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46 M. Lesueur supposes that the peculiar mode in which the bladder terminates in the cloaca in these animals, permits, in some cases, the debris of shells to be forced into the bladder, and to become the nucleus of these concretions. The urine of the chelonia is a very watery, pale, limpid fluid. (Comptes Rendus, July 30, 1844.) DECOMPOSITION OF TINCT. OPII BY A1VIIONIA. It is of great importance for prescribers to remember that the addition of ammonia, either as carbonate or spiritus ammon. aroma- ticus, to mixtures containing tincture of opium or any salt of mor- phia, will, after some time, say 24 hours, precipitate the morphia in a crystalline form; so that if a mixture is made a day or two before it is taken, the patient may get several doses of morphia concentrated in the last portion left in the bottle, and fatal conse- quences may be produced. The presence of alcohol will prevent the precipitation. (Chemical Gazette.) PREPARATION OF EXTRACTS OF NARCOTIC PLANTS IN SMALL QUANTITIES. Scheidelmandel, (a pharmacien,) in " Buchner’s Repertorium," recommends the extracts of hyoscyamus, belladonna, digitalis, co- nium, &c., to be prepared from plants which are found in a wild state. To prepare extract of hyoscyamus, for example, the plant should be thoroughly dried, by a gentle heat, until it can be rubbed through a coarse hair sieve. The finest powder should be separated, and rejected. Place four ounces of the coarse powder in a funnel, the neck of which is partially closed by cotton, and place over it a piece of white filtering paper, covered with a layer of sand, which has been previously purified by hy- drochloric acid, and well washed. Pour gradually on it so much spirits of wine, of specific gravity 0950, as to penetrate the powder to half the depth of the funnel. In about half an hour the whole is moistened, and a dark-green solution begins to drop from the funnel. When the dropping slackens, add small portions of spirit every half or quarter of an hour, for a whole day, using altogether about eighteen ounces of spirits. Thefunnel should be covered with aglass plate, and allowed to stand all night; then add pure water in suc- cessive small quantities of an ounce, until it drops no longer green, but brown-that is, until all the spirituous extract is dis- placed by the water. The filtrate should be removed, and the watery extract received in another vessel. The alcoholic solu- tion will be of remarkably fine green colour, and strong charac- teristic odour. The treatment with water must be continued until it drops transparent. The spirit is distilled off until a few ounces only remain. The watery infusion is evaporated to the consistence of syrup; both are mixed, and carefully evaporated to a proper consistence. The extract will be of a fine green colour, perfectly soluble in water, and very active. Four ounces of the coarse powder of hyoscyanus yield one ounce four drachms of extract. THE HYDROSTATIC BED. To tlte Editor ofTuE LANCET. SIR,-A few words more (if you can spare a corner) on the water-bed, in reference to a letter on the subject in THE LANCET of Saturday last. This letter affords a curious illustration of my position, that the public has suffered in consequence of Dr. Arnott’s having made them a present of his invention, instead of retaining a control over the manufacture of the bed; for here a maker of the bed informs us, that the weight of the mattress would prevent the accumulation of air over the water! This leads me to advert to another common error in the manu- facture, of a character similar to that which I have mentioned. The mattress is generally so thick and unyielding, as materially to detract from the equability of the hydrostatic pressure; several folds of blanket is, in most cases, infinitely preferable. The ventilation may not be so good ; but that is of minor importance. The particular bed I mentioned in my former letter had one great advantage over many which I have seen. Being lined with zinc, instead of lead, and in other respects much lighter than the troughs of water-beds generally are, it was easily placed in a common bed-frame after removing the straw mattress. Might not the carriage of it be still further facilitated, and the original expense lessened, by removing the metallic