being voided. Few vifitors fhould be allowed, and those who are permitted fhould, before going into the room, drink a glass of wine, or of tincture of bark mixed with water; fhould remain there as little time as poffible, and not approach too near the bed of the patient. The rules are taken from Dr. Haygarth's, and other publications on the fubject; are concife, and well adapted to anfwer the intended purpose.

ART. 34. Obfervations on the Bile and its Difcafes, and on the Oeconomy of the Liver, read at the Royal College of Physicians, as the Gulftorian Lecture of the Year 1799. By Richard Powel, M. D. Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, c. Svo. 180 pp. 4s. Rivingtons.

1800.

The author gives a very minute and exact description of the liver, its fituation, veffels, and connection. Strictures being fometimes obferved in the gall-bladder, he inclines to think it has fomething of a mufcular texture, although no regular mufcular fibres have been found. Its inner furface, he obferves, is highly vafcular and rugofe, refembling the inner coat of the stomach, and, like that, it is probably a fecreting organ. Treating of the economy or functions of the liver, the author fuppofes the fecretion of the bile to be performed by the hepatic artery, and not by the vena porta, as generally imagined. This, befides being analogous to the ufual mode of fecretion, is ftrongly fupported by a fact related by Mr. Abernethy, of an animal diffected by him, in which the vena porta was wanting, and yet perfect bile was found in the gall bladder. The vena porta being thus divested of its office, as a fecreting veffel, the author affigns it that of a refervoir, or receptacle for the fuperfluous blood from the other vifcera, particularly the lungs, when they are obftructed, and incapable of allowing the whole of the blood to circulate through them. This opinion is ftrengthened by obferving, that the liver has been not unfrequently found enlarged in phthifical patients, merely by its veffels being gorged with blood, without any accompanying difeafe. "The liver, in this point of view," he fays, "will rife in its importance in the animal economy; it is not to be confidered as a mere glandular mafs, fuited to the fecretion of a particular fluid, but as miniftering to, and in a certain degree regulating, the circulation of the blood. Perhaps thefe opinions," he adds, "do not from their nature admit of perfect demonftrative proof; it will be enough if, in the prefent inftance, they carry with them probability, and lead to the further inveftigation of thofe phyfiologifts, whose reflections bring them to the fame conclufion with Haller, noz poffum non fufpicari, præter bilis fecretionem effe hepatis peculiarem utilita tem." P. 35. The author then enters into a minute examination of the bile,and defcribes a numerous feries of experiments, by himself and other writers, inftituted with the view of difcovering its nature and component parts. But they are not, as he acknowledges, "fufficiently various or effablifhed, to juftify conclufions refpecting the relation of bile to the blood." P. 53. He then treats of the difeafes of the liver. Thefe are accurately defcribed, and pertinent methods of treating them are fuggefted. On the whole, this fpecimen of the author's phyfiological talents is calculated to do him credit, and may be read with confiderable advantage by the medical ftudent,

ART

ART. 35. The Medical and Chirurgical Pharmacopeia, for the life of Hofpitals and Difpenfaries. By Richard Reece, Chepflow. 8vo. 88 pp. 3s. 6d. Welt and Hughes. 1801.

Gleaned principally from the London, Edinburgh, and fome hofpital difpenfaries; but not with fuch difcriminating felection, as to give it a preference over the performances from which the materials are taken.

ART. 36. Remarks on the Situation of the Poor in the Metropolis, as contributing to the Progress of contagious Difeafes: with a Plan for the Inftitution of Houfes of Recovery for Perfons infected by Fever. Publifhed by the Defire, and at the Expence, of the Society for bettering the Condition of the Poor. 8vo. 47 PP. 15. Hatchard. 1801.

Thefe remarks, and the plan which accompanies them, could not have been fubmitted to men more zealous or more judicious in the execution of benevolent defigns, than the Sociery for bettering the Condition of the Poor; a Society which, if our wishes could prevail, would include in its lift of members every charitable perfon in the kingdom. The author, Dr. Murray, propofes to confine himself, in thefe Remarks, to the relation of such circumstances as have occurred under his own immediate notice; but what he has stated and proposed, has also the entire fanction of many gentlemen diftinguished in their profeffion; particularly of Sir W. Farquhar, Doctors Saunders, Garthfhore, Willan, and Ferriar. The fituation of the poor in the metropolis, as it is here defcribed without exaggeration, will make any mind fhudder that is not deftitute of feeling. Crouded apartments, frefh air excluded, want of cleanlinefs, and feanty fuftenance; all these caufes combined, may well be expected to generate difeafe and mifery, communicated by each fufferer to others, and multiplied beyond calcu lation.

