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Contact with the inferior portion but by a force that would excite pain, fwelling, and inflammation.

It is a fortunate circumftance, however, that it is not abfolutely neceffary to a complete cure that the different pieces of bone be kept in exact contact. Where it can be easily done, it ought always to be put in practice; but I know, from the refult of feveral cafes where this was impracticable, that a cure may be obtained, and the joint be equally firm and useful as it was before, even although the feparated portions of bone cannot be brought within an inch of each other. We fhould not therefore be very anxious about this; and inftead of ufing much force for the purpose of drawing the bones into close contact, no more should be employed than the patient can bear with perfect ease.'

It has been generally supposed that the ribs cannot be diffocated; upon the prefumption that, as they are connected with the vertebræ by very ftrong ligaments, they will break before they yield at the joints. We think, however, with Mr. Bell, that there is a poffibility of their being diflocated inwards; but the fact is put beyond all doubt when he informs us that it has been proved by diffection after death.

In the ftiffness of a joint, depending on a contracted state of the muscles and tendons that ferve to move it, Mr. Bell recommends the diligent use of emollient applications :

• Where a limb is diftorted from a ftiff contracted state of the muscles and tendons which belong to it, a free use of emollients, with a moderate gradual extenfion, is the remedy from which I have derived most advantage, and which never, in any inftance, does harm. Those who have not been in the practice of ufing emollients for this purpose, may imagine that they will not penetrate to the depth of the mufcles and tendons; and when I first employed them I must own that I did not expect they were to do fo in any remarkable degree; but as I did not know any other remedy that was likely to lubricate fo effectually parts that were become ftiff, I was refolved to give them a complete trial; and I was foon convinced that the most beneficial effects might be expected from them. In a former publication. I had occafion to mention this; and fince that period various opportunities have occurred of employing the fame remedy with advantage.

In order, however, to gain this end emollient applications muft be used in a very ample manner. All the contracted muscles and tendons, from their origins to their infertions, muft be well rubbed with the emollient we are to employ for at least half an hour three times a-day; and the limb fhould be kept constantly moist with, or, as it were, immerfed in, the emollient, by being covered with flannel well foaked in it at every repetition of the frictions. While the frictions are applying the limb fhould be flowly, though firmly, extended to as great a degree as the patient can easily bear; and the inftrument reprefented in Plate LXXIX fig. 1, may be afterwards applied, in order to prevent the mufcles from contracting.

It is neceffary, however, to remark that the extenfion fhould not be made quickly; by doing fo, much mischief has been often produced, infomuch that joints have become pained and inflamed, where there was not previously any other disease than stiffness of the flexor mufcles; while it may be done with the utmoft fafety in the flow gradual manner I have mentioned. In the one way, indeed, several months may be required for effecting what a greater force might accomplish in as many weeks; but the latter must always be attended with pain and hazard, while with the other we proceed with eafe and fafety.

Even where extension is not neceffary, the effects of emollients are often confpicuous. We frequently meet with ftiff joints, particularly in the ancle, without any contraction or distortion of the limb. In this cafe, emollients alone, if duly perfifted in, will commonly anfwer the purpose of relaxing them.

Every kind of greafy application will be useful here; but animal fats prove more relaxing than vegetable oils. The greafe of geefe and ducks and other fowls anfwers well; alfo hogs-lard, and the oil obtained from boiling recent bones of beef and mutton in water. Butchers ufually keep this oil in quantities; when properly prepared, it is quite pure and tranfparent, and has no fmell."

With refpect to the amputating of a limb, to prevent the progrefs of a mortification, Mr. Bell is far from acquiefcing in the flattering expectations entertained by some practitioners. He affirms, that, fo far as his obfervation goes, it is an expedient fraught with danger, and ought univerfally to be abolished. For, however attentive the furgeon may be in amputating at a part of the limb which appears to be found, even the most experienced practitioner will be liable to be deceived. The fkin may be perfectly found, and may be free from pain, inflammation, and fwelling, and yet the deep-feated muscles, and other parts contiguous to the bone, may be in a state of gangrene, Of this he has feen different inftances. But even where the whole divided parts are found to be altogether found, if the operation is performed while mortification is advancing, the difeafe fcarcely ever fails of feizing the ftump; at least, he never knew an inftance of the contrary. Our author's obfervation on this fubject is confirmed by that of the moft eminent modern furgeons.

For preventing or diminishing pain in chirurgical operations narcotics are the general refource. But as medicines of this kind, when given in fuch large dofes as to produce these effects, are apt to induce fickness and vomiting, Mr. Bell informs us that he feldom ventures on giving them before an operation. In general they prove most useful when given immediately after, when they very commonly alleviate that pungent forenefs of which patients at this time ufually complain; and by continuing to give them in adequate doses from time to time, we are often

enabled

#nabled to keep the patient easy and comfortable, till relief is obtained by the formation of matter, or by the removal of that inflammatory tenfion which usually accompanies every capital operation.

In a fubfequent chapter of the prefent volume the author delineates the inftruments ufually employed in midwifery; and defcribes two operations, which, though immediately pertaining to this department, are yet more frequently performed by the furgeon than the accoucheur; namely, the Cæfarean operation, and the division of the fymphyfis pubis. Separate chapters are likewife allotted to the opening of dead bodies, embalming, and bandages; on all which fubjects the author's directions are clear and practical. The volume is accompanied with a number of engravings, and correfponds, in merit and utility, with the preceding parts of this author's excellent and valuable Syftem of Surgery.

ART. IX. The Contraft; or, the oppofite Confequences of good and evil Habits, exhibited in the lowest ranks of rural Life. For the Benefit of intelligent Servants, and the beft Proficients in Sunday Schools. 12mo. 2s. 6d. boards. Longman. London, 1787.