lining altogether, and telying for water-tightness on well-joined planks, or on a good varnish or oakum for the seams, or on a lining of Macintosh cloth, or strips over the seams? How desirable were it that the expenses attending the use of the water-bed could be reduced. Within a few days, I have seen a poor man perish deplorably ’, from extensive sloughing of the back, after all the symptoms of the typhus fever under which he had laboured had ceased. More than one imperfect substitute was tried for the water-bed, which was beyond the reach of his means. The subject of reducing the present great expense of the water-bed deserves serious consideration, in order that it may be accessible to the poor. This innocuous means of procuring sleep, and preventing injury from, or curing the effects of, long- continued pressure on the weakened and morbid frame, is a great and certain addition to therapeutics. It does not preserve its station by the prop of theory, nor need it fear (like ninety-nine in a hundred of our new practices) the influence of fashion ; but its present expense places it in the category of many other valu- able remedies-such as change of climate, freedom from occu- pation and care, passive exercise, &c.-only to be comma1ùl.ed. by the rich. The maker, therefore, who will materially reduce its price, will deserve highly of the community. I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, MEDICUS. Sept. 14. CYSTS IN THE ANTERIOR CHAMBER OF THE EYE. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR,-In THE LANCET for August 31, 1844, a case of cyst in the anterior chamber of the eye is reported by Mr. Dalrymple. Such cases are rare. Mr. D. refers to some cases by Tyrrell, Delarue, Soemmerring, and Logan, not of the same nature as his. Why omit all notice of a case which appears very similar to it, related by Mackenzie, in his 11 practical Treatise," third edition, p. 604 ? True, it is titled " Encysted Tumour in the Posterior Chamber;" but it was, in fact, in the anterior chamber also, before it could have been seen and punctured. I observe Mr. Dalrymple writes cysticercus cellulosa." Another learned Theban had it "cysticercus cellulosus," not long ago, in one of the periodical publications. This specific name of an animal needs not to agree with the generic name, neither in num- ber, case, nor gender. At full length, the name is " cysticercus telae cellulosae." Query-Are the cysticerci male and female, or are they her- maphrodites? I am, &c. A STUDENT. Edinburgh, Sept. 2, 1844. THE LANCET. LONDON : SATURDAY, OCT. 5, 1844. THE GOVERNMENT MEDICAL REFORM BILL. AT the meeting of the MEDICAL PROTECTION AssEMBLT, at Exeter Hall, on Monday evening last, A PROTEST against the Bill of Sir James Graham was unanimously and enthusiastically adopted. An exact copy of THE PROTEST will be found in an- other part of our journal, (p. 51,) and the committee who arranged the business of the meeting are entitled to the warmest thanks of the profession for framing and issuing that important document. The objections against the measure are stated with extreme clearness, simplicity, and brevity. They are unanswerable, and place the whole question, so far as the bill itself is concerned, within the narrowest possible limits. The feeling of hostility manifested against the Government Bill, was ardent, and could not be misunderstood. In the morning journals the numbers were (doubtless unintentionally) misrepresented; at nine o’clock there were upwards of three hundred gentlemen assembled, and considering the frequent recurrence, of late, of public meetings of the profession, many will consider this to have been a large attendance. We find that one effect has been produced by the powerful and noble labours of " The Times " newspaper which we did not anticipate-the profession already believe the battle to be won! Such a conviction may prove a fatal error. It would be the height of folly for medical;:practitioners to relax iri their efforts against the bill, until the signs of a certain and final victory break upon them from within the walls of parliament. The last conflict must take place in the houses of the legislature, and it is upon that quarter that the members of the profession should direct all their powers and energies so as to produce the greatest effect.
Transcript

