tion of an increased portion of oxygene to such patients, which were noted by Fourcroy, give it additional confirmation. "The skin was ́dry and hot, the face took fire and became of a more florid red.” Such are the expressions of this philosophical physician, while describing the symptoms which immediately followed its exhibition. ·Consequences still more fatal succeeded, and the deleterious influ ́ence of an agent, from which some benefit had been anticipated, soon became strikingly manifest.

The temporary mitigation of hectic symptoms which is sometimes produced by the use of the mineral acids; and the beneficial effects ́attributed to nitre in phthisical complaints, (if these effects be real,) seem to contradict his theory. He admits this difficulty with philosophical candour, and observes, in a style very remote from that of - a presumptuous theorist, that it would be rash to place much confidence in so incomplete a theory, however strongly it might seem to be favoured by some of the principal phenomena. If I might even take it for granted, he continues," that excess of oxygene is a well ascertained circumstance in phthisis; it would still remain to be determined before the investigation could lead to any thing useful, what rank it holds among the other deviations from a state of health observable in this discase."

In conformity to the theory which he has advanced, he proposes that air should be administered to hectic patients, diluted either with hydrogene or azotic gas; so as to be less stimulating to the lungs, than the air commonly respired. The air of a crowded room approaches to this state in one respect; but its increased temperature would probably counteract the effect of its diminished purity. "The influence of the air which we breathe," he observes," is as wide as the diffusion of the blood. The minutest portions of the organs of motion, sense, and thought, must be affected by any particular change in this fluid; and nothing would so much contribute to res

cue the art of medicine from its present helpless condition, as the discovery of the means of regulating the constitution of the atmosphere.2d

With regard to the speculations contained in this part of his work, he had previously observed in his preface that "it would be but a poor project to lay one's self out for the praise of ingenuity, by proposing plans which are in no danger of being tried;" and expresses a confidence that easy methods of submitting them to the test of experiment would in no long time be produced. He adverts to the assistance which medicine may expect from the rapid advances making in chemical science, and indulges in a confident anticipation, that means which bid fair to afford relief in some of the most hopeless diseases with which humanity is afflicted, are on the eve of discovery.

He concludes his essay with observations on the great prevalence of the fatal disease which is the subject of it, in our native island. He exposes the fallacy of the common doctrine with respect to catarrh; explains its phenomena and treatment upon the principles of the Brunonian theory; and earnestly inculcates a more careful adaptation of our dress to the variations of our climate. He laments that the influence of fashion, in this particular, should be almost per-petually exerted in opposition to the dictates of prudence; and that the fairer part of the creation should especially be sufferers from this

2d In a letter from Dr. Darwin referring to this work, after commending its ingenuity, and expressing the pleasure that he had derived from the perusal of it, he proposes, with his "It seems strange; usual acuteness, a difficulty in the theory of consumption here laid down. says he, "that the metallic oxyds, as of mercury and lead, should so much contribute to heal ulcers when externally applied, if oxygene could occasion them in the lungs of consumptive people." In a subsequent letter, however, he retracts his objection, and observes, that although these oxyds may produce a good effect in the torpid state of such affections, because they sti-mulate the torpid vessels, yet in an inflammatory state of them, they would probably do mischief.

source;

for alas," he concludes, "they are still compelled, whenever the Enchantress waves her wand, to expose themselves half undressed to the fogs and frosts of our island.20

Two papers by Dr. Girtanner, on the principle of irritability, are added to this work by way of appendix. The object of these is an investigation of the laws of organic bodies, by combining the medical opinions of Dr. Brown, with the theory of chemistry proposed by Lavoisier. As these papers are not even translated by Dr. Beddoes, any analysis of them, in this place, becomes unnecessary. They are followed, however, by some additional observations from his own pen, which are well worthy of attention from their ingenuity and importance. He glances at the prevailing treatment of typhus fever; and suggests the employment of oxygene in certain forms of it. He has elsewhere in this volume expressed his doubts

2e A work lately published in Paris, called L'Ami des Femmes, exhibits nearly a similar view of this subject, and sufficiently proves that the same causes exert an equally murderous influence on the Continent, as in our Island. The Author quotes the following expressive inscription from a monumental tablet in the cemetery of the Four Sections, Rue Vaugirard, Paris:

Ier Nivose, 6 heures du Matin, 22 Xbre. 1802,

LOUISE LE FEBVRE,

Agée de 23 Ans,

Victime de la mode meurtrière.

