selects the most prominent and constant characteristics of the substance, describes the precipitates furnished by the mineral poisons, when mixed with the different chemical agents, and lays down the botanical and zoological character of the different vegetable and animal poisons, according to the principles of the two sciences to which they belong. He shows 2dly, by experiments on living animals, "their physiological action," the phenomena produced by the poisonous substance when introduced into the stomach, injected into the veins, or applied externally; and undertakes to explain its specific action in producing death; 3dly," their general symptoms," the deseription of which is preceded by instructive cases from the most eminent medical writers, with their observations and the author's; 4thly," the lesion of texture which they produce; the nature of the alterations produced by the poison; their situation, extent, intensity, &c;" 5thly, he considers "the application of the facts in the four preceding paragraphs to the different cases of medical jurisprudence," under the following heads

1st. "The course which the person called upon ought to pursue, when the patient poisoned is living, and the rest of the poison whether solid or liquid is found, whether alone or mixed with aliments and medicines."

2d. "The means he ought to employ should the patient be alive; the whole of the poison swallowed, and the matter vomited can be examined."

Sd. "The conduct he ought to pursue in case the whole of the poison has been swallowed, and it is impossible to procure the matter vomited, the patient being still alive."

4th. "The mode of analysis which must be had recourse to, when the patient is dead."

6thly. In the "treatment of poisoning," he proceeds to inquire whether "there is any substance which possesses the properties required to act as an antidote;" in which he shows, by experiments on living animals, that many things which have hitherto been considered as counterpoisons, because they possessed the power of decomposing the poisonous substance, are extremely dangerous, as the new compounds which result from their chemical action are frequently more virulent poisons than the substances which they were given to destroy. He shows also, by numerous experiments, the effects of various means employed in their stead; and points out particularly

those which he has proved to be most successful.

In the second section of his work, the author comprises all that relates to poisoning generally considered ;-detailing the proper means for ascertaining the existence of poison in a person while living, the symptoms which distinguish acute poisoning from several other diseases; the means of determining to what class of poisons it belongs, and the mode of discovering by analysis, and by proceeding from known to unknown points, its composition, or identity. He also gives the history of slow poisons; the manner in which the physician should proceed in opening dead bodies, and the importance which should be attached to the organic lesions which he may dis

cover.

We will proceed to notice a few of the most important deductions from the author's experiments as respects the treatment of poisoning. From the difficulty of obtaining a more correct and definite knowledge by experiments on living animals, physicians have hitherto principally relied upon such medicines as antidotes, as were known, from chemical experiments, to decompose the poisonous substance, under circumstances the most favourable to chemical action. Thus the alkaline salts and earths, the sulphurets of potash and lime, have been recommended and given as counter-poisons to corrosive sublimate, because they were known to possess the power to decompose that substance. The experiments of Doctor Orfila conclusively prove, that this theory must be but limited in its application to practice, and that there are common qualities which every chemical agent ought to possess, to be considered as an antidote.

ist. "It ought to be such as may be taken in a large dose without any danger."

2d. "It ought to act upon the poison, whether it be in a fluid or solid state." 3d. "Its action ought to be prompt."

4th. "It ought to be capable of combining with the poison in the midst of the gastric liquor, mucous, bilious, and other fluids which may be contained in the stomach."

5th. "Lastly, in acting upon the poison, it ought to deprive it of all its deleterious properties."

Guided by these principles the author proceeds to investigate by experiment, the proper antidotes to the different poisons. He has demonstrated that the new combinations resulting from the chemical action of the alkalies and sulphurets

with the corrosive sublimate, are more virulent poisons than the sublimate, that the only antidote to this substance is albumen; which decomposes the muriate of mercury, and converts it into calomel, an oxyde of mercury, at minimum. The treatment recommended, therefore, in poisoning by corrosive sublimate, is to encourage vomiting by copious and frequent draughts of mucilaginous drinks, and to give large quantities of whites of eggs. Upon the same principle the author might have recommended, where eggs could not be obtained, the use of milk.

Arsenious Acid. The medicines which had been recommended as counter-poisons to this substance were the alkaline sulphurets, the sulphurated hydrogen, and acetic acid. These, the author has proved, are all useless or deleterious, when taken into the stomach with the arsenic, and that the only true antidote is the Hydrosulphureted Water; nevertheless, as this remedy is not easily and readily obtained, he advises the use of mild emetics, aided by large quantities of warm water and mucilaginous drinks; which by disseminating the poison over a greater extent of surface, will prevent the deleterious effects from the residue in the stomach, after vomiting. Lime water may be given with benefit when the arsenious acid has been taken in solution. The bitter infusions are only useful in consequence of the vehicle which forms a part of them. All oily substances he believes to be rather injurious than beneficial.

