, or commencement of the third day from the attack. There seems in reality to be little or no variation in the practice, though the author divides this time into three periods. The reader will be surprised to find that, even on the fourth day, when the patient is evidently sinking, the same round is again recommended; and that the author even advises bleeding in this state. We cannot argue against experience, which Dr. Jackson pleads in defence of his practice; and other parts of his book shew a turn for observation: but we cannot see the propriety of bleeding, in this stage of the disorder. The oozing of blood from the villous coat of the intestines, which occasions the blackvomit and the discharge of tar-like matter by stool, is quite out of the reach of this remedy; which can produce no effect, under such circumstances, but an increase of debility.

Dr. J.'s observations on the free use of mercury in fevers are judicious, and worth transcribing:

In St. Domingo, calomel has had numerous trials, in every form of the disease; and though vague observation speaks in its favour, accurate experience leaves its good effects in doubt. The geueral result seems to be the following. In fever of an intermitting or remit ting type, where the skin is soft, warm and sensible, the action of the vascular system free and unconfined; in short, where the disease is mild, the mouth is often affected at an early period; and as the mouth becomes affected, the violence of the febrile symptoms, in most cases, abates; on the contrary, where the disease is continued and ardent, or slow and creeping, with diminished sensibility of the skin and impaired energy of the vascular system, enormous quantities of calomel, either produce no visible effect, or the gums become spongy and livid, but no salivation ensues :-the event is then unfor tunate, or life emerges in a gradual manner. Further, it is a com

mon

mon observation, that where salivation actually takes place in continued fevers, it seldom shows itself till the violence of the symptoms has evidently abated: hence a suggestion arises, that the appearance of salivation is only an indication of the departure of disease :-no proof exists, that the operation of the mercury is the cause of this departure. Such are the remarks which occurred in reviewing different modes of treatment in the hospitals of St. Domingo; to which it will not be superfluous to add an experiment made at the Mole, in August 1796 by Mr. Lind, surgeon to Jamaica. Out of fifteen cases of fever, which were put under the care of Mr. Lind on the first day of the disease, and treated with the utmost attention, five died; in three of whom salivation actually took place, five recovered; in whom no salivation took place; in the other five, who also recovered, salivation was evidently established, but, as is usual, not till the violence of the symptoms had begun to abate. Out of four, who were put under his care on the second day of the disease, no one died, but one only was affected by the mercury. One brought to the hospitalon the third day of the illness, died; mercury was employed, but no salivation took place; one, on the fourth, likewise died, without marks of salivation; one on the fifth,-the salivation was established, but the disease proved fatal. In none of the above cases were less than ten drachms, and in most not less than two ounces of strong mercurial ointment rubbed into the legs and thighs, with the employ-' ment of all other means, which seemed calculated to promote the expected elect. The success of this experiment, and it was fairly made, by a man on whose accuracy dependence may be placed, does not encourage a prosecution of the plan of attempting to curve fever by exciting salivation, or by affecting the system with mercury; yet though others must have met with similar disappointment, there are as yet no signs of the practice being discontinued. The operation of mercury involves a mystery; and the management of it does not require the exercise of thought and reflection; for there does not ap. pear to be any other rule to direct, than that of giving mercury inwardly, or applying it outwardly, to all men, in all conditions, till the effect of salivation is produced. The effects of this remedy are known in numerous instances to have brought life into danger; and the uncertainty of the operation of calomel, (six grains, at one time occa-sioning a complete salivation, sixteen hundred at another not pro-. ducing this supposed salutary effect,) seems staking the life of man upon the hazard of an accident, over which there is little controul.'

In speaking of sore legs, one of the great pests of our army in tropical climates, we do not find any notice of the successful method of treatment introduced by Mr. Baynton.

The subjoined treatise on Military Discipline, &c. contains useful observations, and should be perused by military men." We think, however, that this book would have been more interesting, if the author had abridged some unnecessary details, and had been more happy in generalizing his ideas. He seems to want a proper command of words, on occasions; and he is

sometimes

sometimes obscure, in struggling for uncommon accuracy.. Dr. Jackson, nevertheless, manifests a truly candid and philosophical mode of thinking; and we regret that the execution of a work, which comprehends so much practical knowlege, should be in any respect unequal to the value of its materials.

