carious, appear to support this conclusion. We have always been of opinion, and we incline to believe that the impression is very general among the physicians of America, that it is hazardous to attempt the cure of gout, by any active or efficient measures, and if we look for the cause of this apprehension, it will be found in the fact which daily experience continues to support, that when even suspended, it is very liable to be followed by a much more dangerous disease, viz. apoplexy, or dropsy: the conclusion is natural, (though this by the way.) that gout is rarely, if ever, an idiopathic affection.

The treatment of apoplexy, which occupies nearly eighty pages, will leave little room for improvement; the general indications of cure have been long settled and so generally adopted, as to preclude the necessity, if not the possibility of any successful attempt to controvert them: the most, therefore, that could be expected of our author. was to lay down the various means by which they can be most conveniently and promptly answered; this is done very much in detail, but we have to regret here, as in other parts of his book, that though he has transcribed the reasonings of a numerous list of authors, he has left the reader to draw his own inferences, and has neither balanced their opinions, nor given us the results of his own convictions. The subject of the exhibition of emetics, in the discussion of which much ingenuity might be displayed, and much interesting truth elicited, he passes over with a few common-place reflections, which leave us in doubt whether he considers them remedial or injurious.

The last chapter contains a full exposition of the doctrines and practice of almost every celebrated author who has treated Hydrocephalus Internus, except Dr. Cooke himself: the views of many of the writers whom he has quoted, however various in some points, appear to assimulate very closely on the subject of its treatment, which consists of

local bleeding, the exhibition of active cathartics, blisters, caustics, setons, cold applications to the head, mercury, externally and internally, and digitalis, which by the way we consider the most equivocal remedy in the whole catalogue. Various causes have been assigned to this disease, but they are all ultimately referable to two great classes, viz. those which induce active inflammation of the brain, and those which affect it intermediately, inducing the symptomatic disease, which is by far the most frequent, as well as most fatal. A peculiarity belonging to this disease, is, that it requires to be actively treated before there is unequivoIcal evidence of its existence, and that remedies are required to be used with a view to prevent its complete evolution; as experience has most unfortunately shown, that when well formed, it is almost invariably beyond the reach of remedy. Our limits will not permit us to go as largely into this subject as we could wish; it has successively employed the attention of some of the most intelligent men belonging to the profession, and Dr. Cooke has, at considerable pains, abstracted their various points of doctrine and practice. If we were required to select from his numerous list of authors, we should particularly recommend, the reading of the works of Whytt, Cheyne, Rush, Yates, Coindet, and Abercrombie, whose views when studied will be found not only to consist with fact, in so far as they are susceptible of that kind of proof, but very nearly with each other, when their reasonings cannot be subjected to that ordeal. On the whole, Dr. Cooke's book, in its present form, is calculated to be extensively useful, notwithstanding its imperfections, which are not the less excusable, because they are chiefly quotations, since he has ingrafted them in his text, and suffered them to be published without comment; but its perusal has been accompanied with a feeling of regret that talents of the first order should prefer to employ themselves in collecting and publishing the opinions

of others, when half the pains which are here expended, would, if properly directed, have sufficed to have procured for himself a distinction as an author, infinitely more durable that any which he can expect to derive from this compilation.

Discourses on Cold and Warm Bathing with remarks on the effects of drinking Cold Water in Warm Weather. By John G. Coffin, M.D. Boston, 1818-pp. 75.

ONE would think that there was no remedy in the whole compass of medicine more likely to be a favourite with all classes of the community, than the employment of cold and warm bathing, especially the latter. Certainly there is none that holds out so many inducements for general adoption, both as a prophylactic and a remedy. Whilst their effects are in general very evident, can be precisely appreciated, are capable of being regulated with great exactness to suit particular cases, and any ill effects that may arise from their injudicious use, for the most part readily obviated; their employment may be justly esteemed among the luxuries of civilized life, equally conducive to impart tone and elasticity to the general habit; and by cleansing and exciting the dermoid system, to maintain its functions in healthy vigour, and thereby to take from them the susceptibility of morbid determination to internal organs, which is so frequently the cause of dangerous disease.

Notwithstanding the ingenious and well-directed labours of recent writers, both in England and on the Continent, inculcating the important benefits to be derived from these means in the treatment of many diseases, they are now scarcely more employed than before the time of Currie,

who led the way in this beneficent inquiry, and whose directions for the application of cold water are generally acknowledged to be safe and judicious. The observations of Marcard, of Germany, proving the decided antiphlogistic powers of the warm bath,and that it deserves to be considered as an important agent in subduing inflammatory action, have been followed with no better success: physicians still continue to look on it merely in the light of a dernier resort in aggravated cases, or a remedy adapted to some few diseases, such as those arising from spasm, affections of the urinary organs,and the inflammatory diseases of children. In our judgment it is precisely in these last cases where its effects are most problematical, for very young children exhibit great aversion to the immersion, and their struggles to avoid it, must rather tend to increase the excitement, and aggravate the inflammatory affection; or at least render the remedy nugatory.

It is not our business at this time to set forth the advantages to be derived from the general introduction of the external application of water, as one of the established means of combating disease; neither shall we attempt to state the cause of the general reluctance on the part of physicians, as well as patients, to employ for the removal of disease, what the ancients purchased as a luxury at so great a price, and the eastern nations still esteem as a source of high sensual gratification, and practise as a religious rite. We do not know a better method of obtaining that consideration for this subject, which it really deserves, than bringing it fairly before the public in a popular Treatise, which has been done by Dr. Coffin of Boston, in the little tract before us. The Doctor has urged, with much point and ingenuity, the safety and propriety of frequent ablutions; and whilst his work is well adapted to answer the author's principal object, it is not unworthy the attention of the professional reader. We have nowhere

met with more satisfactory and concise directions for bathing, than the following extracts from Dr. Coffin's tract. If they were generally inculcated, they would do much to allay the apprehensions that now prevail on this subject.

Directions for Bathing.-1. We are never to enter the cold bath when the temperature of the body is below the standard of health : if it is a few degrees above this, the bathing will be proportionately more grateful and invigorating.

2. We should never remain long in the water; no longer than to secure a vigorous reaction. The common mistake on this point is, not only to remain in the water till the glow of warmth arising from the shock is established, but till it is dissipated by continuing in the water too long, or by returning to it too often.

3. We are to bathe before breakfast, or better before dinner.

4. We are to bathe when the stomach is empty, or nearly so. And 5. We are to bathe every second or third day only, or if our bathing depends on the tide, we may bathe several days in succession, and then omit it as many.

1. The warm bath should be entered by persons in health at 93 degrees of heat, and after waiting a few minutes, and attending to our sensations, its temperature should be so altered, if any alteration is required, as to render it the most grateful to our feelings.

When a thermometer cannot be had, the water should be brought to that temperature which feels neither hot nor cold to the arm, or some part of the body usually covered, and after entering the bath at this degree of warmth, it may then be raised to that temperature which is most pleasant.

If the temperature of the bath is what it should be, it will supply any deficiency, or counteract any excess of heat, in him who bathes. 2. The best time for bathing is the forenoon, after the breakfast is digested. The cases in which it is allowable or expedient to bathe in the morning or evening, are few, and to be regarded as exceptions to the general rule.

3. It is not easy to point out, in a general direction, any precise period as the best time for remaining in the bath.

We feel ourselves called upon to object to the author's views on the effects of drinking cold water in warm weather, as calculated,if adopted, to cause those who peril themselves, by committing this imprudence when much heated, to neg