he seems to have been more pressed for want of time. Though the book is susceptible of being made much more perfect, it will form a valuable addition to the student's library.

Art. 14. A Treatise on the Defects of the Debtor and Creditor Laws, and the Consequences of Imprisonment for Civil Debt; or an Address to the Public in Behalf of honest Debtors and injured Creditors; with an Exposition of Facts interesting to Gentlemen of the Law; and impartial Observations on the Comparative Distinction between honest and fraudulent Debtors. By W. Minchin, Esq. 8vo. pp. 222. 4s 6d. Tipper. 18c9.

This important and able tract proceeds from the best motives. and indicates the most benevolent intentions. It is sober and dispassionate; and the advocate of the persecuted Debtor does not overlook the wrongs of the injured Creditor, but correctly draws the line between the deserving and the worthless in both the classes. In a per formance, however, which aims at the production of eminent practical good, we could have wished to have seen less of matter which might well have been spared; to have found fewer observations and more facts; and to have been convinced that the references to the remedies were more proportionate to the statement of the evils. In these respects, Mr. Minchin disappoints our expectations: but we must do him the justice to acknowlege that his tract is well calculated to incite others to supply what he has left imperfect. He is liberal in his praise of the dignified persons who preside in our supreme courts: but it is not praise alone that he bestows; for he records acts and measures which shew that his commendation is merited. The laws themselves, also, at the moment when he is pointing out their imperfections, receive from him a tribute of just approbation.

Mr. M. tells us that he has much satisfaction in observing, that any one who fairly and impartially traces the laws of England to their original principles, will be pleased in the contemplation of the virtue, wisdom, and order, with which they have manifestly been established. Legislators, philosophers, and moralists, of all ages, have contributed successfully to the improvement of those sacred master-principles which protect human society, and which are now recognised and revered by every good subject. They have been successively taught by scientific men, from the earliest dawn of theory and speculation to the present moment. Our progress of jurisprudence, and the administration of our laws, display a most noble spectacle, when we contemplate the persevering efforts successively applied through a long course of ages. The principle of justice pervades the whole system, and extends to the minutest formality in legal proceedings; extricating every case as it arises from the dangerous application of discretionary power, and placing it under definite rules; contracting the means of arbitrary authority and extending the dominion of wisdom and mercy.'

The aim of the present treatise is stated to be to expedite the attainment of justice due to creditors, and to plead in favour of the suf. fering debtor.'-Mr. M. admits that the process of our courts, from the first act of arrest or commitment, to the period of charging the defendant in execution, is distinguished by order, precision, and requisite formality. Substantial justice is pursued with legal solemnity,

and

and the claims of creditors are established or disproved by the highest anthority and most unequivocal evidence.'

We have next a perspicuous and full summary of the statutes and judicial regulations which respect debtor and creditor; followed by suggestions highly worthy of attention, for better securing the attainment of a creditor's rights; and a like account is given of the institutions which have been formed for the relief of confined debtors.

We learn that from the various returns which have heretofore been made to the respective Committees of the House of Commons, as well as from the several statements procured by the imprisoned debtors, in their respective communications and correspondence with each other, it will appear that the aggregate number confined at one period, has been communibus annis, 2coo debtors, including the prisons of England, Ireland, and Wales-Of these, it may be estimated, that, on an average, not more than one-third have been confined for debts not exceeding 201.; and of these few, only a small comparative number remained to be charged in execution; the other twothirds, consisting of 1334 persons, owing more than 201. each, are consequently exempted from any benefit under the late act for their liberation; and instead of nine in ten of the prisoners throughout England and Wales being entitled to their release, after twelve months confinement on a judgment obtained, an average estimate will shew, that not more than 666 can be liberated by the most ample operation of this well-intentioned, though, it is apprehended, inadequate mode of relief. Of the 1334 not coming within the pale of relief, it is estimated, that 800 have wives; and on an average, each of these has three children, making together 4534 suffering persons not entitled to the benefit of liberation under this act.'

The subject of the interesting chapter on the relative situation of debtor and creditor is thus stated:-In contemplating this important part of the subject, the attention will be directed towards a discovery of those motives which generally induce hostile measures against the debtor; the usual consequences of ill-judged, ill-advised, or vindictive proceedings; the absurd, oppressive, useless, and unjustifiable imprisonment of the debtor; the evils accruing to himself, his relatives and dependants, aud the ultimate loss to his country which will be succeeded by remarks on the fallacy of persecution; with some suggestions for better securing the attainment of justice to creditors, and a summary of the provisional amendments recommended by other writers.'

