The plan laid down for the operation,' it is said, was to pay no regard to the epigastric artery, as it could be of no consequence in a large wound, to men accustomed to perform operations, and who knew the use of the needle and tenaculum.' If we be to understand from this sentence, which is not correctly expressed *, that the division of the epigastric artery was considered as an event of no importance to the operator, we believe that the opinion will be regarded as very new and uncommon. The hazard of incurring a discharge of blood into the cavity of the abdomen has hitherto been deemed very great. Another dangerous and unjustifiable opinion is advanced respecting wounds of the uterus: The uterus is an organ, which is not absolutely necessary to life, since many animals have been known to live after it has been taken out. Etius and Paulus Ægineta, say, that, they have known even women recover, when the uterus had been extirpated on account of an inversion, and the same is mentioned by Paré. A very interesting case of this kind is related by Professor Wrisberg of Gottingen (Com. Soc. Reg. Sc. Gott. tom 8). Mary Dorothy Ude was delivered by a midwife of her first child on the 5th of June, 1780, who used so much violence in attempting to bring away the placenta, that she inverted the uterus, and immediately afterwards cut it away with a knife, exactly in the part where it is connected with the vagina. The poor woman was greatly endangered by the hemorrhage, but recovered completely. In September 1786, the aperture, which before that time would admit a finger, was become almost closed.' When we read this passage, we could not help repeating the wellknown adage of Hobbes; that " if reason be against a man, a man will be against reason." If every idle story be admitted as authority, whether incorrectly stated, or purposely disguised, or, as in the case of the German professor, resting on the very questionable evidence of the patient herself, the multiplication of error must be infinite. Thus, to palliate the failure of a favourite experiment, the plainest rules of practice are to be contradicted, and the uniform experience of British accoucheurs is to be evaded, by explanations which do not carry conviction to our minds. We still retain our opinion that this patient died of the Cæsarean operation; and we most earnestly, deprecate the prosecution of attempts so alarmingly unsuccessful. Art. 31. Remarks on some of the Opinions of the late Mr. John Hunter, respecting the Venereal Disease. By Henry Clutterbuck, Surgeon. 8vo. pp. 72. Is. 6d. Boosey. 1799. Among the extraordinary qualifications possessed by the illustrious writer whose opinions are here attacked, perspicuity of expression was not to be enumerated. From the involved construction of his sentences, an apparent obscurity often arose; and his desire of correctness, in distinction, sometimes betrayed him into a perplexing diffuseness. The present writer has fastened on some of these unfortunate pasand has treated them with considerable severity. We are not ad sages, * We observe many grammatical errors through the whole paper. vocates vocates for Mr. Hunter's peculiar notions: but we think that Mr. Clutterbuck has pushed his attack too far, in the practical inferences which he draws from Mr. H.'s theories. The slight method of exhibiting mercury in venereal complaints, which has been so fashionable, and which is justly blamed by Mr. Clutterbuck, cannot be fairly imputed to Mr. Hunter's doctrines. It was derived from the practice at Montpelier, which was opposed to the old inhuman mode of salivation; and which, like most reforms, was carried too far, in the first effervescence of zeal. The desire of curing quick and agreeably has certainly rendered some practitioners, in m country, too easily satisfied with the first impression produced by mercury, on the most troublesome symptoms of lues: but this culpable trifling results from the unsteadiness of the patient, in some cases, as well as from improper complaisance in the practitioner. It is an act of great injustice to impute the bad practice of ill-informed men, who probably never read the best works of their time, (or who may have read without understanding them,) to the doctrines of the enlightened writers of the age.-The many excellent practical observations, which are to be found in Mr. Hunter's book, have justly received more attention from the faculty, than his ill-expressed and probably sometimes ill-conceived theories. Art. 32. A few Practical Remarks on the Medicinal Effects of Wine and, Spirits; with Observations on the Economy of Health: intended principally for the Use of Parents, Guardians, and others intrusted with the Care of Youth. By William Sandford, Surgeon to the Worcester Infirmary. 12mo. pp. 152. 2s. 6d. Boards. Cadell jun. and Davies. 1799. As these remarks are professedly written in a popular manner, and as no pretence to novelty is urged by their author, our critical proceedings concerning them must be very short. We think that Mr. S. would have rendered more service to those whom he addresses, if, instead of running through the common-place declamation which has become so familiar to the public on this subject, he had attempted to settle the relative terms of temperance and intemperance; and to determine what habits require strict abstinence from fermented liquors, and what others become diseased if they be not supported by generous diet, and moderate quantities of wine. These are questions of the utmost importance in this inquiry; in discussing which, Mr. S. would have been better employed than in giving a very slight sketch of the Brunonian system, which is certainly an object of little conse quence to Parents and Guardians.' On the whole, we fear that this gentleman will scarcely succeed in his design of banishing the use of fermented liquors: but he has a powerful auxiliary in the Minister's new system of finance; a system which bids fair to reduce us all to the thin potation for which this author is so strenuous a champion.