functions." Admitting this, it by no means follows, that the difordered functions of the ftomach in fever depend on the difordered ftate of the brain; yet the author apprehends this to be the cafe, though he has the candour to ftate, that the derangement of the ftomach takes place from the very first attack of fever; even as foon as the affection of the head. We have often, indeed generally, obferved the latter fucceed the former; and inflammation of the brain is not fo flight an affection, as to escape the feeling of the patient, if it does the obfervation of the practitioner. We regard the circumftance of the affection of the ftomach preceding that of the head, as an infurmountable objection to the author's theory.

The petechia, macula, and vibices, which accompany ma lignant fevers, are attributed "to a torpid or nearly paralytic ftate of the extreme veffels, in confequence of which the blood ftagnates in their extremities, or is poured out into the cellular membrane adjoining. This torpor indicates à vitiated state of the nervous power."

The doctrine of the feat of fever, being in the brain, is extended to the "exanthemata, or eruptive fevers, and to fuch as are attended with specific inflammation of certain parts, as Cynanche maligna, parotidea, and perhaps others." We are aware that this is a neceffary confequence of a preceding propofition; and we are alfo aware that it is ftrongly against the hypothefis; for in fome of the exanthemata, and other febrile complaints with local affections, as small pox, meafles, fcarlatina, &c. though fever precede; the affection of the head is often extremely flight, and in fome inftances not prefent at all; furely no man, unless utterly blinded by partiality to fome hypothetical opinion, could for a moment fuppofe these to be the cases of inflammation of the brain.

Among the remote caufes of fever, befides the different contagions and miafmata, irritation of various kinds, mental as well as bodily, is enumerated. In confidering predispofition to fever, the author obferves, "It has been faid, that idiots, maniacs, negroes, very old people, and likewife newborn infants are lefs liable to fever than others; and that brutes never labour under proper fever:" and without inveftigating thefe vague affertions, he proceeds to account for the circumstance, and convert it in favour of his own peculiar notions, on the fuppofition, that in thefe cafes there is a morbid condition of the brain; or a general want of fenfibility which renders the fyftem infufceptible of fever.

In the third chapter, the nature of febrile action is confidered. The analogy between the phenomena of fever and thofe of inflammation generally is made apparent. In both, there is preternatural heat; pain, and throbbing in the head; increafed fenfibility; furred tongue; and both are preceded and ufhered in by fimilar fymptoms. Blood taken from patients in fever often exhibits the fame appearances, as that drawn from those who are affected with inflammation. The exciting caufes of both are frequently of a fimilar nature; and much ingenious reafoning is employed in fupport of their immediately acting upon the brain. The alternation of fever with inflammation is obferved to be frequent; and the means of cure are shown to be fimilar. From all that has been advanced, the author concludes, that he has eftablifhed the probability that " fever confifts in an inflammatory action going on in the veffels of the brain; in other words, that it is nothing more nor lefs than a fpecies of phrenitis, or topical inflammation of this organ." In fupport of this opinion, he next confiders the fymptoms, caules, and treatment of the two affections, again preferring written authority to his own experience; and in a long fection, through which our limits do not permit us to accompany him, he compares the fymptoms of phrenitis with thofe of fever, endeavouring to eftablifh, by numerous extracts from the writings of Galen, Hippocrates, and later authors, that thefe two difeafes are in their nature identical, being merely modifications of the fame topical affection.

The appearances on diffection are afterwards detailed, and feveral pages are devoted to prove, that we are not acquainted with the natural ftate of the brain, and confequently cannot accurately diftinguish the morbid changes which it undergoes from difeafe. Anatomical teachers are flated to demonftrate to their pupils, as being found, brains which are actually diseased; the brains of patients, who have died in fever, are feldom or never examined after death, with a view to learn the confequences of the difeafe, while the brains of fuch patients are exhibited in diflecting rooms without the difeafed appearance being noticed; and laftly, the ftructure of the brain is very liable to be altered by the readiness with which it is fubjected to putrefaction. Hence it is inferred, that our acquaintance with the brain in a found ftate, being fallacious, we can know little of the morbid changes of ftructure to which it is liable. In answer to this we fhall merely obferve, that though there may be fome ignorant profeffors of anatomy, (a circumftance not common in this age and country), and fome brains not in a proper flate

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flate for diffection, or where the hiftory of the cafe cannot be known; it by no means follows, that the fkilful anatomift is not aware of the general and particular appearances which occur when the brain really has been inflamed; and if these do not occur in all cafes of fever; or if other organs, befides the brain, are as frequently found to have fuffered from inflammation; we fhould rather infer, that inflammation of the brain is very rare, and not effential to fever. The author himself informs us, that in fome inftances, patients affected with fever have recovered their faculties and mental poffeffion, in a remarkable degree, a little while before death; now experience fufficiently demonftrates, that the powers of the mind depend upon the due organization of the brain; this muft be deftroyed if the inflammation is fo active as to occafion death; and being deftroyed, we are at a lofs to conceive how the functions of the brain are fo fpeedily restored. We agree with Dr. C. when he tates, that “although - visible lesion of structure in the brain from inflammation be neither a neceffary nor a conftant effect of fever, yet it is too frequent an occurrence, to allow us to confider it as merely accidental; while the figns of difordered vafcular action, tending to diforganization, are never wanting." But thefe, in every inftance of fever, we regard as fecondary effects, induced by the increafed action of the whole vascular fyflem, in a delicate and fenfible organ.