46

M. Lesueur supposes that the peculiar mode in which the bladderterminates in the cloaca in these animals, permits, in some cases,the debris of shells to be forced into the bladder, and to becomethe nucleus of these concretions. The urine of the chelonia is a

very watery, pale, limpid fluid. (Comptes Rendus, July 30,1844.)

DECOMPOSITION OF TINCT. OPII BY A1VIIONIA.

It is of great importance for prescribers to remember that theaddition of ammonia, either as carbonate or spiritus ammon. aroma-ticus, to mixtures containing tincture of opium or any salt of mor-phia, will, after some time, say 24 hours, precipitate the morphiain a crystalline form; so that if a mixture is made a day or twobefore it is taken, the patient may get several doses of morphiaconcentrated in the last portion left in the bottle, and fatal conse-quences may be produced. The presence of alcohol will preventthe precipitation. (Chemical Gazette.)

PREPARATION OF EXTRACTS OF NARCOTIC PLANTS IN

SMALL QUANTITIES.

Scheidelmandel, (a pharmacien,) in " Buchner’s Repertorium,"recommends the extracts of hyoscyamus, belladonna, digitalis, co-nium, &c., to be prepared from plants which are found in a wildstate.To prepare extract of hyoscyamus, for example, the plant

should be thoroughly dried, by a gentle heat, until it can berubbed through a coarse hair sieve. The finest powder shouldbe separated, and rejected. Place four ounces of the coarse

powder in a funnel, the neck of which is partially closed bycotton, and place over it a piece of white filtering paper, coveredwith a layer of sand, which has been previously purified by hy-drochloric acid, and well washed. Pour gradually on it so

much spirits of wine, of specific gravity 0950, as to penetrate thepowder to half the depth of the funnel. In about half an hourthe whole is moistened, and a dark-green solution begins to dropfrom the funnel.When the dropping slackens, add small portions of spirit every

half or quarter of an hour, for a whole day, using altogether abouteighteen ounces of spirits. Thefunnel should be covered with aglassplate, and allowed to stand all night; then add pure water in suc-cessive small quantities of an ounce, until it drops no longergreen, but brown-that is, until all the spirituous extract is dis-

placed by the water. The filtrate should be removed, and thewatery extract received in another vessel. The alcoholic solu-tion will be of remarkably fine green colour, and strong charac-teristic odour. The treatment with water must be continueduntil it drops transparent. The spirit is distilled off until a fewounces only remain. The watery infusion is evaporated to theconsistence of syrup; both are mixed, and carefully evaporated toa proper consistence. The extract will be of a fine green colour,perfectly soluble in water, and very active. Four ounces of thecoarse powder of hyoscyanus yield one ounce four drachms ofextract.

THE HYDROSTATIC BED.To tlte Editor ofTuE LANCET.

SIR,-A few words more (if you can spare a corner) on thewater-bed, in reference to a letter on the subject in THE LANCETof Saturday last. This letter affords a curious illustration of myposition, that the public has suffered in consequence of Dr.Arnott’s having made them a present of his invention, instead ofretaining a control over the manufacture of the bed; for here amaker of the bed informs us, that the weight of the mattresswould prevent the accumulation of air over the water!

This leads me to advert to another common error in the manu-facture, of a character similar to that which I have mentioned.The mattress is generally so thick and unyielding, as materiallyto detract from the equability of the hydrostatic pressure; severalfolds of blanket is, in most cases, infinitely preferable. Theventilation may not be so good ; but that is of minor importance.The particular bed I mentioned in my former letter had one

great advantage over many which I have seen. Being linedwith zinc, instead of lead, and in other respects much lighterthan the troughs of water-beds generally are, it was easily placedin a common bed-frame after removing the straw mattress. Mightnot the carriage of it be still further facilitated, and the originalexpense lessened, by removing the metallic lining altogether, andtelying for water-tightness on well-joined planks, or on a goodvarnish or oakum for the seams, or on a lining of Macintoshcloth, or strips over the seams? How desirable were it that theexpenses attending the use of the water-bed could be reduced.Within a few days, I have seen a poor man perish deplorably ’,from extensive sloughing of the back, after all the symptoms of

the typhus fever under which he had laboured had ceased. Morethan one imperfect substitute was tried for the water-bed, whichwas beyond the reach of his means.The subject of reducing the present great expense of the

water-bed deserves serious consideration, in order that it maybe accessible to the poor. This innocuous means of procuringsleep, and preventing injury from, or curing the effects of, long-continued pressure on the weakened and morbid frame, is a

great and certain addition to therapeutics. It does not preserveits station by the prop of theory, nor need it fear (like ninety-ninein a hundred of our new practices) the influence of fashion ; butits present expense places it in the category of many other valu-able remedies-such as change of climate, freedom from occu-pation and care, passive exercise, &c.-only to be comma1ùl.ed.by the rich. The maker, therefore, who will materially reduceits price, will deserve highly of the community.

