thesis, we think that he has not altogether preserved himself from being influenced by it. This is an unfortunate circumstance, not merely from the general fact that medical hypothesis is seldom of much immediate advantage in regulating our practice, but because this volume contains so much of what must be regarded as the result of observation, that the reader might be led to suppose that the whole of the remarks are ultimately -derived from this source.

In the descriptive parts, we have every reason to be satisfied with the accuracy of our guide. A considerable share of the merit of Dr. Cheyne's performance depends on the history which he gives of the constitution of his patients, and the state of their health previously to the immediate attack of hydroce phalus. Information of this kind is, always valuable, and in this case particularly useful. Every circumstance respecting hydrocephalus tends to prove, that it can only be successfully combated by opposing it in its commencement; while, by an attention to the nature of the constitutions which are obnoxious to its attacks, we may perhaps entirely prevent its occurrence. The author is anxious to establish the connection between hydrocephalus and scrophula: the former, he says, chiefly falls upon the children of families having a strumous taint; at least upon children having those peculiarities of skin, complexion, and features which indicate scrophula; and sometimes it attaches itself to particular families. I have attended two families, in one of which four children, in the other three, died of this disease; and I have heard of an unfortunate father who lost eleven children of (by) hydrocephalus.' He afterward adds; I can affirm, from extensive and careful observation, that not only are children in whom scrophula is active very liable to hydrocephalus, but conversely, that all the symptoms of hydrocephalus are sometimes exchanged for a scrophulous disease.' We are glad to see this opinion so clearly brought into view; observation will easily decide the point; and, if once proved, it will lead to important practical consequences. We confess that, at present, we are scarcely prepared to coincide with the author: but we forbear to say more on this subject, because our experience has not been hitherto directed to it with that minuteness which, we are persuaded, has been bestowed on it by Dr. Cheyne.

Another circumstance, which the author is anxious to establish, and which (like the last) must tend to important practical results, is the connection between hydrocephalus and the peculiar state of the abdominal viscera. That in hydrocephalus the bowels are uncommonly torpid, and that the evacuations generally exhibit an unnatural appearance, are

facts

facts which did not escape the observation of the first writers on this disease; and the sagacious mind of Dr. Hamilton has been peculiarly occupied on this point. Dr. Cheyne has, however, insisted still more strongly on the connection between the diseased states of the abdominal viscera and the brain ; and indeed he seems to regard them as standing to each other in the relation of cause and effect. This circumstance, like the one mentioned above, may be easily established or controverted by future observation, and will also materially influence our practice.

In order to enable our readers to judge of the author's talent for description, we lay before them his account of the appearances exhibited on dissection, both of the brain and of the abdominal viscera :

Upon dissection, we generally find within the cranium, the veins, particularly those of the membranes on the surface of the brain and lining of the ventricles, gorged with dark coloured blood; sometimes considerable adhesion between and thickening of the membranes, and minute and florid vessels upon the pia mater. The ventricles we find to contain from two to six ounces of limpid serum ; also fluid, in a small quantity, under the tunica arachnoides, both above and at the base of the brain. The substance of the brain is generally soft and blanched, fimbriated, and particularly soft where it forms the ventricles. The substance of the fornix is often like a soft curd. In the abdomen, I have found the intestines inflamed and constricted from spasm, and the surface of the liver of a bright red colour, abounding in minute vessels; and sometimes extensively adhering to the peritoneum. In several dissections, I have found the surface of the liver studded with small white tubercles, not larger than a grain of mustard. The glands of the mesentery are often diseased, as is evinced by their enlargement, and the caseous depositions which we find in the substance of the glands.'

been generally consubject on which Dr. From the remittent

The diagnosis of hydrocephalus has sidered as peculiarly difficult, and it is a Cheyne bestows considerable attention. fever of infants, it is distinguished by the complete and regular intermissions which take place in this latter disease but it appears less easy to discriminate between hydrocephalus and the state which is induced by a disorder of the digestive organs. Perhaps it is not possible to lay down any decisive marks, by which we may be assured whether the primary symptoms proceed from an affection of the brain, or from that of the alimentary canal. Dr. C. indeed supposes the existence of such a direct sympathy between these parts, that a disease which originates in the bowels may be transferred or communicated to the brain, so as to form the complete hydrocephalic state. He gives his reasons for this opinion at full

K 4

length;

length; and they appear so plausible, that we trust the subject will be carefully followed up by succeeding observers.

Dr. C. next enters into a disquisition respecting the pa thology of the disease. He freely controverts the opinions of Whytt and Fothergill, that it was nothing more than a dropsy of the brain; and also that of Darwin, who considers it as a discase of the lymphatics. He next discusses the merit of Dr. Quin's hypothesis, which is at present very generally adopted, that the effusion of water into the ventricles of the brain is the effect of a previous morbid accumulation of blood in the vessels, sometimes proceeding to a degree of inflammation. This hypothesis Dr. Cheyne endeavours to overthrow but we confess that we do not see much force in his objections; nor do we think that the theory which he substitutes for it is in any respect preferable:

In this disease, (he says) there is produced a venous congestion, in addition to, and probably arising from, the increased arterial action; that the effusion of serous fluid arises from this venous congestion: that this effusion has a tendency to counteract the baleful effects of the increased action, and to retard the fatal termination of the disease; of course that the effusion into the ventricles is not the cause of the violent symptoms; and that the increased arterial action, though perhaps varied, does not cease when the congestion and effusion have taken place.'

