blue glass; or, more certainly, by affuming a yellow colour when powdered, and digefted with nitrous or marine acid. Its fpecific gravity is 6015: 1000. The Cornifh mineral was found 6015:1000. to be a different fubftance from the tungsten, viz. an ore compounded of iron and manganefe, which Mr. K. calls livercoloured hæmatites, mixed with manganefe in ochraceous iron ore.'

Wolfram. During its fufion with pot-afh, a fmell of arfenic was perceived. The refiduum, which, after folution in water, was left on the filter, was a loose black powder, and appeared to be phlogifticated calx of iron. We have fome difficulty in conceiving how this accurate analyft could overlook the manganefe; which, on good authority, we affirm to have been difcovered by the camalion minerale, formed by fufion with pot-afh, by the green colour of the crucible, by the black powder here mentioned dephlogifticating marine acid, and laftly by the folution of this black powder, with phlogiftic matter, in marine acid; from which a grey powder is precipitated, that is evidently a mixture of the white calx of manganefe, and the calx of iron.

The filtered folution afforded a white precipitate on the addition of nitrous acid; this precipitate is the acid of Wolfram, and if it be precipitated while the folution is warm, Mr. K. fays, the mixture obtains a blue colour, which it lofes again on growing cool. This is a curious fact.

The properties of the acid agreed with those related by Mr. Scheele, excepting that, instead of being foluble in twenty times its weight of water, it requires, if quite dry, one hundred and fifty times. The difference, however, between Mr. Scheele and Mr. Klaproth, may be accounted for by obferving that, if the precipitate be not wafhed till it has little tafte, it is not only foluble in twenty times its weight of water, but readily fufible, because, in that fate, the adhering nitre, or rather, perhaps, the triple falt of nitrous acid, pot afh, and tungftenic acid, mixed with the pure tungstenic acid, renders the latter fufible, and the triple falt is readily foluble; whereas, if the precipitate be well washed, it will not fufe readily, if at all. This acid of tungften, the author fays, has a metallic rather than a four tafte; its folution in water is little affected by the phlogifticated alkali; but, after ftanding fome time, it forms a white precipitate. The dry acid renders a folution of tin in marine acid totally blue; a folution of hepar fulphuris with fixed alkali, green; and a folution of volatile hepar, blue. The white acid of tungften, according to Mr. K. melts with the blow-pipe, and yields a fmoke of arfenic. If, however, the acid be well washed, it refifts that fufion, nor does it emit arfenical fumes; indeed Mr. K. acknowleges that this acid, after digeftion in the marine acid, is infufible with the blowpipe, and thews no figns of arfenic; but the yellow changes into a blue

a blue colour. Mr. K. adds, that it is a peculiar property of this acid to form, with the phofphoric falts, but not with borax, a fine blue. Hence cobalt is not the only fubftance that colours glass blue; and, confequently, this circumftance must not be overlooked in determining the controverfy with refpect to the material which the ancients ufed in making blue glafs: they certainly had blue, and it is faid that they knew not glafs. Mr. K. thinks that the properties which he has enumerated as belonging to the acid of tungsten, evidently fhew that it is metallic. M. De Luyart is the only perfon who has fucceeded in producing a regulus of tungsten; and this author frankly acknowleges his failure in various trials, even in the furnaces for melting porcelain at Berlin. We cannot, however, agree that the properties mentioned by the author prove the tungften to be metallic; the only proof is its colouring glass; for the terra ponderosa decompoles the phlogisticated alkali: and any accidental metallic matter or mixture of them, when conjoined with this acid, may, for any thing we know to the contrary, colour glafs blue; and befide,. various experiments for obtaining a regulus have been tried both in Cornwall and London, without the production of a fingle grain.

We have dwelt longer on this subject than, perhaps, most of Our readers may like; but it is an important point in metallurgical chemistry: we therefore crave indulgence, and proceed to the laft analyfis given by Mr. K. of

Soap-Rock; 480 of which contained 230 of calcined filex, 67 of clay, 99 of magnesia, 4 of iron calx, 75 of air and water, allowing a wafte in the operation of 5.

We cannot but with that our countrymen would be stimulated by the example of this foreigner, to examine the compofition of the fofils of their own ifland: to our national difgrace, we are compelled to acknowlege, that British minerals have been, and are, better known to Germans than to us.

MONTHLY

CATALOGU E,

For JULY, 1789.