I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,MEDICUS.

Sept. 14.

CYSTS IN THE ANTERIOR CHAMBER OF THE EYE.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-In THE LANCET for August 31, 1844, a case of cyst inthe anterior chamber of the eye is reported by Mr. Dalrymple.Such cases are rare. Mr. D. refers to some cases by Tyrrell,Delarue, Soemmerring, and Logan, not of the same nature as his.Why omit all notice of a case which appears very similar to it,related by Mackenzie, in his 11 practical Treatise," third edition,p. 604 ? True, it is titled " Encysted Tumour in the PosteriorChamber;" but it was, in fact, in the anterior chamber also, beforeit could have been seen and punctured.

I observe Mr. Dalrymple writes cysticercus cellulosa." Anotherlearned Theban had it "cysticercus cellulosus," not long ago, inone of the periodical publications. This specific name of ananimal needs not to agree with the generic name, neither in num-ber, case, nor gender. At full length, the name is " cysticercustelae cellulosae."Query-Are the cysticerci male and female, or are they her-

maphrodites? I am, &c.A STUDENT.

Edinburgh, Sept. 2, 1844.

THE LANCET.

LONDON : SATURDAY, OCT. 5, 1844.

THE GOVERNMENT MEDICAL REFORM BILL.

AT the meeting of the MEDICAL PROTECTION AssEMBLT, atExeter Hall, on Monday evening last, A PROTEST against theBill of Sir James Graham was unanimously and enthusiasticallyadopted. An exact copy of THE PROTEST will be found in an-other part of our journal, (p. 51,) and the committee who arrangedthe business of the meeting are entitled to the warmest thanks ofthe profession for framing and issuing that important document.The objections against the measure are stated with extreme

clearness, simplicity, and brevity. They are unanswerable, andplace the whole question, so far as the bill itself is concerned,

within the narrowest possible limits. The feeling of hostilitymanifested against the Government Bill, was ardent, and couldnot be misunderstood. In the morning journals the numberswere (doubtless unintentionally) misrepresented; at nine o’clockthere were upwards of three hundred gentlemen assembled, andconsidering the frequent recurrence, of late, of public meetings ofthe profession, many will consider this to have been a largeattendance. We find that one effect has been produced by thepowerful and noble labours of " The Times " newspaper whichwe did not anticipate-the profession already believe the battleto be won! Such a conviction may prove a fatal error. Itwould be the height of folly for medical;:practitioners to relax iritheir efforts against the bill, until the signs of a certain and finalvictory break upon them from within the walls of parliament.The last conflict must take place in the houses of the legislature,and it is upon that quarter that the members of the professionshould direct all their powers and energies so as to produce thegreatest effect.

47THE GOVERNMENT MEDICAL REFORM BILL.

Our contemporary the " Morning Chronicle," being in a sadlydiscomfited state of mind, in consequence of the successful exer-

tions of "The Times" against the bill, seems disposed, after havinglavished the most virulent abuse upon Sir James Graham, withreference to all other subjects and questions which he has

handled, to take both the Home Secretary and his Bill underits especial protection. Be it so ! but before the contest can ter-

minate, the "Chronicle" may discover that it is neither just norprudent to abuse or stigmatize the great body of medical prac-titioners of this country. By that journal, they have alreadybeen charged with the most vulgar species of selfishness; and nowit is alleged in the same paper, that " the respectable portion ofthe profession give a moderate support to Sir James Graham’sBill." The "respectable" portion of the profession ! So that themedical practitioners who have held such a vast number of publicmeetings in the metropolis, and in the counties, are not to be

counted in estimating the numbers of the respectable portion ofthe profession ! Those thousands of medical gentlemen who havebeen most unwillingly called from their homes to take part in theproceedings at public meetings, which have been held with theview of protecting their own interests and shielding the publicagainst the destructive operation of a quack’s protection bill, hadlittle reason to expect that they and their conduct would be thusstigmatized by a journal which affects to uphold popular rightsand to encourage the expression of popular opinion. Now, how-ever, all those members of the profession who publicly take partagainst the Government Bill, are inferior and disreputable prac-titioners, and the only "respectable" physicians and surgeons areto be found amongst the silent members of our fraternity. After

all, probably, the best thing for our cause, next to the advocacyof "The Times," is the hostility of the "Chronicle," as it

points directly to the source of the atrocious monster-Bill.Amongst the notices of the meetings on the subject of the

