ART. IX. Martini Lifter, M. D. Hiftoriæ five Synopfis Conchyliorum et Tabularum Anatomicarum. Editio altera, &c. Oxon. 1770. Folio. 31. 13s. 6 d. in Sheets. Prince at Oxford. Payne and White, London. HIS work was published by Dr. Lifter in detached and separate parcels, and at different times. Some of these were printed off without any names or defcriptions of the shells; others had both: then a new impreffion was made of the former, and defcriptions, &c. added. These detached pieces the Doctor prefented to his friends, or let a few of them go into public fale. But it is plain that no regular method was obferved in this affair: for of numberlefs copies which were extant, very few were perfect in every part. The plates of fhells were depofited in the Museum at Oxford. Mr. Whitefide, keeper of that Museum, did, about the year (as I conjecture) 1721, take off a few impreffions of the work, which are the most perfect of any before this new edition; but they had ftill many faults. In 1769 the book became so very scarce, that a copy, tolerably perfect, fold for 121. The curators of the Oxford press determined to print a new edition of it, and committed the care of it to the prefent keeper of the Museum. In this new edition the literal errors, which were numerous in the defcriptive part, are corrected. The references to the anatomical tables are alfo accurately adjufted. As it was impoffible to alter the difpofition of the fhells to correfpond with the more improved fyftems of natural history, the Editor has endeavoured to obviate that difficulty by adding two indexes. The first is a kind of fyllabus of Dr. Lifter's method of claffing the shells. The other is taken from the last difpofition of Dr. Linnæus, with references to the plates of this work, as exact as it was in the power of the Editor to make them. By thefe indexes he Reader is enabled to find inftantly any fpecimen he is in fearch of, which was almost impoffible in any former edition. The laft index alfo, being printed on a strong paper capable of bearing ink, and having large margins and fpaces left, will be of great ufe to the collectors of thefe natural bodies towards arranging their own cabinets, fupplying the English names, and correcting thofe miftakes which the fituation of the Editor made it impoffible for him to avoid. Some few obfervations of Dr. Lifter's are inferted in the work. * William Huddesford, B. D. Fellow of Trinity College. The new edition confifts of 1059 plates, exclusive of the anatomical ones. It has the two plates mentioned in Gaignat's catalogue. Paris, 1769. (From a Correfpondent.) ART. X. Obfervations on the external Ufe of Preparations of Lead, with fome general Remarks on topical Medicines. By John Aikin, Surgeon. 8vo. I s. 6d. Johnson. 1771. IT T would tend greatly to the advancement of medical knowledge, and to the advantage of the public, if the real merits of newly-difcovered or propofed medicines were always difcuffed with the fame philofophical spirit and intelligence, and with the fame temper and impartiality which are manifefted in this very fenfible and well-written pamphlet. The difcoverers or patronifers of new medicines, by their indifcriminate and too extenfive recommendations of them, frequently indifpofe the fober and rational part of the faculty againft, the reception of them. The various preparations of lead, in particular, which have lately been fo ftrongly recommended by M. Goulard, as topical medicines adapted to answer the moft various and even contrary indications, and as poffeffed of a kind of elective power of penetrating fo far into the habit, as to do good, while they refrain from entering deeper to do mifchief, however valuable they may really be for fome purposes, run fome hazard of a total rejection, on account of this mode of indifcriminate and univerfal recommendation. The Author, however, fenfible that M. Goulard has faid many things in their favour, which well deferve attention, and defirous to feparate and diftinguish their real virtues from the fanguine additions of a prejudiced admirer, attempts to place thefe medicines upon the rational footing of others in common practice, and to fhew what may, and what may not be expected from them; affigning to them their proper rank among chirurgical topics, not merely upon the confidence of theoretical reafoning, but on a very extenfive and accurate obfervation of their effects in real practice.' After fome fhort preliminary obfervations on the different medicinal preparations of lead, Mr. Aikin treats of the penetrability and primary effects of faturnine preparations. On the first of thefe fubjects the Author juftly reprehends M. Goulard for that licentious fpirit of conjecture' which he indulges, when, in accounting for the effects of these topics, he reprefents their minute and subtle particles entering the pores, forcing themselves through, grinding down, and dividing the obftructing matter, and then, after having performed the bufinefs, retreating through the fame paffages-and this, with all the confidence of a fpectator, who had actually seen them employed in this work through a microscope. The Author, with a commendable degree of fcepticism, appears rather inclined to doubt of the penetration of the faturnine particles to any confiderable depth, on a confideration of their remarkable ftipticity and evident aftringency; and becaufe none of thofe pernicious effects which attend the internal exhibition of this metal, have been obferved, even in the fmalleft degree, to follow the moft liberal external adminiftration of it. M. Goulard's own teftimony on this head is fully 'corroborated by that of the Author, who, after an attentive observation of its effects, in numerous inftances where M. Goulard's faturnine preparations were used during a confiderable time, in large quantities, and in all the circumftances which could be supposed to favour its absorption, declares, that