An inftitution, in the year 1796, for diminishing the number of contagious fevers among the lower claffes at Manchester, under the direction of Dr. Ferriar, has produced effects truly aftonifhing, but proved, by authentic documents, at a very inconfiderable expence. That fimilar inftitutions in London would produce fimilar benefits, is unquestionable; and the plan (at p. 17) for eftablishing houfes of recovery for perfons infected by contagious fever, feems to be perfectly unexceptionable. One objection is very properly obviated, arifing from “an apprehenfion that the contagion would be as it were concentrated on the spot where a houfe of recovery should be established; fo as not only to expofe to hazard thofe who might be immediately connected with it, but also to infect the whole furrounding atmosphere, and endanger the fafety of all the neighbourhood. This apprehenfion, however, has been long fince abandoned as ill-founded, being wholly inconfiftent with a knowledge of the facts afcertained refpecting the communication of infection, all of which concur to prove that the contagious atmosphere is rendered perfectly innoxious by being diluted in a fufficiently large quantity of pure air. The experience of Manchefter is particularly to this effect; the house of recovery, although in the centre of that populous town, is perfectly airy, in all refpects com

fortable,

fortable, and free from the appearance of infection; and the number of contagious fevers in its immediate vicinity has been diminished to an aftonishing degree." P. v. We could wish to expunge a fingle paffage at p. 46, which extols hofpitals for contagious difcafes above moft other hofpitals. Let us never recommend one mode of charity at the expence of others. They may all profper together. There is wealth enough in the kingdom, and there is benevolence (we are perfuaded) more than enough, to relieve nine tenths of the miferies under which the poor labour. Attention only is too often wanting in the rich; and that attention we fhall never fail to folicit, whenever books like this prefent to us an opportunity.

DIVINITY.

ART. 37. A plain and practical Expofition of the Commandments, &c. By Samuel Glaffe, D. D. 8vo. 35. Rivingtons.

We have now before us a work, very important in its defign; an expofition of the Commandments, for general ufe: and we feel juftified in recommending it, as executed with great ability. However modeftly the author may difclaim any idea of erudition and profound refearch, this work exhibits powers of mind and understanding well adapted to the importance of the undertaking.

We would recommend the Introduction to our readers, as containing a clear and intelligible account of the nature of the Chriftian covenant; blending and explaining very judicioufly the infeparable duties of faith and good works: and alfo for the comprehenfive manner in which the connection is preserved between the moral duties of the Jewish and Chriftian difpenfations.

But, in the Introduction, p. iv, the obfervation," that the Commandments are calculated to enable us to pass through the various fcenes of this life with eafe and comfort, with credit and fatisfaction," fhould perhaps be a little guarded; and the words fhould be taken chiefly in a fpiritual, a religious fenfe; the eafe and comfort of a confcience void of offence. Relatively to the opinion and praife of the world, the discharge of our duty does not always, and neceffarily, fecure us that return we could with. Still, with regard to the judgment of all good perfons, the effects of our keeping the commandments will be fuch as the pious author has expreffed them.

In the expofition of the duties of the firft Table, our thoughts are raised towards the supreme object of our love and adoration, by very reverent yet animated exhortations. The expreffions, without enthu fiafm, or over-heated imagination, awaken the finer feelings of the foul; and are "fervid, pious, and rational :" tempering the warm affections of love and exultation with the calmer confideration of the moral duties; which must be the proof of the fincerity of those affections. As our bleffed Lord said, If ye love me, keep my commandments."

Where the author enumerates the reafons for the Christian Sabbath being obferved on the first day of the week, and mentions (p. 70) its preferving the remembrance of our redemption from fin, it would

204

have firengthened the argument to have fhown (Deut. v. 15) that. among other uses, the fabbath of the Jews tended to keep alive in them a fenfe of their deliverance from the bondage in Egypt.

In the duties of the fecond Table, the author has left us to regret that he did not enlarge his obfervations on fome parts of them. In the fifth difcourfe, he has treated the fubject of our political obligaBut the fituations of families, in all their tions in a very able manner. relations, are fo interefting, and involve fo much of the welfare and happiness of lite, that we cannot help withing he had appropriated one entire difcourfe for the mutual obligations of perfons in thofe fiWe will not enlarge our remarks upon the various parts, ,tuations. which have particularly engaged our attention; but we cannot pafs by the feventh difcourfe without noticing that, in the duties which attach to early manhood, the expofition is warm to the feelings, and level to the understanding, with expreffions on a very delicate fubject, of peculiar propriety.

Great praise must be bestowed on the accurate diftinction which is preferved through this work, in defining the duties towards God, our neighbours, and ourselves; and though certainly many perfons will not derive fresh information from it, yet to numbers it will convey most important inftruction.