Government measure will be found a series of resolutions which

have been adopted by the Council of the British Medical Associa-tion. We have been long acquainted with the gentlemen com-posing this council, and we are not at all surprised to find that

they have entered fully upon the principles and into the detailsof the bill, nor are we astonished to find that they have selectedthis opportunity for declaring what they conceive ought to be theleading provisions of a new medical law. But we cannot refrainfrom guarding our professional brethren against coming to any ’,,qualified expression of opinion relating to the monster-bill. The

Government will take advantage of any softened opposition, andask for leave to re-introduce the bill, for the purpose of retainingthe unopposed portions of the measure, and of " attentively con-sidering," if not rejecting, the parts which have been found themost obnoxious to the Profession. Our able advocate in " The

Times" is for assailing the enemy directly in front, with a viewof preventing the re-introduction of the bill into the House ofCommons. This is the bold and the honest plan; and in orderthat we may secure the means of success, it is to be most ear-

nestly desired that the deputations from the local medical associa-tions who may visit members of parliament, should endeavour tolearn distinctly from their representatives whether-ay, or no-they will vote against the re-introduction of the bill into parlia-ment, and whether, also, they will vote in favour of every motionto obstruc its progress through the house, should the first vote bean unsuccessful one. The different members of the legislature,upon whom the deputations may intend to call, ought to have adistinct intimation made to them of the object for which theinterview is sought. Of course, the Profession will be enabledto calculate with certainty only on the services of those memberswho, having been made to understand the question, will defini-tively state the course which it may be their fixed resolution to

pursue. _______

DURING the last fortnight, an institution, which but few of ourprofessional brethren had ever heard of, and -which we ourselvesscarcely knew, even by name, The London Cutaneous Infirmary,has enjoyed the advantage of engrossing a considerable share ofpublic attention. Founded, it appears, about three years ago, bya private medical practitioner, under the auspices of a number ofcity gentlemen, it has occupied, until the present day, a smallhouse in London Wall. The directors of this dispensary, or infir-mary, as it is called, recently determined to change its locality,and they have taken a house occupying the corner of Earl Streetand Bridge Street, Blackfriars.As soon as the intended transfer became known to the respect-

able inhabitants of Bridge Street and the neighbourhood, theydetermined to oppose it to the utmost, being unwilling to allowsuch an institution to be established in the very centre of the partof the town which they inhabit, in a position so totally unsuited tothe purposes for which it is designed. " The Times" has lent its

powerful aid to the just representations of the indignant citizens,both by an able leading article, and by admitting into its columnsa host of letters on the subject. There are so many objections tothe establishment of a cutaneous infirmary in the midst of a

crowded locality, that we are surprised how a committee of

persons in their senses can have decided on such a course. These

objections are twofold; firstly, the situation is one which is cer-tain to be prejudicial to the patients themselves, and, secondly,the patients are nearly certain to prove a nuisance to the neigh-bourhood in which they are thus congregated.That the presence, either as permanent inhabitants, or as casual

