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AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

THE thanks of the American Philosophical Society are presented to the following perfons, for the Communications and Donations affixed to their respective

names.

Philadelphia, October 19th, 1804.

JOHN VAUGHAN, Librarian.

COMMUNICATIONS.

A Memoir on the Improvement of Agriculture and the useful Arts. By A. Fothergill, M. D.

An Essay on the Preceffion of the Equinox, figned Julius, and intended for the Magellanic premium.

An Account of his Temporary rudder. By Capt. William Mugford of Salem, Maffachusetts.

An Appendix to his Memoir on the Miffiffippi, published in vol. 6, p. 165, of the Tranfactions. By William Dunbar, of Natchez.

DONATIONS.

An Indian Hatchet. By Major Rivardi.

Specimen of Sulphate of Magnefia found in Virginia, in the cave in which the bones of the megalonyx were difcovered. By William Hembell.

Various fpecimens of Gypfum from France and from Nova Scotia. By John Vaughan.

FOR THE LIBRARY.

Modern Geography digested on a new plan. By John Pinkerton. Article of America corrected and enlarged by Dr. Barton, 2 vols. 8vo. and an Atlas of 68 maps. Philadelphia, 1804. Prefented by John Conrad and Co. publishers. The Life of Washington. By John Marshall. Ift and 2d vols. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1804. Given by C. P. Wayne, publisher.

The Wars arising out of the French Revolution. By A. Stevens. 2 vols. 8vo. Philadelphia edition, 1804. By Bioren and Plowman, publishers. Juntas Publicas de la Sociedad de los Amigos del Pays de Valencia, from 1799 to 1801. 3 vols. 4to. By the Society.

The Ninth Volume of the Tranfactions of the Hiftorical Society of Maffachusetts. By the Society.

Vocabulary in eight Languages. By Major Rivardi.

Travels in Turkey, Egypt, &c. By William Wittman, M. D. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1804. By James Humphreys, publisher.

Mifcellaneous works of David Humphreys. 8vo. New-York, 1804. By the

Author.

Valedictory addrefs, delivered before the Cincinnati of Connecticut. By David Humphreys. 8vo. Bofton. By the Author.

Papers on Agriculture, publifhed by the Massachusetts Agricultural Society. 8vo. Boston, 1804. By John Vaughan.

Brathwaite on the utility of the oxygenated muriatic acid in the Scarlet Fever. 8vo. London, 1804. By Joshua Gilpin.

Mathematical Correfpondent, No. 1 and 2. I 2mo.

By the Proprietors.

New-York, 1804.

Explanation of Hoppe's improved Sextant and Azimuth Compafs. London, 1804. From the Author, by R. Patterson.

Rev. Dr. Valpy's Reply to the British Critic. London, 1804. By A. Fothergill, M. D.

Abregé concernant la Cofmologie, & la Geologie, par J. A. de Luc. 8vo. Brunfwick, 1803. From the Author, by Dr. Barton.

Nature Displayed, in her mode of Teaching Language to Man, adapted to the French. 2 vols. 8vo. Philadelphia, 1804. By N. G. Dufief, the Author.

A

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

N Effay on the analogy of the Afiatic and African plague and the American yellow fever, with a view to prove that they are the fame disease varied by climate and other circumftances. By Phineas Jenks, of Pennfylvania, honorary member of the Philadelphia Medical and Chemical Societies.— Philadelphia---Maxwell, 18c4. 8vo. pp. 52.

It is well known that of late years the idea of the contagious nature of the plague has been opposed by several eminent Phyficians. Our author in his preface informs us that when he commenced his inquiry, he was inclined to favour the doctrine of the plague being a contagious disease, but that his researches, and the mafs of facts he has collected, have convinced him that his opinions were erroneous, and that he had fallen into a popular mistake.

The first part of the effay itself is taken up with a view of the fuppofed origin of the plague by the Egyptians at this enlightened era, it is added, it is no ways aftonishing that fuch vague and unmeaning conjectures should be overthrown and fuperfeded by theories which have at least probability to recommend them to the world, and that he shall endeavour "to make it appear, that it is the natural effect of phyfical caufes; or, in other words, the effect of the decompofition of vegetable and animal matters." His reafons for this opinion are then detailed, and are followed by a curfory view of the origin of the yellow fever, which, like the plague, he obferves, is unknown in cleanly fituations.

The analogy between the two diseases is then brought into view, and an explanation is attempted why they fometimes vary. This analogy is purfued under feveral heads.

The greater fatality and fhorter duration of the plague, are accounted for on the principles of climate and other circumstances. The different grades of plague and yellow fever are noticed; as likewife their different fymptoms in different

years. Among others, the Sudor Anglicanus, or fweating ficknefs, is confidered as the plague appearing with a determination to the skin.

Those diseases, which are truly contagious, as finall pox and measles, it is obferved, cannot be taken a fecond time, whilst both plague and yellow fever may be repeatedly taken. An instance of death at Conftantinople, from a twelfth attack of plague is mentioned; and the repeated attacks of yellow fever in feveral of our citizens are alfo noticed.

