their studies; and from which, still many improvements may reasonably be expected.

Remarks on the Discafe commonly called a Fistula in Ano. By Percival Pott, F. R. S. and Senior Principal Surgeon to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London. 8vo. 2s. 6d. sewed. Hawes and Co.

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HERE

was a time, when our good neighbours the French were generally believed greatly to excel all other nations in the art of furgery. Whatever might be the cafe in the laft age, it is evident, on comparing the present practice in Paris with that of London, that we are now infinitely before them in point of fimplicity of operation, and consequently in rational furgery. To this truth, the treatise now before us bears special testimony.

Mr. Pott's first intention is to inform those of less experience, that a real fistula in ano is a much more uncommon diseafe than is generally supposed; and that what is frequently mistaken for such, is a mere abscess, or collection of matter, without fyluld or callofity. He proceeds, in his second section, to confider the disease under its various appearances with regard to afpect, situa tion, and symptoms: but as these are generally known, we fiall pafs on to Sett. 3d, in which our Author delivers his method of treating the patient before the maturation of the tumour. Here we find him, in two instances, advising, from experience, a method of proceeding very different from the ufual practice on fimilar occafions. Speaking of that fpecies of tumour in which the skin wears the yellowish tint of the erysipelas, 'This kind of inflammation, says the Author, generally makes its attack with naufea, vomiting, flight rigor, heat, thirst, and restlessness. The quickness of pulse, and heat of skin are indications for fome degree of evacuation, and indeed sometimes render it requifite; but it is a very prevailing opinion with many practitioners, that these evacuations should be freely made, and frequently repeated: in short, that the cure of this kind of inflammation is fafely to be effected by them; which is so far from being true, that the practice has proved fatal to many. This obfervation, from a gentleman of Mr. Pott's experience, deferves particular attention; especially as it applies equally to erysipelatous inflammations in every other part of the body.

The other inftance in which, in the first stage of the difeafe, the Author, most judiciousty, steps out of the beaten path, apears in his method of relieving the patient in a total fuppreffion

of

of urine; a symptom frequently attendant on the formation of an abscess near the rettum and bladder. They who have not often seen this case, generally have immediate recourse to the catheter; and for this they plead the authority of precept: but the practice is so essentially wrong, and I have seen such terrible consequences from it, that I cannot help entering my protest against it: the neck of the bladder, from its vicinity to the parts where the inflammation is seated, and from its being involved in the fame common membrane, does certainly participate, in fome degree, of the said inflammation. This will in some meafure account for the complaint; but whoever considers the extreme irritable state of the parts composing that part of the urethra, (if I may be allowed so to call it) and will at the same time reflect on the amazing and well-known effects of irritation, will be convinced that the principal part of this complaint arises from that cause; and that the disease is, strictly speaking, spasmodic.' -The true, safe, and rational method of relieving this complaint, is, by evacuation and anodine relaxation : viz. venefection, gentle cathartics, semicupium, bladders of hot water applied to the pubes and perineum, glysters composed of warm water, oil and opium.' There may have been cases, subjoins our Author, which have resisted and baffled this method of treatment, but I have never met with them.'

Suppose the matter already formed so as to require being let out, he advises the use of the knife or lancet in preference to the cauftic, the latter being neceffarily attended with loss of fubstance; and, instead of cramming the wound with a large quantity of escharotic drefsings, to introduce fuch only, as, by their small quantity and emollient quality, will permit and encourage a gradual fuppuration. If, upon opening the abscess, it should appear, either from the rectum being perforated or denuded, that there is a necessity of laying the two cavities into one, he advises the operation to be immediately performed in the following

manner:

The curved probe-pointed knife with a narrow blade (of which there is a plate given) I have always found to be the most useful and handy inftrument of any: this introduced into the finus, while the furgeon's fore-finger is in the intestine, will enable him to divide all that can ever require division; and that with less pain to the patient, with more facility to the operator, as well as with more certainty and expedition than any other instrument whatever. If there be no opening in the inteftine, the smallest degree of force will thrust the point of the knife through, and thereby make one; if there be one already, the same point will find and pass through it: in either case, it will be received by the finger in ano, will thereby be prevented from deviating, and being brought out by the faid finger, must necessarily divide Rxv. Dec. 1765.

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all that is between the edge of the knife and the verge of the anus.' The operation being performed, a soft doffil of fine lint must be introduced between the lips of the wound, and the rest of the fore drest with the fame.

Whoever compares this fimple operation with those in fimilar cafes of former times in this kingdom, and even of the present age in other countries, will immediately be convinced of the ,value of this treatise. The latter part of the work is chiefly employed in demonftrating the absurdity of the usual method of treating this disorder, particularly in France, in which the Author reasons candidly, judiciously, and, we think, convincingly to unprejudiced readers.

An Effay on British Isinglass: Wherein its Nature and Properties are compared with the foreign Sorts; with the best Methods of converting them into Fining, Glue, and Starch, for the Use of the Brewer, Vintner, Paper-tainer, Sc. comprehending a fuccint Analysis of Ifingloss, and Rationale of its Action in clarifying Liquors. Interfperfid with Hints for the further improving of Malting, Brewing, Fermenting, and for preventing the Wooden Apparatus in the Brewery fro'n speedy Decay. By H. Jackson. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Newbery.