visitors, of a number of persons affected with cutaneous diseasesis likely to prove disagreeable to the neighbourhood can scarcelybe denied. The house which has been taken abuts on three citythoroughfares, and has no back area at all. Consequently, it willbe next to impossible to prevent applicants for relief, if numerous,from lounging aboutthe house., much to the annoyance of passengers.We must, indeed, confess, that the dangers of their proximityhave been exaggerated by those who have lately written on thesubject. The very great majority of skin diseases are not con-tagious, and the small number that are so, with the exception ofthe exanthemata, are only caught by absolute, and, generallyspeaking, prolonged contact. As to the exanthemata, (measles,scarlet fever, small-pox,) they are scarcely likely to be sent to acutaneous infirmary. A correspondent in " The Times," who boastsof having been attached to the hospital St. Louis in Paris, betrayssuch unpardonable ignorance on that score, that we much doubtwhether he really ever was attached in any capacity to thatnoble institution. At the hospital Saint Louis, where there areeight hundred cutaneous in-patients, and where between two andthree hundred out-patients, affected with cutaneous diseases, aretreated every day in summer, contagion is perfectly unknown,unless the patients be handled without any precaution; and eventhen, scabies is nearly the only disease which is thus occasionallycommunicated. Still, cutaneous diseases are a subject of fear tonon-professional persons, and the idea of contagion is intimatelyconnected with them. We think, therefore, that unless the interestsof the patients imperatively demanded the change, the very naturalrepugnance of the inhabitants of Blackfriars to the presence of a

cutaneous institution amongst them ought to be consulted.On the other hand, so far from the interests of the patients

requiring that the infirmary should be situated in the heart of thecity, they directly negative it.

Hospitals that are destined to receive the acute cases andthe accidents of a populous neighbourhood, must necessarilybe placed in the precincts of that neighbourhood. But there isno necessity of the kind with reference to skin diseases. The

great majority of those who labour under cutaneous maladies arepersons who enjoy good, or, at all events, tolerable health, andwho are quite equal to the labour of walking a couple of miles, or

48 THE LONDON CUTANEOUS INFIRMARY.-UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.

more. Charities destined to receive them ought therefore to besituated on the outskirts of the town, where the air is not conta-minated by the thousand emanations of cities, and where groundsmay be obtained in which they can take exercise. If it were

found that the remoteness of such a locality diminished the utility-of a charity by preventing the poor from applying for assistance,it would be an easy matter to separate the consulting from thereceiving department. Let a dispensary be retained in the cityfor the facility of consultation, whilst the wards in which thepatients are received and treated, are established in a more healthylocality. Thus proper ground for exercise might be procuredwheres, in the house in Bridge-street, as it would be impossibleto allow the patients to promenade in the streets, they wouldhave to remain confined to a room or two during the entireterm of treatment, which in skin diseases is seldom very short,although not only perfectly able to walk about, but absolutelyrequiring exercise and fresh air as parts of their treatment. It

must be allowed by all that the choice of the locality, on the partof the institution, is singularly infelicitous. That the proposedsituation would be a good one, in a "business" point of view, thereis no denying; that, even in a hygienic sense, it is a slight improve-ment on its present position in London Wall, owing to the

proximity of the Thames, and the greater purity of the atmo-sphere, is probable. But the managers of a public institution,even so modest a one as the Cutaneous Infirmary, when theycontemplate changing its site, ought not to be contented

with a slight improvement. They should endeavour to adoptsuch a plan as will give their patients every possible advantage,and one of the most important points in all hospitals is the

greatest attainable purity of atmosphere. Instead of comingfurther into London, the Infirmary ought to go further out; it

ought to try to get quite on the outskirts of town. At a

meeting held last Monday week, at Radley’s Hotel, convened on arequisition signed by seventy of the most influential householdersof the vicinity, petitions to the Court of Common Council and tothe Court of Sewers were unanimously agreed to, and a com-mittee was requested to wait upon the managers of the Infirmary,to represent the state of feeling in the neighbourhood upon thesubject of its erection. We have not yet heard the result of thesemeasures, but cannot for a moment suppose that the authoritieswill allow the establishment of the Infirmary in Bridge-street.

In the next LANCET we shall probably be sufficiently faradvanced in our inquiry into the alleged abuses of the GeneralHospital at Birmingham, as to be able to state a considerable

portion of the case of the malcontents.

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.