The non-occurrence of these difeafes every year, under the fame circumftances of filth, it is fuppofed, may depend, " in fome degree, upon the heat of the fun in cool fummers being infufficient to caufe putrefaction and exhalation, but principally upon a coinciding malignant state of the atmosphere."

The existence of this malignant state of atmosphere is inferred from feveral circumstances.

A view of the difeafes, preceding and fucceeding both plague and yellow fever, furnishes the author with a still further analogy between the two difeafes, as alfo do their precurfors. The empire which they both affume over all other diseases when they arc epidemic, is fupported by the authority of Sydenham, Huxham, and Diemerbroeck, as well as by the revival of those vanquished difeafes after the decline of the epidemic.

The two diseases under the fame circumftances, are afferted to yield to the fame remedies, though thefe remedies differ in different years.

The contagious nature of thefe difeafes, next occupies the author's attention; which he oppofes from various fources with.. much fuccefs. He does not deny that "under certain circumftances they may be communicated from one person to another, by what has been happily called the contagion of excretion. He afferts however, that there is nothing specific in those excretions; "but that a disease arifing from them, would be as apt to become a yellow fever, or a typhus fever, as the plague."

With respect to the yellow fever, our author fays, that in "1793, when it firft made its appearance, it was univerfally

believed to be contagious; but later experiments have taught many of our physicians, that their obfervations were too hastily made, and their opinions prematurely formed." The number of physicians that died in 1793, though brought forward as a proof of its contagious nature, does not, he thinks, militate against his doctrine; "for those physicians were debilitated by their previous labours, and confequently, were conftantly predispofed to the disease. They were alfo in the habits of frequently visiting parts of the city, where its caufes obviously existed in the most concentrated ftate." The exemption from this disease of many physicians of the city, as alfo of the apothecaries and attendants at the hospital established for the reception of yellow fever patients, are very properly adduced as stubborn facts against the doctrine of contagion. The allowed absence of contagion in the pure air of the country, by the favourers of the doctrine, is adverted to by the author, who asks, "If then it requires a foul atmosphere, or in other words, a fituation where putrefaction and exhalation exift, (for without fomething of the kind, no atmosphere can be contaminated) why may not thofe caufes alone produce the disease?

The practice pursued in Aleppo, Grand Cairo and elsewhere, of fhutting up, during the prevalence of the plague, without fuppofing it to be contagious, is highly commended by the author, as preventing the action of exciting caufes upon the feeds of the disease floating in the system.

The causes which deftroy the fources of exhalation, as extreme heat, heavy rains, &c. are alike injurious to both diseases. The author then enumerates fome of the disadvantages arifing from the doctrine of contagion; and concludes, that he has "now traced the analogy of the plague and yellow fever through their causes, fymptoms and duration, and cure; and it muft ap-pear very obvious that they are one and the fame difeafe, differing only in the degrees of force from the excefs of their caufes. To contend, therefore, that they are different and fpecific difcafes, would be as abfurd as to declare, that a yellow fever could not exist without a black vomit, or that an inflammation of

the lungs was not a peripneumony, because there was an absence of pain.*"

Elements of Life, or the Laws of Vital Motion, by John Rufh, M. D. &c.---Philadelphia---Palmer. 8vo. pp. 34.

The author of this little tract, has with great ingenuity attempted to fubvert the prevailing opinions of animal life—in order to establish one, founded on the laws of chemical action. This doctrine, which has been lately promulgated in Europe, is as yet in its infancy in the United States. It is faid to contain "the substance of a fpeech, which the author delivered before the medical fociety of Philadelphia."-We are ignorant if the doctrine has gained many profelytes in Great Britain, &c. but we understand, the present profeffor of chemistry in this university, is a decided fupporter of it. Whether it will not meet the fate of its predeceffors, time will evince.

The Philadelphia Medical and Phyfical Journal. Collected and arranged by Benjamin Smith Barton, M. D. Professor of Materia Medica, Natural History, and Botany, in the university of Pennfylvania.-Part 1. vol. 1. Philadelphia. 1804-8vo. PP. 184.

This work is divided into four parts-" 1. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS relative to all the branches of medicine, natural

• Several errors occur in the printing of the Theses, such as tartite for tartrite, Columna Carnea for Columnæ Carnea, &c. In fuch small treatises, more attention should certainly be paid to the correcting of the prefs. In one of the Thefes (on Mercury,) we have in a note a prescription for the preparation of the antimonial powder: it is a compound of Latin and English; and from great inattention is rendered highly dangerous, as we are directed to ufe muriate of mercury (corrosive sublimate) instead of mild muriate of mercury (calomel). Such errors are furely very difgraceful to the University; and lead me to fuggeft to the refpectable Faculty of medicine, the propriety of having a printer connected with their department, for the purpose of printing the Medical Theses. By this measure, it is prefumed, correctnefs will be acquired by habit, and uniformity of size and type will be preferved. By this measure also, no difficulty will exist in binding up a volume, (as at present is frequently the case,) efpecially if the graduates themselves, would distribute their dissertations uncut.

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