ART. VIII. The Travels of Antenor in Greece and Asia: from a Greek Manuscript found at Herculaneum: including some Account of Egypt. Translated from the French of E. F. Lantier. With additional Notes by the English Translator. 3 Vols. 8vo. 18s. Boards. Longman and Rees. 1799.

Fer!

THIS work is an imitation of Barthélémy's celebrated Travels of Anacharsis: but it differs materially from its prototype. The travels of Anacharsis are the produce of an intimate acquaintance with the original Greek writers, and comprize the most instructive details concerning the political, as well as the literary state of that people, during their most brilliant period. The present writer has been contented to display an inferior kind of knowlege, and to exhibit peculiarities over which the delicacy of Barthélémy had studiously drawn a veil. The travels of Antenor are in reality nothing more than a series of novels, not of the most refined nature, connected by the rambles of the hero; who sails from place to place merely for the purpose of asking people to relate their adventures. This is a very easy method of composing books; and M. Lantier seems to have taken assistance, on all sides, with very little scruple. The description of Sappho's leap from the Leucadian promontory, and the story of Phanor and Ariaspe †, (or that of the Chevalier Bayard,) are taken from the Spectator; and the consultation of the old lady with the oracle of Æsculapius is copied almost verbatim from a jeu d'esprit of Voltaire, which has been retailed in the periodical publications for twenty or thirty years past. This patch-work, however, is pleasantly put together, and may afford entertainment to those who do not know the secret of the composition: but it cannot convey satisfaction even to moderately-informed scholars; and its numerous love-scenes are too highly coloured to render it altogether proper for young readers of either sex.

We content ourselves with indicating the first instances of plagiarism which occurred to us, in looking through these volames; as it would not be interesting to the reader to search for more. Plutarch has been largely laid under contribution, + Vol. iii. p. 33. Vol. iii. p. 361, 2. and

Vol. i. p. 249.

and has furnished almost the only seasoning of M. Lantier's pages. The English translator has followed his author's example; and, when pieces of Greek poetry are supposed to be introduced, he has generally made use of some translation which had already appeared. We have, for example, Phillips's translation of Sappho's Ode; one of the best-known pieces of English poetry. We are indeed astonished at the gravity with which incidents, familiar to every smatterer in antiquity, are dilated and amplified. The story of Damocles has a whole chapter allotted to it.

Having mentioned the striking imperfections of this work, it is but just that the author should be heard for himself. His manner and style may be appreciated from the following specimen :

Here Aristippus joined them. He was returning from the country-house of Anaxagoras, where he had gone to inform him of the death of his son. "When I communicated this intelligence," said Aristippus, "he answered coldly, that he knew he had only made him mortal." Aristippus praised this reply for its stoical fortitude; and Lasthenia censured it for its insensibility. To terminate the dispute, she told him of our conversation on the subject of Plato. "I knew him well," replied he: "he was a very large man, with broad shoulders, and square set. The great extent of his talents, the comprehensiveness of his acquirements, the sweetness of his disposition, and the charms of his conversation, caused him to be loved and respected throughout Greece. It was pretended that he was the son of Apollo, and that his mother Parectonia, sacrificing to the Muses, with her husband Ariston, on Mount Hymettus, laid down her child among some myrtles, where she soon after found him surrounded with a swarm of bees, some hovering around his head, and others depositing their honey on his lips.

It is also said that Socrates, in a dream, saw a young swan fly from the altar of love, and place itself on the knees of the child; after which it rose into the air, and fascinated both gods and men with the sweetness of its voice.

"As to his moral system, Plato followed that of his master Socrates, which, however, I cannot entirely adopt. These philosophers despise pleasure, which I assert to be the sovereign good, when it is enriched with intellectual enjoyment, and pursued with taste and delicacy. In me, the maxims of Zeno and the other professors of elevated wisdom excite only sensations of pity and compassion. When we are afflicted, they prescribe the study of serious books, full of morality; and attempt to console us by asserting the necessity of evil, and the fatality and wretchedness of human nature; but surely it is a mere mockery to console us under misfortune, by presenting to our minds the idea that we are miserable. I once had a friend who when he was unhappy had recourse to agreeable liquors. In my opinion he argued wisely, and shewed that he was acquainted with the nature of man. The soul, while united to the body, is continually enslaved by

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