WE are desirous, in the most prompt manner, to correct someerrors which appear in our notice of the regulations for

medical degrees in this university, inserted in the last LANCET.It is there stated, (p. 1 of this vol.) that the first examination forthe degree of Bachelor of Medicine commences on the first Mon-day in July; and the second examination for the same, on thethird Monday in July. Instead of these periods, the publishedregulations of the university for 1844, state that-for the degreeof Bachelor of Medicine-

The FIRST EXAMINATION shall take place once a-year, andcommence on the first Monday in 4M."—Regul. p. 12.

The SECOND EXAMINATION shall take place once a-year, andcommence on the first Monday in November."-Regul. p. 16.

*** We earnestly recommend our readers to refer to the Stu-dent’s Number of last week, and make the above corrections atonce.

REVIEWS.

Chemistry, as exemplifying the Wisdom ctnad Beneficence of God.By GEORGE FowNES, Ph.D., Chemical Lecturer in the Md-dlesex-Hospital Medical School. London: J. Churchill, 1844.8vo, pp. 184. (The Actonian Prize Essay.)This interesting work of Dr. Fownes originated in a recent

munificent bequest, the particulars of which are as follow:- -

" In the year 1838, Mrs. Hannah Acton, widow of the lateSamuel Acton, Esq., of Euston-square, from motives of respectand regard for the memory of her deceased husband, and in orderto carry into effect his desire and intention, caused an investmentto be made of the sum of one thousand pounds, in the three percent. Consol. Bank Annuities, in the names of the trustees ofthe Royal Institution of Great Britain, the interest of which wasto be devoted to the formation of a fund, out of which the sum ofone hundred guineas was to be paid septennially, as a reward orprize to the person who, in the judgment of the committee ofmanagers for the time being of the institution, should havebeen the author of the best essay illustrative of the wisdom andbeneficence of the Almighty, in such department of science asthe committee of managers should, in their discretion, haveselected-the form and conditions of the essay being also, in

great measure, left to the choice of that body. ’1 he subjectchosen for the prize of the first period of seven years was,11 chemistry, as exemplifying the Wisdom and Beneficence ofGod."

The prize was awarded, in April last, to Dr. Fownes, the suc-cessful candidate, who has been allowed, by the committee ofmanagers of the Royal Institution, to publish his treatise. This

Dr. Fownes states that he has done, without alteration from theoriginal manuscript, the property of the institution.We are not at all surprised that Dr. Fownes should have been

the successful competitor, for his treatise is certainly a mostscientific, talented, and interesting work. Following in the foot-steps of the learned authors of the Bridgewater treatises, he hasbeen able, by taking a general view of chemistry in its relationto the earth, the surrounding atmosphere, and to animal and

vegetable physiology, to accumulate an immense number of

facts, affording the most satisfactory proofs of design, and of thewisdom, power, and benevolence of the Deity.

Dr. Fownes divides his subject into four sections: the chemicalhistory of the earth and atmosphere; the peculiarities whichcharacterize organic substances generally; the composition andsustenance of plants; and the relations existing between plantsand animals. A slight sketch of the leading chemical lawswhich govern each of these sections, as also of the present stateof our knowledge with reference to them, is first given; and themanner in which the laws are conducive to the integrity andwelfare of the animated world is then forcibly explained andillustrated. Dr. Fownes has thus been able to present to his

readers, in the most clear and readable manner, a summary ofthe modern discoveries of chemistry as applied to agriculture, onthe one hand, and to the vegetable and animal kingdom on theother. Even the experienced chemist will find applications ofphenomena familiar to him, which must strike him as novel;whilst the tyro will not only acquire a vast fund of invaluableinformation respecting inorganic, and more especially organicchemistry, but must be deeply impressed with the sublime pro-fundity of the facts unfolded to him. Such is the rapidity withwhich chemical science progresses, that although the treatise wasonly written, we may say, a few months ago, additional light hassince been thrown on one or two points discussed by Dr. Fownes;but this in no way detracts from the completeness and correctnessof his work. Indeed, the fact would not have been worth mention-ing, were it not to illustrate the difficulty of keeping pace with theprogress of modern science. Dr. Fownes is an elegant andgraphic writer. As a specimen of the forcible manner in whichhe handles the subjects of which he treats, we will extract the

following passage, descriptive of the generation of animal heat.


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