As an antidote to the corrosive sublimate and arsenious acid, great virtues have recently been ascribed to charcoal. The experiments made with this substance by Dr. Bertrand, who has most confidently recommended its use, have been repeated by Dr. Orfila, and he affirms that "neither charcoal nor the water of charcoal are (is) antidotes (an antidote) to corrosive sublimate or arsenious acid." "Any results respecting antidotes," he observes, "can be of no avail, unless the esophagus of the animal, that is the subject of the experiment, be tied;" and in consequence of this neglect he concludes the experiments of Bertrand to have been fallacious.

Acetate of Copper, or Verdigris. The impropriety of administering the hydrogenated sulphurets, which theory had so highly extolled as antidotes to this poison, was pointed out by M. Drouard. The substance which was held in the highest estimation, before our author's experiments, was sugar. He discovered, how

ever, that a decomposition only took place at a boiling temperature, and that sugar could not, therefore, be considered as an antidote, though it may be directed as a useful auxiliary in calming the irritation of the stomach after the poison shall have been ejected. He has also demonstrated, that the proper antidotes to this poison are albumen, and the prussiates of potash and iron; all of which readily decompose the copper at a low temperature, though the former, the best preparation of which is the whites of eggs, is represented as the most eligible.

Muriate of Tin. From numerous experiments, the author has proved that this substance is an active poison, and that its best antidote is milk. Milk with sweet mucilaginous drinks, in large quantities he also recommends as the best counterpoisons to the Nitrate and Sub-Nitrate of Bismuth. To the Caustic Alkalis, the proper antidote is vinegar. The Caustic Acids are most effectually counteracted by the immediate use of Magnesia.

Nitrate of Silver-Lunar Caustic. The author has made many experiments to discover an antidote to this active poison, and concludes by saying, that he does not hesitate to recommend as such, the muriate of soda or common salt in solution. We are not prepared to say that this substance is not the best counterpoison to the lunar caustic, or that it will not, if given under the most favourable circumstances, decompose it in the stomach and thereby prevent its deleterious effect. But keeping in view the general axioms of the author in specifying the essential qualities of a perfect antidote, we are of opinion that he has not, in this case, given satisfactory proof of the correctness of his conclusion. From a series of experiments to ascertain the modus operandi of the lunar caustic, he says that he is of opinion that "when introduced into the stomach, it induces death by corroding the texture where it may come into contact; and by producing an inflammation more or less considerable." From the readiness with which lunar caustic decomposes animal matter, this theory of its physiological action appears plausible, and is probably correct. Now, in all the experiments which he has recorded to show the efficacy of the marine salt in preventing corrosion, the caustie was conveyed into the stomach in solution, and with it, or immediately after it, was given a solution of the muriate of soda. The animals died in four or five days without showing any other symptoms than dejection, and without discovering the small

those who have preceded him. It has been maintained, by some, that the action of poisons was entirely mechanical; by others, that it was chemical; by a third class that it was exerted exclusively on the circulating system; while others have supposed their effects to be produced, either by a direct or indirect impression upon the nervous systema. This diversity of opinion has probably arisen from the limited observations of the respective writers, each having directed his attention to the operation of a few poisons, taking it for granted that the action was the same, or analagous in all.

From the experiments of our author, who seems to have noticed the symptoms and organic lesion produced by each of the poisons, without fear of bring ing discredit upon any preconceived theory, it appears that the variety of action of the different poisons is sufficiently great to accommodate a yet larger number of opposing theorists. He has shown that some substances, such for instance as verdegris, operate on the alimantary canal, producing inflammation and gangrene; that the operation of others is various and complicated; as is that of the preparations of lead, affecting at one time the stomach and bowels, at another the nervous system only, whereas in a third case it will show its immediate effects upon all these organs. Some poisons seem to exert their influence directly on the nerves of the stomach, and sympathetically on the brain; while others are absorbed into the blood-vessels; as is manifested by a coagulation, or partial destruction of the natural texture of the blood. All these different effects might be inferred from the diversified phenomena of poisoning. Who that has witnessed the symptoms of poisoning by arsenic, such as fiery redness of the eyes, copious ptyalism, continual spitting, painful constriction of the pharynx and œsophagus, grinding of the teeth, hiccup, nausea, violent vomiting, perhaps of blood, great anxiety, frequent faintings, burning heat in the region of the stomach, with an inability to retain the mildest fluids, horrible fætor, contracted and irregular pulse, palpitation of the heart, unquenchable thirst, a sensation over the whole body as of a devouring fire; followed by cold sweats, swelling of the body, with livid spots, and finally delirium, convulsions and death;--and again has seen the person poisoned by opium in a state of complete stupifaction, perfectly immoveable and unconscious, with dilated pupils of the eyes, insensible to the impression of

light-the lower jaw fallen, and the mus cles of the limbs and trunk completely relaxed, loss of deglutition, slow and sonorous breathing, diminished heat of the body, and death-like coldness of the extremities;-who we ask, after having witnessed the symptoms of poisoning by these two substances, will doubt, that there is a difference in their physiological action? A still more striking contrast is exhibited in the deadly stupifaction produced by the hellebore, and the furious excitement, the horrible contortions and grimaces which are the effects of large quantities of camphor.

