more conquefts may be obtained by the fame means, and confequently, that this book may be the laft bill of the mortality of British fubjects in German hofpitals; fince, notwithstanding the many arguments which have been used to prove the contrary, we cannot help being firmly of opinion, that no cafe can poffibly arife, in which it fhall be for the true intereft of this ifland to engage in a continental war.

Polibly it may be imagined, after Dr. Pringle's Obfervations on the difeafes of the army, that nothing new is to be expected in a book on the fame fubject, fo immediately fucceeding that performance; but the fubject is too extenfive in its nature to be eafily exhaufted, and of fo much importance to fociety, that every new obfervation and experiment, merits the attention of thofe who are employed in preferving the lives and reftoring the health of their fellow creatures: for it must be observed, that the difeafes here treated, are by no means peculiar to the army.

Our Author begins his book with an account of the malignant and petechial fever. There is no circumftance in which medical writers, are lefs agreed, than in their denominations of the different kinds of fevers. Whether by malignant fever we are to understand the synochus of Galen, the typhus of Hippocrates, the febris putrida of Boerhaave, the febris nervofa of fome writers, or the febris carcerum of Pringle; or whether they are all the fame distemper, feems a matter of doubt. Malignant, however, is at vague term, and petechial not much better, fince these spots are by no means conftant attendants upon this fpecies of fever. We fhould prefer the terms peftilential, or putrid, as beft indicating

the nature of the disorder and method of treatment.

With regard to the fymptoms of this difeafe, defcribed by our Author, they are fuch as are generally obferved and univerfally known. As to his method of cure, After evacuations, fays he, if the pulfe kept up, we commonly gave nothing but the faline draughts with the pulvis contrayerva or fome temperate medicine, for the first day or two.' If it were not for thefe faline draughts, and this pulvis contrayerva, the Lord knows what would become of us! If the pulfe funk, cordials (confeflio car iaca, no doubt) were added to the faline medicines, and wine allowed according to the degree of fever; which practice our Author found moft falutary: Dr. de Haen's opinion notwithftan ting. In fhort, Dr. Monro's method of treating this difeafe differs very little from that of Dr. Pringle, except that he gave the bark more liberally, and, before the exhibition of that medicine, if the pulfe was quick and ftrong, he ventured to bleed, even after the petechia appeared, in the advanced ftate of the fever; which practice, though contrary to cufton, he found to be of great tility.

The

The dyfentery makes the fubject of our Author's fecond chapter; in the treatment of which disease, he observes, nothing contributed more to the cure, than keeping the patients clean, and in large airy wards. If it was attended with fever and pain, in the beginning, the Dr. caufed the lancet to be freely used, notwithstanding the low pulfe, which frequently rofe as the blood flowed from the vein. To this operation fucceeded an emetic, if the patient complained of sickness, which was also repeated in the courfe of the diforder, in cafe that symptom returned. The next day, a purge of fal catharticum amarum, with manna and oil, which was found by repeated experience, to be the best medicine for the purpofe intended. This purge was generally repeated every fecond, third, or fourth day, as the cafe required. In the evening after the operation of the purge, a moderate opiate was administered; and, on the intermediate days, mindereri draughts, with mithridate, or in their place, faline draughts, with four drops of the Thebaic tincture. In the progrefs of the difeafe, the pains being abated, half a drachm of Thubarb was preferred to the cathartic above mentioned, and fomentations cr clyfters prefcribed as occafion required. 6 Such, fays the Doctor, were the chief remedies we used in the first ftage of this diforder; but after fome weeks, when the fever had abated, and free evacuations had been made, and the complaint became in a manner chronic, we were obliged to try other methods; and found that the best way of treating this disorder, was to endeavour to brace and reftore the tone of the inteftines, by means of the corroborating and gentle aftringent medicines, mixed with opiates; while mild purges, were given at proper intervals.'

The next difeafe mentioned is the cholera morbus, or a fudden and violent vomiting and purging: it is, fays the Doctor, of the bilious kind, and the cure principally depends upon the free use of warm, mild liquors, in the beginning, to dilute and blunt the acrimony of the bile and other fluids, and to promote their difcharge; and afterward of gentle cordials to support the ftrength; and warm fomentations to allay the pain when violent; and mild opiates to procure reft; and if the fickness or griping remains next day, after the cholera is ftopt, to give a dofe of phyfic and an opiate in the evening.'