MEDICAL.

Art. 15. An Efay on the Fracture of the Patella or Knee-pan. With Obfervations on the Fracture of the Olecranon. By John Sheldon, F. R. S. and Profeffor of Anatomy in the Royal Academy of Arts. 8vo. pp. 79. 2s. 6d. Johnfon, &c. 1789.

M

R. Sheldon was incited to confider this fubject more minutely than the generality of Surgeons have done, from the imperfect cures that are ufually made, and the confequent lameness and inconvenience with which the patients are long haraffed. Having

F 3

given

given a defcription of the parts, and having fhewn the nature of the fracture, he examines into the common mode of cure, and points out its defects. The principal one is, that the ends of the fractured bone are never brought into contact; and the intermediate space, fometimes four inches long, is fupplied with ligamentaceous, but not bony matter, the confequence of which is, the production of an artificial patella much longer than the original. In order to bring the en s of the bone into contact, he recommends the patient to be laid in bed on one fide, with the knee gently bent, but with the hip-joint bent fo much as to fuffer the fuperior portion of the fractured bone to be brought into contact with the inferior portion, and kept in that pofition by a proper bandage. The reason for bensing the knee a little, is to relax the flexor muscles; by which means, the thigh may be made to form lets than a right angle with the trunk, which cannot be done without great pain while the leg and thigh are kept in a ftraight line.

The obfervations on the fracture of the olecranon are judicious, as are, likewife, thofe on the fractured patella. It often happens, that in a broken olecranon, the process is lengthened by the callus; whence, if the arm be kept in a bended pofition, a ftiff elbow will follow. Directions are given for avoiding this inconvenience, and alfo for curing any fupervening stiffness of the joint.

Art. 16. A Treatise on the Prevention of Diseases incidental to Horfes, from bad Management in regard 10 Stables, Food, Water, Air, and Exercife. 10 which are fubjoined Obfervations on fome of the Surgical and Medical Branches of Farriery. By J Clark, Farrier to his Majefty for Scotland. 8vo. PP. 425. 75. 6d. Boards. Edinburgh printed, and fold by Elliot and Co. in London. 1788.

The very favourable reception,' fays this author, in his preface, which my trea ife on the fhoeing of horses, and the difeales of their feet*, met with from the public, encourages me to proceed in profecuting the plan I have propofed.'

When an author, like Mr. Clark, difplays unequivocal marks of his knowlege of the fubject on which he writes, or if he delivers fuch directions as, by experience, the reader will find useful, there can remain little doubt that his work will be deemed a real benefit to mankind.

Many books on this fubject have made their appearance in England, bat few, very few, have much claim to merit. The reafon is fufficiently obvious; the veterinarian art is here held in little eftcem, and the title of Horfe doctor is, by the bulk of the people, confidered as a name of degradation; and until this prejudice be worn away, the art will never be cultivated in the manner which its importance demands. The laudable attempts, however, of individuals. can only be attended with a partial improvement, while a regular mode of education is wanting. Can it be fuppofed that the physician is qualified for practice without a competent knowlege of anatomy and phyfiology, to enable him to judge of difeafes, and of the materia medica, to be able to apply fuch remedies as are belt adapted by nature for affording relief? And is there not the fame neceffity for a fimilar knowlege in

See Rev. vol. xlvi. p. 261.

thofe

thofe who undertake the cure of diseases in horses? For the inftruction of farriers in these branches, an academy has been inftituted in France; and the plan is worth imitation in England, especially as this country is poffeffed of the finest horfes in Europe, and as the demand for them is rapidly increasing.

Mr. Clark has not extended all his fubjects, as he acknowleges," to the length to which they might be carried. He confines himself chiefly to the practical branches, and more efp cially to that particular branch of the fcience which medical writers would call diete-" tical. His directions are excellent, being founded in reafon and confirmed by experience; though not always conveyed in accurate language. In a word, this treatise may justly be faid to be the beginning of a total reform of farriery, and the foundation of a regular fyftem of the art. It is given,' the author fays, as a neceffary preliminary to a fubfequent publication of the difeafes of horfes: which, from this and the author's former fpecimen, will, no doubt, meet with a welcome reception from every one who wishes to acquire a scientific knowlege of the subject.

Art. 17. The Elements of Medicine; or, a Tranflation of the Elementa Medicine Brunonis. With Notes, Illustrations, and Comments, by the Author of the Original Work. 8vo. 2 Vols. 8s. Boards. Johnfon. 1788.