none of the fymptoms ever appeared which invariably attend its admiffion into the ftomach or lungs. These, and other observations of the Author, incontestably overturn M. Goulard's theory of the action of this metal, fo far as he founds it on its analogy with the well-known absorption of mercurial preparations; which evidently produce the fame good or bad effects, whether externally or internally adminiftered. On this occafion Mr. Aikin juftly obferves, that M. Goulard has no right to avail himself of the activity or intimate penetration of a medicine in a favourable confideration of it, while none of the noxious effects appear, by which its prefence and activity should be ascertained. We take this opportunity of acknowledging, that the apprehenfions which we formerly expreffed concerning the liberal ufe of faturnine applications*, founded on a very natural suspicion that the absorbed particles might prove injurious to the nerves, appear from this additional teftimony of Mr. Aikin's on their behalf, to have been rather premature. The Author, however, afterwards treating of the ufe of this remedy in the itch, juftly obferves, that it would be inconvenient, and might be even dangerous, on account of its repellent quality, to apply it to fo large a furface as that of the whole body; as thereby perspiration might be checked, and other concomitant eruptions, which it would perhaps be unfafe to repel, might be ftruck in. As the fedative virtues of faturnine applications appear to be fatisfactorily established by the obfervations of M. Goulard, and as the most liberal use of them has never been observed either by him or Mr. Aikin to be productive of tremors, conftipations, or other paralytic affections attending the internal exhibition of this metal, the Author concludes, that the action of these topics is limited to the parts near the furface of the body; and fuppofes, that by diminishing the sensibility of the nerves of the Monthly Rev. vol. xli. October 1769. p. 312. 2 skin, fkin, they may appeafe pains feated there; while, not being able to penetrate to thofe which are more deeply fituated, and particularly to the nerves fubfervient to the mufcles, they cannot affect the moving powers of the body. In oppofition to M. Goulard, the Author contends for and establishes the repellent quality of faturnine topics, and juftly criticises his paradoxical affertions concerning their power in difcuffing tumours of every kind, and even abfceffes containing matter already formed, by caufing an actual tranfudation of the pus through the pores of the fkin. As many of the disorders for which M. Goulard recommends his medicines, are fuch as have ufually been treated with emollient applications, the use of which he ftrongly condemns, the Author next enters into an examination of the nature and properties of emollients, with a view of fhewing the great difference between their qualities and thofe of faturnine topics. The refult is, that the former are relaxant, fuppurative, and feptic; whereas the latter are aftringent, difcutient, and antifeptic. They both however appear to be fedative, though by different modes of operation: the former by counteracting the caufes productive of irritation, but without affecting the fufceptibility of the nerves to receive impreffions; and the latter, by fome unknown specific quality, tending to diminish or destroy their fenfibility and influence. After this general examination of the properties of faturnine topics, our Author attends M. Goulard in the difcuffion of the virtues which he afcribes to them in particular cafes, and with great judgment and precifion compares their effects with those of other applications in common ufe. The diforders of which he particularly treats, are inflammations and their confequences, ulcers, anchyloses, the herpes and itch, herniæ, and disorders of the urethra. In the difcuffion of thefe fubjects, we find Mr. Aikin frequently confirming the obfervations of his Author, and often, but with great candour, diffenting from him. He does not, however, confine himself to the office of a mere commen- ‹ tator on M. Goulard, but on all these fubjects makes many judicious and general obfervations, which induce us to wish that he may execute the more comprehenfive work, which, in a poftfcript to this pamphlet, he expreffes fome inclination to undertake; if the public fhould approve of the defign on which this piece is executed: we mean a general and methodical treatise on the topical remedies ufed in furgery, founded on scientific principles. In this wifh, we imagine, those who have perufed this fpecimen of his abilities for such a task, will very readily concur with us. MONTHLY MONTHLY CATALOGU E, For JUNE, 1771. POETICAL. Art. 11. The Funeral of Arabert, Monk of La Trappe; a Poem. By Mr. Jerningham. 4to. 1 s. Robfon. 1771. mufe Melpomene, and folicited her aufpices in another tender tale. We have had fo many occafions to speak of this gentleman's poetical merit, that we shall now rest satisfied with letting his works fpeak for themselves. Arabert, previoufly to his monaftic engagement, had a love-affair with Leonora; but being seized with illness, and having made a vow, in cafe of his recovery, to retire into the convent of La Trappe, he was under the neceffity of fulfilling his vow, and he retired. Leonora followed her lover, and, by difguifing herself in man's habit, obtained admiffion into the monaftery; where, a few days after, fhe affifted at the funeral of Arabert. On the fatal news of his death, The discovers herself to Anfelm, a venerable monk, who had attended Arabert in his last moments, and naturally intreats him to inform her whether her lover had totally caft her off from his thoughts. The monk answers, As at his fide I took my mournful ftand, With feeble grafp he feiz'd my offer'd hand, The Fair rejoin'd; "Mifled by foul diftruft, As thus fhe spoke, the death bell fmote her ear, Ab |