It was with great satisfaction that we found it announced, by a very learned law lord, (for whose professional attainments, while we differ most widely from his notions of politics and administrative measures, we entertain the highest respect,) that he is devoting his leisure to the revisal and amendment of this and other parts of the law.

MEDICINE, &c.

Art. 15. Suggestions for the Prevention of that insidious and destructive Foe to the British Troops in the West Indies, commonly termed the Yellow-Fever. With the Outline of a Plan of Military Hospitals, on a Principle and Construction, tending to introduce a more successful

cessful Treatment of the Sick. To which are added other Papers connected with the Subject. By Stewart Henderson, M.D. District Staff Surgeon. 8vo. pp. 114. 58. Stockdale, Jun.

After a few observations on the ravages committed by the yellowfever among the European troops in the West Indies, Dr. Henderson gives his opinion respecting the nature of this disease. He informs us that it is not imported, but generated on the spot; that it arises from marsh effluvia; that it is not contagious; and that the yellow, bilious, remittent, and intermittent fever of the West Indies, is the same disease, existing in different degrees of violence, or somewhat modified by peculiarity of constitution. These opinions are delivered as matters of fact, and very little reasoning of any kind is employed to enforce them. The principal object of the treatise, as it is expressed in the title, is to prevent this destructive foe;' for it appears to be admitted that, when it has once taken possession of the constitution, its expulsion is a matter of the greatest difficulty. In his directions for preventing the disease, then, Dr. H. proceeds on the principle that it always attacks those with the greatest violence who are of a full habit, and in a state of high health; while it is much less injurious to persons of a relaxed and debilitated frame, and who have reached that state of inirritability which is the usual consequence of residing in a hot climate. He advises that means should be adopted for inducing this state of relaxation and debility; and for this purpose he recommends that all the men who are sent to the West Indies should, during the course of their voyage, be put under the influence of mercury. The proposal is singular, such as may startle a timid practitioner, and which even the most resolute would not adopt without due consideration. It might also be objected to it, that the state into which the system is brought by mercury is not that of diminished irritability: but still we acknowlege that the suggestion appears worth attention; and it is certainly better than many of the projects that are daily offered to our notice.

This proposition, which occupies only a few of the first pages of the pamphlet, constitutes all its value; since the remainder is composed of a quantity of matter which, we imagine, must have been put together merely to give the pamphlet a respectable size. We must also remark that some passages savour strongly of puffing, and that the puffing is not well managed; not half so neatly as lottery-advertisements, which, indeed, have become real curiosities, and chefs d'œuvre. Thus, in a very long and fulsome dedication to the Duke of York, the author informs us that this prince, amidst numberless acts of condescending goodness, was pleased some years ago to honor the author in an official communication of personal approbation; the whole dedication being evidently written in order to bring in this striking and important fact. A still more amusing instance occurs in the 14th page; where Dr. Stewart Henderson contrives to insert a parenthetical sketch of his life and adventures, which will no doubt prove highly edifying to all his readers, and more especially to the inhabitants of Birmingham, whence he dates.

Art. 16. A Treatise on the Operation of Lithotomy; in which are demonstrated the Dangers of operating with the Gorget, and the

Superio

7

Superiority of the more simple Operation with the Knife and Staff. Illustrated by Plates. By Rob. Allan, Surgeon. Fol. pp. 73 and five Plates. 11. 118. 6d. Boards. Murray, 18c8.

We cannot enter into any report of the contents of this volume, without first expressing our strong disapprobation, of the form in which it is given to the world. A treatise describing a surgical operation, which professes to contain information that may affect the lives of numbers, and which consequently ought to be read by all practitioners, is printed on the finest hot-pressed paper, with a large folio page, containing only 20 lines, and surrounded by a margin of between 3 and 4 inches the number of pages, with the exception of the explanation of the plates, is only to; and we have found by computation that the matter would fill about 80 such pages as those of the English edition of Heberden's Commentaries: -the plates, in num. ber only five, are but slight sketches;-and for all this we are to pay a guinea and a half.