For the particulars of the Elementa Medicinæ Brunonis, we refer our readers to the account which we gave of it in the fixty third volume of our Review, p. 426. The present tranflation contains a variety of ample notes, and explanations of obfcure parts of the original; but, furely, his time and talents might have been more ufefully employed than in unavailing endeavours to prevent the Brunonian fyftem from finking into that oblivion, wherein, for the good of mankind, it ought, long fince, to have been buried.

Art. 18. A Treatise of the real Cause and Cure of Infanity; in which the Nature and Diftinctions of this Difeafe are fully explained, and the Treatment established on new Principles. By Andrew Harper. 8vo. pp. 69. 2s. Stalker. 1789.

Mr. Harper begins his treatife with a view of those causes which have been commonly confidered as conducive to infanity; and, by comparing them with other caufes, which, although not generallydeemed predifpofing, yet, from their nature and effects, feem to be fo, he endeavours to determine, what caufes really do predispose to infanity. He then proceeds to an enquiry concerning the proximate cause, the specific existence, and the exact feat of infanity; and, after a few fhort directions for preventing the disease, he concludes with a regular plan of treatment and cure.

Art. 19. The Qeconomy of Health, or a Medical Effay: containing new and familiar Inftructions for the Attainment of Health, Happinefs, and Longevity: in which the Nature of the human Mind. is accurately inveftigated, and its Union and Connexion with the Body fyftematically explained. By Andrew Harper. 8vo. pp. 75. 28. Stalker. 1789.

The defign of this effay, and the motives for its publication, are, as the preface informs us, to explain the principal causes which af

fect health and induce difeafe, to illuftrate fo much of the animal œconomy as this intention requires, and, by these means, to render people leis ftrangers to themfelves, and more capable of preserving health and life.'

The inftructions are judicious; but they might, perhaps, have been fomewhat better arranged, or more connected with each

other.

Art. 20. Hiftory of fome of the Effects of Hard Drinking, by J. C. Lettfom, M. D. F. R. S. and F. S. A. 4to. pp. 13. 6d. Dilly. 1789.

This treatife is a re publication of part of an effay originally printed in the first volume of the Memoirs of the Medical Society of London. The author forcibly points out the wretched effects of drinking fpirits, and earnestly warns his readers against forming a habit fo dangerous in its confequences, and fo difficult to overcome.

At the end is added a moral and phyfical thermometer,' the hint of which, fays Dr. L. was fuggefted by a friend abroad. It is formed to convey, by a glance of the eye, the fentiments I wish to imprefs upon the reader.' This familiar method of conveying inftruction is what we much approve: it introduces wisdom to thofe, who without its affiftance would ftand little chance of her acquaintance, and places her, to borrow an expreffion from our neighbours, a la portée de tout le

monde.

The profits arifing from the fale of this pamphlet, are applied to the ufe of the Philanthropic Society.

Art. 21. A Tale of Truth. Addreffed to Arthritics: containing a fecure, cheap, and certain Remedy for the Gout. Svo. pp. 23. 6d. Kearfley. 1789.

This is the tale of a limping valetudinarian,' who, finding relief from opium during a painful fit of the gout, pleases himself with prattling about his complaints, and the way in which they were cured, We wish he had adhered to his title; and when he gave us the truth, had given nothing but the truth. But, unfortunately, this would not have made a pamphlet, and thus the poor man was obliged to be witty.

Art. 22. A Treatife upon the Herb Tobacco, pointing out its deleterious, pernicious Quality, and its fatal Effects upon the human Conftitution, by the great Variety of Disorders it occafions; not only affecting three of the five Senfes to a great Degree, but impairing the Faculties of the Mind, and even frequently caufing premature Death. By a Gentleman of the Univerfity of Cambridge. 8vo. pp. 63. 15. 6d. Stalker. 1789.

This writer fets out with telling us that his fubject will be treated in fo copious a manner, that no particular whatever will be omitted, &c.' The information would have run better thus; That he had partially felected every particular in his pamphlet from the fixth chapter of Dr. Short's Difcourfes on Tea, Sugar, Tobacco, &c. the fubitance of which may be feen by turning to p. 382 of the second volume of our Review. We there also noticed Dr. Short's uncom

*Prefcribed by Dr. Turton.

mon