Before we conclude, we must observe, that though we duly appreciate the labour and perseverance of the author in the prosecution of his great work, and acknowledge the preeminent value of those deductions, which are the fruit of experiment, compared with the fallacious arguments, and fair-formed theories of dead letter logic, and creative imagination: yet there are, notwithstanding, two apparent objections, which, though they may have been unavoidable in the author's inquiry, would seem to us worthy of further consideration before we implicitly subscribe to his conclusions. 1st. His experiments were performed on brutes; and it is well known, that many substances which operate as active poisons on man, do not affect at all some other species of animals, and vice versa. 2d. The operation of tying the esophagus, the inflammatio which unavoidably follows it, and the constant irritation kept up in the stomach, not only by substances introduced, but by the inverted action of that organ, must necessarily produce serious effects, independent of the operation of the poison. These objections the author has antici pated. To the 1st, he replies: "We af firm, after having made more than tw› thousand experiments upon dogs, and compared them with what is observed in the human species, that the difference is null with regard to the nature of the symptoms which poisons produce, and the manner in which they ought to be combatted: that it exists only in the doses necessary for producing the disease in the same degree, in the influence of the moral powers, and in the relative strength of the animals-circumstances which can produce an influence only on the violence of the symptoms, and on the duration of the disease." This observation may be correct, if limited to the effects of poisons on dogs,-we have made no experiments on that animal to verify or disprove it; but there

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THERE is a Spanish proverb, the C import of which we well remember, though not the precise words in which It is couched; it is to this effect: "God preserve me from my friends-I will protect myself from my enemies." Never have we felt more deeply the force of this deprecation than on the present occasion. The attacks of mercenary or envenomed standerers of our country's fame, we e know how to contemn, or to repel-but the advances of officious auxiliaries, where we respect the motive, but must #reject the aid, place us in a situation of extreme embarrassment. The author of the poems contained in the volume before us, certainly appears to be a well meaning man, and, with due allowances, a decent scholar. But certainly a more unhappy conceit could not have entered his fancy, than that he was destined to vindicate the honours of the American muse. We cannot, indeed, imagine a fairer opportunity for one of those malignant English critics, whose illiberality our author so keenly resents, to give vent to his spleen and pungency to his paragraphs, than this very production affords. Were it to be taken for a specimen of that genius, whose claims it presumes to assert, what might be said of it with truth would be a severer satire on the objects of its solicitude, than any of which it complains. Such mistaken zeal as is displayed in this book, is to be deplored. It aggravates the mischief which it affects to remedy. It lowers the standard of our literature in the estimation of foreigners, and invalidates the arguments of those who are disposed to maintain the literary pretensions of their native land.

Even the ground which the writer assumes, admitting the merits of those whom he eulogizes, is one on which no legitimate son of science or of song would wish to intrench himself. Were Ame

rican poetry as transcendent as it is inferior to the poetry of Great Britain, since the distinction between them has existed, it would be mean and contemptible to deny its just tribute to the latter. But the position which our author has taken in this regard, as well as in respect to literature generally, is as untenable as it is audacious. Every one who knows any thing, knows that there are ten publications of value in England, where there is one in the United States; and consequently if we would, in conformity with the advice of our author, confine our reading to the works of our compatriots, we must be ten times more ignorant than those whom we are instigated to rival. But we cannot stoop to this controversy. The learned of all nations form one community, and he who renders a service to this community, is entitled to a gratitude exactly proportionate to the benefit conferred, and to an admiration commensurate with the talent exhibited. Enlightened minds entertain philanthropic views; and philanthropy recognizes no distinction of lineage or language.

To avoid collisions of an unpleasant nature we will, without further comment, pass by the preface, in which the author has given loose to his patriotism to the great disparagement either of his judgment or his candour. But the work opens with a dedication, and however sweeping a stride we may be disposed to take, after we shall have passed the threshold, we must be permitted to pause for a moment in the vestibule. volume is dedicated to "James Morris, Esq." a magnus ignotus, or embushelled luminary, the rays of whose renown have not yet spread beyond the perimeter of a Winchester standard. But, says our author,-" With the utmost confidence, I commit this little volume to the American public, shielded by a name which

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