The next chapter treats of the inflammatory fever; a frequent difeafe at the opening of the campaign. Here we find nothing deferving our efpecial notice, except that the pulvis antimonialis (compofed of ten parts of the pulvis e chelis, and one part of emetic tartar) given in dofes of four grains every four hours, after proper evacuations, proved remarkably falutary.

In his chapter on the Pleurify, Phyficians, fays the Doctor, formerly used to forbid bleeding after the fourth day, if it had

becn

been omitted fo long; but when no fymptom of fuppuration had already appeared, on whatever day of the diforder it happened, I ordered plentiful bleeding, the fame as in a recent cafe; and never found any difadvantage, but often great fervice from this practice.' He informs us of two cafes in which fuppuration enfued, in both which the matter was discharged by incifion, and the patients recovered; an operation, which, if more frequently performed, he is of opinion, might recover many, who, from its being omitted, die of confumptions.

From the chapter on coughs and confumptions, we learn, that in cafes where there was no confirmed obftruction of the lungs, nor hectic symptoms, the bark, balfam capaivy, or Peru, were frequently of fervice; but that otherwife, nothing afforded fo much relief as frequent fmall bleedings; a practice strongly recommended by Dr. Mead and others.

In treating of the rheumatifm, Sometimes, fays our Author, we gave 20, 30, or 40 drops of spirit of hartfhorn in repeated draughts of warm barley water, or a like quantity of the antimonial wine, used in the fame manner; or from 60 to 100 drops of the antimonial wine, mixed with one fourth part of the tinctura thebaica, in a large draught of fome warm liquor; which I have obferved, in many cafes, to have a better effect than most other medicines.'. But he obferves, that in the beginning of rheumatic fevers, forced fweats increafed the diforder, and that the milder diaphoretics anfwered beft.

The autumnal remitting fever makes the fubject of the fucceeding chapter; in which diforder, the Doctor tells us, that he never could obferve any certain critical days, nor regular mode nor -period of termination; but that fweat was the difcharge which imoft frequently proved critical, and that, when the fever took a favourable turn, the urine depofited a fediment. When the fever proved fatal, it generally became continued. Bleeding, vamiting, purging, faline draughts, and antimonial powders, were the weapons with which this difeafe was commonly attacked: a difeafe in fpeaking of which fays a late author, nullus incertior morbus, neque unquam periculo vacat. The bark was found to anfwer no good purpose, unless in the decline of the fever, or where it changed into a regular ague.

The Doctor, in his chapter on the intermitting fever, informs us, that he always found the bark moft effectual after bleeding and the exhibition of antiphlogiftic medicines in the beginnings the alimentary canal being previoufly evacuated, and the apurexia perfect. He affures us alfo, from repeated experiments, that the notion of the bark being prejudicial when there is an icteritious colour in the eyes and countenance, is entirely without foundation.

The

The difeafes mentioned in the remaining part of this volume are, the jaundice, tumours of the breaft, paralytic complaints, incontinence of urine, ftoppage of urine, epilepfy, fmall-pox, erifypelatous swellings, fcurvy, the itch; in all which we find nothing particularly deferving the attention of our medical Readers. To thefe fucceeds the Author's pharmacopoeia in ufum nofocomii militaris regii Britannici; to which is fubjoined an effay 'on the means of preferving the health of foldiers on fervice, and conducting military hofpitals. This part of the book contains many useful directions for obtaining the end propofed; but being a fubject of little importance to the generality of mankind, especially in time of peace, we muft beg leave to refer those whom it may particularly concern to the book itself a book, which, though not a very elegant, deferves nevertheless to be confidered as a very useful, performance.

MONTHLY CATALOGUE, For OCTOBER, 1766.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Art. 9. Plutarch's Lives abridged, from the original Greek; illuftrated with Notes and Reflections, and embellished with Copperplates. 7 Vols, 18mo. 14s. Newbery.