ART. 38. A Sermon, preached in the Chapel of Stamford-Hill, Middlefex, on Thursday, November 29, 1798, being the Day appointed by his Majefty's Proclamation for a General Thanksgiving, for the glorious Victory obtained by his Majefty's Ships, under the Command of RearAdmiral Lord Nelson of the Nile, over the French Fleet, and for the other Succeffes of his Majefty's Naval Forces. By John Robert Scott, D. D. Chaplain to his Grace the Duke of Leinster. Published at the Request of the Congregation who heard it on that Day. Second Edition. 410. 22 pp. Bateman.

1801..

The exordium of this difcoufe, on Pfalm cvii, 31, is a panegyric, in general terms, upon the Pfalms of David; which are faid to "abound in the nobleft ftrains of poetry, which would fuffer no diminution, when compared with the fublimeft productions of heathen genius." P. 5. This is a feeble and degrading fort of praife; much like that which we noticed in our 15th volume, p. 558, where the oratory of St. Paul is faid to "difplay a dignity and pathos, not inferior to the nobleft paffages of Cicero's or Erkine's eloquence." In the body of his difcourfe, the preacher undertakes to fhow the grounds of the duty of thanksgiving, as it is incumbent on individuals, and on focieties; namely," the power and the providence of the Supreme, in the debility and the dependance of man; in the confcioufhefs of bleffings enjoyed; and in the overflowing burfts of gratitude for their abounding meafure." P. 7. The laft particular feems to be rather the very exercife of thanksgiving, than one of the grounds of it. The flyle of this Sermon, in many inftances, offends our tafte; as, "however infinite in thought the mind of man may be, yet-" the torrid flames of a burning fever may calcine all its ideas" (p. 8)-" acquire fresh im pulfes of cogency" (p. 11)" worshipped a painted prostitute picked up from the ftews." P. zo. The whole difcourfe is a flight piece of thetoric.

ART.

ART. 39. A Sermon, preached before the University of Cambridge, on Sunday, November 2, 1800. By Robert Luke, B. D. Fellow of Sidney Suffix College, 4to. Is. Rivingtons. 1800.

At p. 446, of our fixteenth volume, the reader will find notice taken of a former difcourfe from Mr. Luke. The author feems in fore refpects to have followed the advice which was there given, and to have adhered with greater clofenefs to the fubject which he undertakes to illuftrate. Still we obferve nothing of peculiar energy, which rendered the publication of this Sermon neceffary. The credit of good meaning is most unquestionably due; but having faid this, we are rather inclined. to deprecate the publication of fingle Sermons, unlefs recommended by fomne peculiar circumftances of fituation and character, fome local connection, or fome folicitation not eafily to be refused.

ART. 40. A Sermon, preached at the Affizes held at Wisbech, August 7, 1800, before Henry Gwillim, Efq. Chief Justice of the Ifle of Ely. By Cæfar Morgan, D. D. Vicar of Wisbech, and Chaplain to the Lord Bishop of Ely. Published at the Request of the Magiftrates prefent. 8vo. 21 pp. 15. White, Wisbech; Rivingtons, London.

The text

The preacher difcourfes, through feveral pages, with no fmall fhow of metaphyfical learning, concerning the efficacy and utility of volition, or choice, in matters of fmall moment; and the duty of caution and circunfpection in all others. To this part of the Sermon, the hearers (one or two excepted) probably liftened with great admiration, and with little comprehenfion and edification. (Pfalm exi, 10) is then adverted to, but is foon difmiffed from notice. Much of the remainder of the difcourfe is occupied by a panegyric upon "the learned and worthy Chief-Juftice;" with which, if we do not greatly miftake, he would willingly have difpenfed. To beltow due praife in a right manner, is in all cafes a matter of fome delicacy and difficulty; to beftow it thus in a man's prefence, is incomparably more difficult; and in a church alfo, confummately difficult. Dr. M. does not appear to us to have encountered all thefe difficulties with much felicity. That the encomium here delivered is jutt, we very strongly atteft; but is in our judgment much too broad and direct, to have been pronounced under all the circumstances we have mentioned. The whole difcourfe has many more of the qualities of an ingenious effay, than of an edifying Sermon.

ART. 41. A Sermon, preached at Scarborough, on Sunday, September 28, 1800; and published by the Request of the Bailiffs and Burgeffes of the Corporation of that can. By J. A. Busfield, 4. M. of ClareHall, Cambridge, and Chaplain to Major-General the Right Honour able Lord Mufgrave. 8vo. 1s. Johnfon. 1801.

At p. 688, of our fixteenth volume, we noticed a Sermon by this well-intentioned author. We think this difcourfe much lefs liable to the objections which were there made, and to breathe a manly fenfe of piety and devotion.

ART,