Dr. Cheyne appears to us more successful in combating the opinion proposed by Dr. Rush, that hydrocephalus is only a less degree of phrenitis: the parallel which is drawn between the two is judicious; and it proves decidedly an essential difference between them.

The indications of cure, which the author points cut, strike us as too numerous and indistinct: they essentially consist in the removal of every irritation which may act by sympathy on the brain, in diminishing the increased circulation within the head, and in substituting a new action of the vessels. The purgative plan of course constitutes the first and perhaps the most important part of the treatment; it must be pursued with steadiness; and it may be carried to a great length without inducing debility. After our attempts to bring the alimentary canal into a proper state, we are to direct our attention more immediately to the head; topical bleeding and blisters are then adopted; and the constitutional operation of mercury is strongly enforced. The principal novelty of the treatment consists in the extent to which purgatives are carried.

This volume concludes with a number of cases, which are arranged according to the three species into which the author

divides

divides the disease. They are detailed with much minuteness, and are particularly valuable on account of the attention which is paid to the previous history of the patients: indeed, this part constitutes the great merit of the work, since we were already in possession of abundance of cases of the fully formed disease. Although we are disposed to differ from the author on some points which he regards as important, we have a very favourable opinion of his performance; and we recommend it as containing a body of useful information, and as immediately tending to perfect our knowlege of the treatment of the malady to which it relates.

ART. IV. General View of the Agriculture of the County of Sussex. Drawn up for the Board of Agriculture and general Improvement. By the Rev. Arthur Young. 8vo. PP. 471. 14s. Boards. R. Phillips. 1808.

FROM

ROM a reporter of the agricultural state of an English county, some information may fairly be expected concerning the means which he has employed to qualify himself for the task, the time which he has occupied in the survey, the assistance which he has obtained from previous statements, and the aids of other kinds with which he has been favoured. Nothing of this sort, however, is communicated in the present instance; nor is the work introduced by any prefatory matter. We should have been glad to have found that an accurate admeasurement of the county had accompanied a patient survey; and that a map of Sussex, worthy of the Board of Agriculture, had illustrated its geology: but we are disappointed in all these respects; though in point of plates representing barns and barn-floors, waggons, ploughs, harrows, weed-extirpators, farm-yards, piggeries, poor-houses, cattle, &c. we are well supplied, the number being 21.

The arrangement of materials is similar in this volume to that of all the other county-surveys; and the task which now devolves on us therefore resembles that which works of the same nature have formerly imposed. Minutely to specify the various information, given in the several chapters and subdivisions, would force us to a prolixity which is incompatible with our multifarious engagements: we must consequently request the reader to be satisfied with a few of the most interesting specimens ; and the first in this view is that part of the Report which details the geographical state and circumstances of the county.

Sussex

• Sussex is a maritime county, bounded on the west by Hampshire, on the north by Surrey, on the north-east and east by Kent, and on the south by the British Channel.

It contains, according to the mensuration in Templeman's Tables, 1416 square miles, and 1,140,000 acres: the extent, by the same authority, is 65 miles, and the breadth 26. But, according to this calculation, the real length is considerably under-rated, whilst the breadth is increased; which we find to be the case by later, and more accurate surveys. Another calculation reduces the number of acres to 908,952; both of which are confessedly erroneous.

The length of this county, as measured from Emsworth to Kentditch, extends 76 miles, and the medium breadth falls short of zo. The superficial contents amount to 933,360, and each parish averages 2982 acres.

The artificial divisions of the county are comprehended in six rapes: those of Chichester, Arundel, and Bramber, form the western division, and in which the quarter sessions are held at Chichester, Midhurst, Petworth, and Horsham; Lewes, Pevensey, and Hastings rapes, form the eastern quarter of the county, for which the quarter-sessions are always held at Lewes. The number of parishes in the county are 313.

The climate in the western part of the maritime district is very warm, and highly favourable to the powers of vegetation. But upon the bleak situation of the South Down hills, exposed to the southwest, the winds have been known to strip the thatch off corn-stacks, and the covering from all the thatched buildings; and it has sometimes happened, that farmers have suffered considerable losses by the violence of these westerly gales in harvest, blowing the standing corn out of the ear, and doing other damage. When impregnated with saline particles, occasioned by the west and south-west winds beating the spray against the beach, all the hedges and trees on the windward side are destroyed, and, generally speaking, the foliage wears the aspect of its wintry dress. The hedges seem to be cut by the spray, as if it were artificially; and in very exposed situations it penetrates the houses, though built with brick, even at a considerable distance from the coast. The consequence of this has been, that the greatest part of the buildings in the district are situated in hollow protected situations, in order to shelter them from these distressing consequences.

The investigation of the nature and properties of the varieties of soil, in this or any other county, so as accurately to chalk out the line where one soil ends and another begins, can be thoroughly made only by those who have a most exact and intimate knowledge of the county. In attempting to give the Board this information, it appeared that the variations would be more clearly traced out, and more accurately defined, by a map of the soil, than any other mode that could be adopted; sensible, however, at the same time, that it will be but imperfect, and liable to errors which are unavoidable.

The different soils of chalk, clay, sand, loam, and gravel, are found in this county.

•The