MR

R. Newbery, ever attentive to the rational amusement and inftruction of his young country-folk, has here provided for them a mental entertainment of a fuperior kind to the many which he has fo kilfully fuited to the tafle and talents of Mafter Tommy and Mifs Polly: an entertainment worthy the grateful acceptance of children even of fix feet high: many of whom may find themfelves both wifer and better after rifing from a repaft fo falutary as well as delightful.-But, to fpeak without a metaphor, and in the plain and fenfible language of our Editor, we know of no fpecies of literature more ufeful to young readers than biography ;-not only from the pleafure it affords the ima gination, but from the inftruction it artfully and unexpectedly conveys to the understanding. It furnishes us with an opportunity of giving advice freely, and without offence. It not only removes the crynefs 1 dogmatical air of precept, but fets perfons, actions, and their conences before us in the most ftriking manner; and by that means, ns even precept into example.-The perverfenefs, folly, and pride of en, feldom fuffer advice given in the common manner to prove effectual. Nor is this to be wondered at; for, though there is no action in life that requires greater delicacy, yet few are conducted with lefs. The advice of parents and preceptors is generally given in an auftere and authoritative manner, which deftroy the feelings of affection; and that of friends, by being frequently mixed with afperity and reproof, feems raIther calculated to exalt their own wifdom, than to amend our lives: and has too much the appearance of a triumph over our defects. Councils, therefore, as well as compliments, are beft conveyed in an

indires

direct and oblique manner; and this renders biography, as well as ble, a mol convenient vehicle for inftruction.-An ingenious gentlean was asked what was the beft leffon for a youth? he anfwered, the fe of a good man. Being again asked, what was the next beft? replied, be life of a bad one. The firft would make him in love with virtue, nd teach him how to conduct himself through life, fo as to become an rnament to fociety, and a bleffing to his family and friends; and the aft would point out the hateful and horrid confequences of vice, and make him careful to avoid thofe actions which appeared fo deteftable in others.-Such are the advantages of biography, beheld in a moral view; and there are few biographical works better adapted to answer these valuable purposes, than the exemplary lives written by the wife and virtuous Plutarch; in whom there is fcarce a fingle defect to be found, except his proneness to fuperftition: a weakness which, in this inftance, ftrongly marks the inconfiftency and imperfection of human nature, even in its moft exalted characters!-We fhall only add the testimony of the late Dr. Sam. Chandler to the worth of this learned phi ofopher: Biogra phy, fays he, is of the greateft fervice to mankind, when the fubjects are well chofen, and the characters reprefented with truth and judgment. In this kind of writing Plutarch hath excelled. Thofe great men of whom he hath tranfmitted to us an account, are rendered immortal by his pen, and their virtues and vices ftand upon everlasting record, either for the imitation or abhorrence of all succeeding ages." Pref. to Rowe's Supplement.

Art. 10. The Antiquities of Arundel; the peculiar Privilege of its Caftle and Lordship; with an Abstract of the Lives of the Earls of Arundel, from the Conqueft to this Time. By the Master of the Grammar-fchool at Arundel. 8vo. 5s. few'd. Robinson and Roberts,

The antiquities of Arundel employ but few of the pages of this volume; which is chiefly filed with memoirs of the Earls of Arundel, from the famous Roger de Montgomery, who came into England with the conqueror; but what could the Author do more, with fo unfruitful a fubject before him? We fuppofe it was convenient for him to write a book; and accordingly a book has been written, and published, by fubfcription. As to the Author's qualifications for a work of this kind, he himself, modeftly, eftimates them at a low rate, confcious of his inability, yet prefuming on the indulgence of the public.'-The public, no doubt, is very indulgent, on thefe occafions; but then it is apt to be fomewhat negligent at the fame time: and to leave these moderate performances, together with their authors, entirely to the mercy of that infatiate monfter, OBLIVION.

It is a droll argument which many of our compilers have handed from one to another, and taken up with amazing humility: thus our Author; Though this attempt should prove abortive, if it fimulates fome abler pen, he will not think his time wholly ill-employed.' But what kind of a fimulus will the mifcarriage of one writer give to another, to undertake a worlCame fubject? yet this nonfenfe we fee, in half the prefac

npilements!

before us, however, it may afford amufe

The acquaintance with the town and calle

of