In the fucceeding fection, the author has gleaned thirtyfeven pages on the nature of fever, from the writings of the Arabian, Greek, and Latin Phyficians; many hard names are quoted, and many foolifh opinions, long fince configned to oblivion by all judicious men, are again brought to light; whether to demonstrate the author's extenfive reading, or by their abfurdity to render his own hypothefis more tolerable, we cannot difcover. With lefs difficulty, we think, he might have quoted as many equally refpectable authorities in direft oppofition to his doctrine.

We would gladly follow the author in his obfervations on the cure of fever, but, as it would require too much detail, muift refer to the work itfelf, a principal part of which is devoted to this important fubject. Upon the whole, we regard this as an able and learned production; if it will not convince, it is at least calculated to promote enquiry; and though the author appears to be decidedly a believer in the doctrine he has advanced (which is not always the case with medical writers) he has difplayed much caution, temperance, and candour in his investigation; and notwithstanding our difference of opinion, which we have thought it our duty to

ftate

ftate, we have great pleasure in recommending this work to general perufal, as containing much valuable information. unmixed with frivolous remarks, and unfullied by abufive reflections on preceding writers.

BRITISH CATALOGUE.

POETRY:

ART. 14. Legendary Tales. By Eaglesfield Smith. 12mo. 139 PP. 45. Longman, &c. 1806.

No arts of book-making have been employed to introduce, or fet off, thefe little Poems. There is neither preface, advertifement, introduction of any kind, nor even a fingle note. This looks like the confidence of genius, yet it is a confidence not well founded. For, either the author, aiming at fimplicity, carries it beyond its just bounds; or he wants the kill to give a proper polifh to his language. The tales are five in number, namely, 1. Hartfield and Alcmena. 2. Morcar and Elfina. P. 31. 3. Hoder and Heda. P. 57. 4. Birtha. P. 87. 5. William and Ellen. P. 111. The last of these is founded on a tale traditional in Scotland, and the fubject of an old ballad. Birtha, in all the first part of the narrative, has a ftrong refemblance to the Lenora of Burger. They all are decorated with the machinery of ghofts, and other præternatural appearances. The fol lowing fpecimen will illuftrate our opinion of the author's ftyle, while at the fame time we are inclined to think that he has powers which deferve cultivation.

"Pale fear thrill'd thro' his manly breast;

In every limb he shook;

But ah! his true love was not there,

And frantic grew his look,

He rais'd his voice through the dark night,

And call'd his true love's name;

But nought was heard thro' the wild bounds,

Save echo back again.

The bleak wind whiftled thro' the hall

That used to fhine fo bright,

Where now a scene of carnage wild,

Gleam'd humid through the night.

He fought her here, he fought her there,
Thro' hut and hovel too:

He fought her through both wood and wild,
But all it would not do.

He fought her through the country's bounds
All frantic and forlorn,

And with defpair lay down at night,

And with her rofe at morn."

P. 40.

We fhall be glad to hail this poet again, if he will cultivate fomething of a more polifhed ftyle. He feems by no means deficient in imagination, which, when well regulated, is doubtlefs an excellent ingredient in the poetic character.

ART. 15.

Poetical Recreations. By Anthony Harrifon. Crown 8vo. Two Volumes. 125. Faulder. 1806.

This author is one of the few who conceive a juft idea of the tribunal before which he is brought by publication." All attempts," he says, "to conciliate the fmiles or avert the frowns of criticifm by prefatory courtefy or deprecation, are futile, impertinent, and vain:" because, as he adds, in allegorical terms, on the merits of his productions, not on his apologies, muft their fate depend. He gives us, in a few fhort hints, a clear infight into his own fituation. Firft, from his motto:

"A CLERK foredoom'd his Father's foul to cross,
Who pens a ftanza when he should engross."

Then by a number of legal terms, interwoven in his first poem, (p. 17.) and lastly by a short note at the end of that poem. From all which it may be collected, that having been bred to the law, and being depreffed by ficknefs or misfortune, he had recourfe to poety for recreation, and having found it, prefents the refult to the public. It appears alfo, that he is a Cumberland man. His effufions are very various, and by no means deferving of that caftigation which he feems in fome degree to apprehend. Whether he will hereafter rank as an English poet, cannot fo foon be determined; but he may fafely be claffed among those who have no mean talent for compofition, nor are deficient in imagination or tafte. The following well-deferved compliment to a female poet of eminence, will form an appropriate fpecimen of the writer's powers. The tragic Muse fpeaks.

"But fince Britannia's vitiated taste ・・

Leaves the rich lawn, to batten on the wafte,

Since Otway's and my Shakespeare's flow'rs fublime,
Bow to exotics of Germania's clime;

And where my Garrick charm'd th' attentive ear,
Stuff'd elephants and dancing dogs appear;
Sick of the fcene, I now my light conceal;

And, blushing, hide the ray 'twere ufelefs to reveal.
"Yet I exempt from general difpraise
The late effufions of a maiden's lays:

Toe