Vertu, grâces, beauté, modestie, ame bonne et sensible,
La firent estimer et cherir.

Repose en paix ô ma Louise,

Six ans de bonheur, comme un eclair
Se sont écoulés !

Morte à tous les yeux,

Tu vivras dans mon cœur.

S

Rose, elle a vécu ce que vivent les roses.

"whether the stimulating plan of treatment in fevers, has not been pursued to far too great a length; so that patients are often drenched with wine and opiates and stimulated to death;" and directs the views of the medical inquirer rather to attempt the restoration of the principle of excitability, than to degrade the practice of medicine to the art of administering drams. He deprecates a too hasty discouragement of inquiries into the phenomena of life, on account of the difficulties in which the subject is enveloped." Physiology," he observes, "will not fail to gain something, and perhaps, something considerable, even by the proof of the falsehood of a new hypothesis capable of being put to the test of experiment. This reflection should also teach us to set a due value on our present knowledge, although it be imperfect; and it should restrain those rude hands, that are ever ready to pluck up the tender plants of science, because they do not bear ripe fruit, at a season when they can be only putting forth blossoms."

From the advances making in physical science, he anticipates the most fortunate results, because "they are fast conducting us to a more intimate knowledge of ourselves." He anticipates the rapid approach of a period, when this species of knowledge will constitute a part of education,, and produce the most happy effects upon the morals of mankind. By the earnestness with which he pursues this train of thought, he shews how early his mind had been impressed with the immense importance of more widely diffusing physiological information. But, as his opinions upon this subject are still more amply explained and inculcated in some subsequent writings, their fuller developement will more properly find a place, when an analysis of those writings is attempted.

Although the dedication of this volume, as well as of that on the nature of Demonstrative Evidence, is dated from Oxford, neither of them, as has been already intimated, was published 'till after his

connection with the University had terminated. In a very short period after he had committed them to the press, he bade a final adieu to this venerable seat of the muses. He returned to Shiffnall, and after continuing there for a short time, he went to the house of his valuable friend at Ketley, where he remained for some weeks. It was during his residence here, that he published his celebrated history of Isaac Jenkins. It is almost superfluous to mention, that this admirable moral fiction gives an account of the reformation of a drunken labourer, and his return to habits of sobriety and industry. Its design and its execution are alike excellent. Little touches of nature are occasionally introduced which possess the most genuine pathos; and the descriptions have a minuteness and locality which produce the same kind of intimate acquaintance with the characters of the story, as is effected by similar means in the novels of Richardson. The language too is equally worthy of remark. It is so simple as to be fully intelligible to the humblest capacity, yet it is perfectly free from vulgarity: and although the dialogues in which the inferior characters of the tale appear as speakers, are perfectly natural and characteristic, the author has not deemed it necessary (to adopt the phrase of a celebrated writer) to invent a jargon."f

The success of this work has been correspondent to its singular

2f The following extract is taken from a letter written by the Doctor a few weeks after the first appearance of this publication. "I know not how to send you any copies of Isaac Jenkins, who is a prodigious favorite in this part of England. I was not sure that he would find equal favor in distant parts, because he speaks as provincial a dialect as the standard language would in any way permit; and because there are so many other local peculiarities about him. Among the colliers, it is a common saying, when they see a man staggering along, Ah! he has been at big Martha's' and I am assured that some people in this neighbourhood have written to their acquaintance at Ludlow, to go and pay Sarah a visit; many gentle, and all simple folks, most seriously believing in her existence."