The author, who comes before the public in this meretricious attire, informs us that he was formerly the apprentice and is now the assistant of Mr. Bell of Edinburgh; and that, although he is a young man, he conceives that the opportunities of acquiring professional knowlege, which he has enjoyed, may justify him in giving a decided opiniou on a practical question. This statement respecting himself may be received in two points of view; on the one hand, we admit that his situation has been favorable for the acquisition of knowlege: but on the other hand the pupil of Mr. Bell may be expected to be biassed in favor of his master's doctrines; and it may be reasonably doubted whether he be competent to decide on a controversy, respecting which he must almost unavoidably have been induced to form a partial judg ment. However, the author has no scruples of this kind; for the sole object of his work is to shew the superiority of the operation by means of the scalpel, over that in which the gorget is used.-We have been led to touch on this controversial point in more than one of our late articles; and our readers are probably aware that our judgment coincides with that of Mr. Allan: but the object at present is rather to examine in what manner the writer has defended his opinion, than to inquire into the justness of it; to ascertain whether he has adduced any arguments which were not previously before the public, or whether the old are placed in a more intelligible or more forcible point of view.

He begins by a history of the progressive improvements, or rather changes, which the operation has undergone from the time of the antients to the present day. In this sketch, we see nothing that calls for either much commendation or much censure; it is, we believe, generally correct but it is very concise, and is such an account as might easily be extracted from former systems, without the labor of referring to the authors themselves. In the latter part of the work, Mr. Allan appears more in the character of an original writer; where he enters on a critical examination of the merits of the two instruments, the gorget and the knife. Against the gorget he argues with much warmth, styling the operation in which it is employed horrible and murderous. His principal objections against it are, generally, that the

surgeon

surgeon is cutting at random, and substituting a mechanical contri vance, which cannot be adapted to individual cases, for that scientific skill which may meet unforeseen difficulties, and may enable him to form his incision according to the circumstances of the patient. The individual objections to the gorget are, that it is liable to be driven into the pelvis, or between the bladder and the rectum, that the prostate gland is imperfectly divided, that the arteries are in danger of being cut, and that it is difficult to withdraw the gorget without wounding the parts through which it must pass. We confess that we approve of Mr Allan's reasonings; since we think that the dangers which he points out are not imaginary, and that they principally attach to the gorget. The scalpel certainly requires a knowlege of the minute anatomy of the parts: but, without this minute knowlege, no one should presume to operate in any way; and if the surgeon be furnished with the necessary information, we apprehend less danger of improperly wounding any part, when the incision is performed un der the immediate direction of a practised hand, than when it is accomplished by an apparatus which must necessarily always proceed in the same course.

We shall give our readers the arguments which the author uses in favor of the knife, in his own words; premising, however, that the quotation will afford a favorable specimen of the merits of the performance.

1. It frequently happens that when a patient has labored long under calculus, the bladder is either in a thickened or a contracted state, or has such a degree of irritability, as renders it incapable of containing a table-spoonful of urine; in this state, if either the bistouri caché or gorget were used, we should inevitably wound it in its fundus; whereas with the knife we operate in perfect safety.

adly, It is evident that, if the stone be large, the incision of the gorget must be quite inadequate to its extraction without laceration; nay, the incision of the gorget barely admits the forceps, so that the operator is in danger of passing them betwixt the rectum and bladder, and grasping the stone through the coat of the latter. With the knife, he can safely enlarge his incision to any given dimensions.

3dly, There is no danger of the point of the knife, like the beak of the gorget, starting from the groove of the staff, and missing the bladder; we pass it along, guided by the finger, and can enter the bladder safely in whatever position the staff may be held.

4thly, Whenever the incision in the neck of the bladder is com pleted, the knife is withdrawn, and there is no danger of making a second cut in removing it, nor of the bladder wounding itself by contracting around the instrument.

5thly, The only accident that is likely to occcur is the wounding the rectum; and although by caution this may be avoided, yet were it to happen, I do not conceive it to be of that alarming nature as to deter us from operating with the knife; it most commonly heals easily, and at worst would only form fistula in ano, curable by the operation: but, from what I have seen, I am confident that it is frequently wounded by the gorget, and passes unnoticed, being productive in truth of no dangerous consequences.'

Art,