-It is therefore not ill-timed, to begin to abuse those grapes which will soon be out of our reach. Art. 33. Hints on Temperance and Exercise. Shewing their Advantage in the Cure of Dyspepsia, Rheumatism, Polysarcia, and certain Stages of Palsy. By J. Tweedie, Surgeon. 8vo. pp. 56. 2s. 6d. Williams. 1799. This author informs us, in his preface, that he had laboured during several years under dyspeptic complaints; and that, after having tried, without relief, the various tonics and stimulants usually recommended in such cases, he was obliged at length to seek for a cure by temperance and exercise. Having re-established his health by these simple means, he gratefully conceived himself bound to recommend the observance of them to his friends, and to the public. We observe nothing in this pamphlet, however, which has not been as well, if not better said in former publications; though his design is certainly very laudable. POETRY, &c. Art. 34. Emma; or the Dying Penitent. A Poem, by Charles Letts, junior, M. L. L. S. 4to. 2s. 6d. Richardson, &c. 1799. In an ill told story, which forms the basis of this poem, the author aims at pathos, but misses the road, and falls into absurdity. His verses, in general, are not inharmonious, but he is unskilled in the art of making the most and best of his subject.-This improbable tale of woe is his first attempt in this walk of literature. We are sorry, as his design is friendly to Virtue and Humanity, that we cannot encourage him to proceed in pursuits of this kind: but we sincerely wish that his natural abilities (for ability he evidently possesses) may be more usefully and more successfully employed. Art. 35. Britannia's Tears; A Vision. By A. Peterkin. 4to. IS. Hurst. 1800. By adding one pompous epithet to another, a sonorous line may be produced: but with the march of the syllables the sense also should advance; and the poet ought not to allow himself in the idle association of a multitude of words to express one idea. Mr. Peterkin will thank us, no doubt, for this friendly hint; since, in the very first line of the poem, he has brought together two substantives, one adjective, and one verb, to excite a single idea: • Tenebrious gloom obscur'd the dismal night.' Now the sense of this line expressed in prose is Other defects of the verbal and grammatical kind occur in this short poem, which ought not to be tolerated in verse. Mr. P. is not destitute of imagination, and might improve if he would remember that sense and language ought never to be sacrificed in order to make a line or a rhime. Why he has clothed Britannia in a pale straw-colour'd robe,' we cannot imagine; he might as well have made her a present of one of the new-fashioned straw bonnets: but, if he has not succeeded at her toilette, he makes her pray very prettily: . O dove-eyed Peace! she sigh'd-celestial Fair! Too long resistless, drove his sanguine car The failure of our late expedition to Holland is lamented: but the judgment, bravery, and humanity of the Duke of York are highly extolled; particularly the latter quality, as exemplified in refraining from exposing his troops to wanton carnage, when the object of the expedition was frustrated. Art. 36. Ballad Stories, Sonnets, &c. By George Davies Harley, Comedian. Vol. I. Small 8vo. pp. 111. 43. Boards. Dilly, Miller, &c. 1799. These little pieces, moulded to the transient fashion of the day, will be read with pleasure by the admirers of the Ghost-stories, minute descriptions, and tender conceits, which the complaisance of our age styles poetry.. If the verses of some fashionable novels (the Monk, for example,) were the standard of excellence, Mr. Harley would take high rank among our poets; and in saying this we shall perhaps gratify his utmost ambition. His productions, indeed, are not framed for the severe Critical Court; they seem to proceed from a mind full of sensibility, but incapable of much labour, and too easily satisfied with its first ideas. The jury to which Mr. H. would choose to submit his verses would be very different from our greyheaded corps, which refers perpetually to the highest models of excellence. Virginibus puerisque canto should be this author's motto, if he have ever scraped acquaintance with the tender Roman bard. The simplicity of his pieces, however, would have been more attractive, if he had imitated less; the fashionable affectation of simple diction is more disgusting than the over-refinement of the last age. We shall extract one of the Ballad Stories, which affords rather a favourable specimen of the author's abilities. • His father hung on Tyburn tree, With shoeless feet, and houseless head, Begg'd little BILLY MOORS But BILLY begg'd in vain-for he, Poor guileless heir of infamy! Where'er he sought relief, Heard nothing but-(from door to door) "Begone! you bastard of a w-e ! Out, out, you little thief!" The blighted bud its head declin'd, REY. MARCH, 1800. Y He He had no heart to live. He rose not from the cold wet stone, An honest Tar, and fresh from sea, The simple boy his story true Jack's heart, with manliest feeling yearning, "Bear up! I have thee safe in tow, There, there the boy, with grateful heart, And scorn'd to flinch or run; Jack too beheld with buoyant pride. And felt, (blest sense!) when anguish sighs, And do what good we can.' We cannot be surprized that a writer of Mr. Harley's professional habits, accustomed to "catch the living manners as they rise," should be betrayed into the false taste of the moment: but we may be allowed to express our regret that other persons, who have a free choice of studies, should have set the example of a mode of writing which, in Dr. Johnson's words, is imitable by "many men, many women, and many children." Art. |