A 1 when the cornea has been much more opaque, no other change is to be perceived than a diminution of the transparency either of the external lamelle, or of the whole substance of the cornea. The author has had many opportunities in the living body of taking off layers of very opaque specks, and he has never been able to observe any other change, except that, in some of those which had been of long duration, the cornea had acquired a degree of harducss much greater than that of a sound cornea. 4. As the deposition or effusion of the albuminous part of the blood is a common effect of inflammation in many organs of the body, and as this change produces a diminution of the transparency of the serous membranes, Mr. W. thinks itprobable, from the analogy in the natural structure, that it is a similar change which takes place in the cornea during the formation of specks. An opacity may also be produced by the cornea losing its vitality, as by caustic substances; and he thinks it also probable that the cornea may become obscure, in consequence of an alteration in the quantity of the contents of the eve-ball producing a change in the arrangement of its component particles. In some opacities of the cornea which seemed to arise from an increase in the quantity of the contents of the eye-ball, it occurred to him that the opacity might be removed by making an incision through the cornea, and discharging the aqueous humour. Accordingly, the instant he discharged this humour by a small opening made in the cornea, he observed that all the general obscurity disappeared, and nothing remained but the more opaque spots, which became more distinctly circumscribed. The twelfth chapter is employed in treating of the Staphyloma. This term has been applied to a disease in which the cornea loses its transparency, and swells to such a degree, that its internal surface comes in contact with and adheres to the iris, and forms a prominent tumour externally. The term, however, has had very extensive applications, having been employed by some authors to denote not only various morbid changes of the cornea, but also a variety of tumours involving other parts of the organ of vision. The author follows Richter, and limits its signification to those changes which produce an alteration in the structure and form of the cornea. When the structure of the whole cornea is changed, it has been called the staphyloma totale; and when the disease is confined to a particular part, staphyloma partiale. The thirteenth chapter relates to the alterations in the form of the cornea; and the last, to the effusion of blood between the lamelle of the cornea and into the anterior chamber. Such are the contents of this very interesting work. In short, it contains a most excellent history of the various mor bid alterations of which it treats; and the plates illustrative of these alterations are executed in a most masterly style. The author informs us that the drawings were executed by Mr. Syme," an ingenious artist of this place:" (Edinburgh): "He has," says he, "combined the art of the painter with the skill of the anatomist; and as he has taken the trouble to retouch all the impressions of the plates, there is a truth and accuracy preserved in the colouring which is [are] seldom to be met with in works of this kind." Nay, we will venture to say that they stand altogether unrivalled. Whoever studies these plates must ever after be perfectly able to recognize, in the living subject, the diseases which they represent. If the public shall approve of this Essay, it is the author's intention to prosecute his plan, by considering the remaining diseases of the eye and its appendages, and the treatment which such diseases require. Should it meet the public appro bation in proportion to its merit, we shall certainly be favoured with this promised work; and if its merit again be equal to that of the foregoing, it will be a valuable addition to medical and surgical literature. In a word, the present Essay on the Morbid Anatomy of the Human Eye will be highly acceptable to all those who wish to acquire an intimate knowledge of the diseases of this organ, which are here described with elegance and scientific precision. The Shipwreck of Saint Paul; a Seatonian Prize Poem. By the Rev. CHARLES JAMES HOARE, A. M., Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, and Vicar of Blandford Forum, in the County of Dorset. 4to. Pp. 18. Deighton, Cambridge; Hatchard, London. 1808. IT has been often observed, and the frequency of the observation only serves to confirm its truth, that sacred subjects require more genius, talents, and judgment, to treat them successfully, in poetry, than any other. Many poets, however, undeterred by the difficulty of the task, have attempted to perform it, but few, very few indeed, have succeeded in the attempt. We therefore, we confess, opened Mr. Hoare's Poem with no very sanguine expectations of being gratified by the perusal of it; but we were most agreeably disappointed-: for we have seldom read a poem on any subject which has more interested or more delighted us. It is, indeed, a very masterly composition, and bespeaks a heart deeply imbued with the warmest feelings of piety, and a mind enriched "Unloose the helin, the lofty mast-head scale, Gladly I ride where heroes plough'd the deep, Shout where they triumph'd, where they perish'd, weep. "Hail, distant isles, with blue-topp'd mountains grac'd! Of pilgrim saints, who watch'd the nightly rounds, Chas'd their rude foes, and staunch'd their streaming wounds. "And later yet, when Mecca's countless hosts Urg'd ruthless war, and shook the bigot's* coasts; Or glad hosannas through thy shores were heard? And view the SAVIOUR in the God-like PAUL. Hail, mighty master of the Gentile race! Thine was the look to Heaven's own fire allied; Whose with'ring glance could blast the brow of pride. Philip IId of Spain. "Twas thine persuasion's varying powers to prove, We apprehend that not one of the poems which have obtained this honourable prize at different periods has more richly deserved it than Mr. Hoare's Shipwreck of Saint Paul. Travels through Spain and Part of Portugal, with Commercial, Statistical, and Geographical Details. MOTTO--"Half a Word fixed upon or near the Spot, is worth a Cart-load of Recollection," GRAY. In 2 vols. small 8vo. Pp. vol. I, 267; vol. II, 178. London: Printed for [Sir] Richard Phillips, [Knight, Sheriff, &c.] Bridge-street, Blackfriars, July, 1808. 10s 6d, boards !!! "MAKE hay while the sun shines," is a good maxim of practical husbandry; but it does not inculcate the practice of appropriating our neighbour's property merely because it is unguarded. The author or compiler of these volumes has thought otherwise, and has determined to bring half a guinea's worth to market wherever or however he could find it! The " advertisement" to these pretended travels asserts that "The following pages claim the merit of extreme accuracy. They were written upon the spot, when the impressions [of what?] they describe were strong and precise. The objects which they embrace are such as naturally present themselves to a person who travels through a country for amusement; and as every one has his particular taste for observation, they will not be found without novelty or interest, especially as it is some time since any AUTHENTIC account has appeared of the interesting part of Europe, which is the subject of them [a sound reason or rather cause for a trader in literature']. Exclusively of such topics as usually attract the fleeting notice of the traveller, they will be found to contain commercial, statistical, and geographical details, which the writer has COLLECTED with industry, and he hopes will be read with interest!!!" After this declaration, issued under the name of one of the chief officers pro tempore of the first city in the world, what reader but must conclude that these volumes are really the production of some gentleman who has actually travelled through Spain and Portugal? Yet what must be his surprise, D NO. CXXIII. VOL, XXXI. |