GENIUS never appears to more advantage than when

exerted in the caufe of philanthropy. The object of this little, but, in our opinion, valuable performance, as its authors modeftly declare in their preface, is, to recommend juft princi ples of action in the loweft ranks of life in country villages, and powerfully to impress these upon the moft fenfible hearts by the exhibition of a distinguished portion of happiness, flowing from a right and orderly conduct, placed in a direct and striking contraft with extreme wretchedness confequent upon a vicious and diforderly one.

An intention fo laudable would almoft apologise for medi ocrity of execution. But no fuch apology is here neceffary. The contrafted narrations are conftructed with a degree of ingenuity which renders them in no flight measure interesting. The reader will find many pathetic paffages, and not a few of the humourous caft. We confider the etchings, which are by no means void of expreffion, as a valuable addition to the book, tending to fix the more diftinguished scenes indelibly on the youthful fancy. In the eye of a moralift thofe imperfect íketches are of higher account than the finished productions of many a capital artist, in which nothing can be found to improve the heart, and perhaps much to deprave it.

The

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The ftyle has received fufficient elevation and refinement for the views of the ingenious and benevolent writers. As a fpecimen we shall select the oppofite morals of the two ftories. The examplification of the fuccefs of virtue concludes thus:

With refpect to the external trappings of life, let the titled flaves or minions of ambition, fashion, and pelf, affect to look down with difdain upon the fortunes of creatures low-born, in rank so far beneath their sphere. Let them proudly trace their own grandeur from fources indiftinctly feen perhaps in remote antiquity; or they might else be found to have rifen from caufes merely incidental, or fuch as a difcreeter pride fhould rather teach them to fupprefs. With far fuperior claim to felf-complacency may John and Sarah Goodchild now look back upon the well-fpent years of their past life, as they look forward upon endless ages of happiness in their future profpects. For with pious awe, gratitude, and truft, they are ftill, in heart and mind, contemplating that Almighty Hand which has conducted them fafely through the dangers of childhood, directed their steps to proceed with caution through the fnares of youth, and rewarded their proficiency in every amiable and virtuous quality with a corres pondent increase of folid fatisfaction. One advantage they enjoy, in a peculiar degree, an honourable diftinétion in the cordial regard and affection of the beft judges of real merit; a diftinction which the purblind difpenfers of the gifts of fortune have not very commonly any title or defire to obtain themselves; and have never the power to bestow upon their undeferving favourites.'

The fate of the miferable victims of vice affords these reflections:

From the tragical account here delivered of thefe of scourings of the human race, it appears to have been their own perverfe difpofition and diforderly conduct alone that naturally drove them into thofe labyrinths of wretchedness in which they wandered through life to a deplorable and untimely end. It muft alfo here be noted, that the mifery of these miscreants, commonly inflicted even in this world in a near proportion to their guilt, may perhaps be juftly regarded as ordained by heaven to be the bitter foretaste of what it has denounced to be the doom of impenitent finners in a world to come. Let this ftriking confideration fink deep into the hearts of all young perfons of both fexes, efpecially when they are led, by their own obfervation, to contemplate, in real life, the fad fate of any fuch unprincipled offenders against the laws of God and man; who have defpifed inftruction in their childhood; who have difregarded the rules of prudence, temperance, and justice in their youth; or who, having broken through all the reftraints of religion, are profanely deriding its tenets in their riper years. Let this teach them to reflect, that, however apparently gay and elate by fits thefe tranfgreffors of the rules of found reafon as well as of piety and morality, may be in the momentary flush of merriment and jollity; however thoughtless and unterrified they may now be running their criminal courses; yet all their ways, their inmolt intents of heart, are "naked and open to

Him with whom they have to do." His vengeance, at prefent fufpended over their heads, affords them perhaps the leifure of but one day more for repentance; and, if flighted ftill, must infallibly overtake them at the last.'

Accident prevented our earlier notice of this performance, to which we with all the fuccefs which its moral defign and various merit deserve.

ART. X.

The Life of Captain James Cook. By Andrew Kippis, D.D. F.R. S. and S. 4. 4to. il. Is. boards. Nicol. London, 1788.

BIOGRAPHY is undoubtedly one of the most amufing and

inftructive of all the departments of compofition; and the work with which we are here prefented is the production of á man whofe life has been spent in the pursuits of literature, and who is particularly no novice in the writing of biography. The reader will therefore expect much entertainment; nor will he be difappointed. The work every where bears the marks of an enlightened and a thinking mind, dignified by liberality of fentiment, and by long practice in the ftructure of the English language:

If the volume before us be interesting from the character of its author, it is ftill more interefting from the character of its hero. Captain Cook is a name held in veneration through the habitable univerfe, and in tenfold veneration in Great-Britain, where the arts of navigation are the particular topic of our exultation and our ambition. But Captain Cook has a higher claim to our regard than thofe of an able navigator and an ardent patriot. He was the friend of humanity. He explored every diftant climate, not, like a Cortes and a Pizarro, to fcatter plagues and devastation; to change the fair face of inno cence and peace into a difguftful and horrid fcene of flavery and crimes: The object of Captain Cook was to carry among fa vages the arts of civilifation, and to blefs them with the benefits difcovered by more enlightened nations. He ftudied for their happiness without ceafing. He never engaged in acts of severity but with reluctance; and he always measured the infliction by the indifpenfable neceffity of the cafe. Nor in thus extending his attention through fo vaft a circle did he forget what was nearer to himself. He was more industrious and more fuccefsful in discovering the means of preferving the lives of his mariners in long voyages and infalubrious climates, than any navigator that had gone before him. Such are the honours of a man C who ENG. REV. VOL. XII. JULY 1788.

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