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imported at

HE home-manufacture of an article which is an exorbitant price, and forms a disadvantageous balance in the way of commerce, is a fubject of great importance; and the inventor of a method by which we may be supplied with fuch article from our own labour and our own materials, is entitled to the countenance and patronage of the legislature. The preparation of Ifinglass hath been long kept a fecret by the Ruffians, Neuman, indeed, and others, have given a defcription of the fish from which this particular species of glue is extracted, and a fort of hearfay account of the process by which it is made: the Ruffians, however, were the first inventors of this art, have continued to be the fole manufacturers, and from them all Europe has been fupplied.

In Mr. Jackson's effay we meet with the following interesting particulars :-that the art of making Isinglass in England from British materials, after a most rigid fcrutiny into its merits, has been adjudged a new and useful invention; that feveral tons weight of this manufacture have been confumed and inconteftibly proved in a court of judicature, to answer the purposes of the Foreign; and that all forts of Ifinglass may be manufactured at home, as foon as we receive a due fupply of materials from our American American provinces, the rivers of which are well known to abound with an inexhaustible plenty and variety of fish, that will yield fine Isinglass sufficient for the confumption of all Europe, provided a just encouragement be given to our fisheries.That our Author's intent in the present publication was to set the subject of British Isinglass in its true light, and to communicate a method whereby the most perfect fining for the purpose of clarifying malt liquors may be made from the fame, equal in efficacy to that made from any fort of foreign Ilfinglass whatever; that the coarfer forts, if perfectly dry and found, are not inferior to the best flaple-ifinglass, for the uses of the brewer; they require only a longer time, and a proper management, to be formed into fining: that from some very accurate experiments, made by a gentleman of undoubted honour and veracity, it appears, that fining made with British Ifinglass performs its office more speedily, and falls closer to the bottom, than the foreign; that the fine, pellucid forts, are confumed in making mockpearls, and in ftitfening linens, filks, gauzes, &c. the use of gums and starch being justly laid afide, on account of their difposing the fabrics to rot, crack, and mildew; that the inferior forts have been reduced two hundred per cent. since the commencement of the British manufacture; that for this article there is an annual remittance of forty thousand pounds sterling; that the yearly confumption in the brewery is calculated at twentyfive tons; that one in four has been faved by the home manufacture; and that by an adequate fupply of materials from our own colonies, this importation may be entirely superfeded.

If the above particulars are justly represented, we hope Mr. Jackson will reap the fruits of his application and invention. We think, however, it would have been more to his reputation, if, in one part, he had not appeared a little in the character of a naftrum-monger. The virtues of Ifinglass for the purpose of fining are much injured, if, by being exposed to heat, its diffolution is urged beyond a certain point: and this difpofition to liquify is more remarkable in British than foreign Isinglass.

The whites of eggs, says Mr. Jackson, well whifked up, and commixed with British fining, greatly prevents its fluidity, and acts very powerfully in the business of fining; but as that addition is generally too coftly for this purpose, we hope to be able to discover fome cheap subititute to answer the fame intentions. As this muft pe the refult of experience, we shall be filent in this point, at present, except that it may not be improper to hint, that there is a certain faline matter eafily procurable, which, if commixed to the proportion of a dram to a barrel of fining, greatly improves its clarifying principles, the rationale of which thall be mentioned hereafter. Poffibly our Author may have been provoked to this piece of fecrecy by the prejudice and invi

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dious cenfures of his enemies; and of which he more than once complains. So firmly, fays he, is this bigotry established, that I have lately been assured by unexceptionable evidence, that a certain saponaceous * brewer perfifts to deny the practicability of making Isinglass in England, and represents the affair as an infidious trick to impose upon those less happy in difcernment than himself; this circumstance reminds me of a story fathered upon a certain Welchman, who, on his arrival at London, miftaking British asparagus for leeks, began to devour the wrong ends; and, notwithstanding he was frequently admonished of his error, yet, rather than acknowledge it, continued to eat it fo all his life-time.'

Our Author supposes that the fining powers of Isinglass depend apon its fibrous texture. These fibres are easily rendered vifible to the naked eye; and are fitted for their operation by being separated, macerated, or in part dissolved by a proper medium.Neither gum, fize, glue, jellies, which are a kind of half-finished glue, or Isinglass itself diffolved in hot water, possess the fining properties of Ifinglass when duly divided by a fubacid menftruum; and the best menftruum for this purpose is strong ftale beer. That any person may have an opportunity of observing the operation of fining, or be satisfied as to the relative merits of British or foreign Isinglass, Mr. Jackson directs the following experi

ments.

• Provide a cylindrical glass, about five inches diameter, and two feet long, which may be easily procured at the glass-houses; let it be made pretty strong, with a narrow rim, that it may be laid over with a cover occafionally, and likewise have a glass cover fitted to it, like what the confectioners use. Let a small whisk be prepared, by stripping off as many flender twigs from a birch broom, or common whisk, as will give it the thickness of half an inch in the middle, where it is to be tied round with pack-thread; draw off as much beer out of the butt intended to be fined, as will fill the glass within four inches of the top, then beat up about fix spoonfuls of fining in a bason, with the whisk, a few minutes by itself; after which add gradually a little of the beer in the glass, and whisk it again till it appears very light and frothy: ftir the beer about briskly in the glass, and immediately pour in the fining, and commix them very well, put on the cover, and place the glass in a good light; as soon as the mixture has lost its vertical motion given it by stirring, innumerable little masses, resembling brown-coloured curd, may be perceived to form and move in various directions throughout the whole liquor, which every moment increase in magnitude, till at length they feparate at confiderable distances, and some parts fall down

Mr. Combrune deines wort to be a species of foap.