pofed effects of the ether are precifely thofe which may, in a. manner much more confiftent with our fense of them, and, with the fimplicity of nature, be produced by innate powers or virtues of the very parts which visibly attract or repel each other, the hypothefis is ufelefs. But fince we have no proof of the existence of an ethereal fluid different from the fluids which we exprefs by other names, and which are the fubjects. and not the caufe of attraction or repulfion; and fince it is highly improbable that any one kind of matter hath so many different relations to different parts which we call elements, and that these parts have no fuch relations to each other; and fince the hypothefis of an ether is ufelefs, the ether was affumed without reafon or neceffity, and is to be rejected.

6

By the like argument, deduced from the different elective. repulfions, and the different elective attractions, we may conclude, that an ether is not the caufe of attractions only, when all the other parts of matter are fuppofed to repel each other; and that an ether is not the caufe of repulfions only, when all the other parts of matter are supposed to be endued with a pro-, perty of approaching and adhering to each other.

But if we fuppofe that the phenomena of attraction and repulfion are caufed by different ethereal fluids; we must, for the reafons already mentioned, conclude that there are many ethereal elements or fluids, differing each from the other, and from the electric fluid; of which elements not one can be demonftrated. This hypothefis therefore is unphilofophic.

As the parts of air, and thofe of acid and thofe of alkali,, and thofe of other elements, repel each other, and at the fame time attract feveral bodies different from themselves, there is nothing fingular in the electric fluid, which ought to induce us to conclude that it is the cause of attraction or of repulfion; on the contrary, the electrical phenomena shew, that, it is influenced by powers of attraction or repulfion, as other elaftic fluids are. For when the electric fluid follows, fome bodies in preference to others, and when it is drawn by fome bodies more forcibly than by others, and when it draws light bodies to the coaft where it is accumulated and held, this is nothing more than eleâive attractions of this fluid to the bo-, dies; and it is analogous to the elective attractions of every ele-, ment and compound. And as many forts of matter which contribute to the mafs of grofs folid ponderous bodies, do form elaftic invifible fluids, when the repulfive virtues of their parts are not overpowered by the attractive forces of any interpofed matter; it is not fingular that the more fubtil electrical matter fhould form a fubtil, elaftic, invifible fluid; and that bo dies encompaffed with finall and equally denfe atmospheres of

this repellent matter, fhould feem to repel each other, whilst their atmospheres really repel each other: for as the bodies attract their respective atmospheres, whilft the atmospheres repel each other, the bodies ought to recede from each other by reafon of their atmospheres.

The electric fluid being on a subject on which the power of attraction is exercised, and a fubje& in which we discover elective attractions analogous to thofe of other matter, can no more be the cause of the attractions of other bodies than air is the caufe by which acid attracts alkali, or water, or metallic fubftances.

• It is moreover to be considered that the same bodies which rush together contrary to their gravitation, when they are unequally charged with electric matter, do repel each other, when their charges are made equal by the acceffion of more ele&ric matter; and that if the electric fluid be the cause and not the subject of these attractions and repulfions, the fame cause or power being encreafed, does not produce a greater effect, but two oppofite effects on the fame bodies, which is repugnant to reafon. Wherefore the electric fluid is like all other fluids, a fubject of attraction, but not the caufe thereof; and for the like reafon it is not the caufe of repulfion.'

Dr. Higgins afterwards delivers his own notions concerning the fimple powers of attraction and repulfion, previous to the confideration of compounded powers; and he illuftrates each by fuch familiar inftances, as tend in his opinion to confirm them. We next meet with fome obfervations on gravity and denfity; and with curfory remarks on aggregation, and the feveral compound attractions, not omitting those of polarity and magnetifm. A fubfequent fection is employed on the theory of faturation, after which the author enters on the intended 'enquiry concerning Light. But on this fubject the Doctor has as yet advanced no farther than to elucidate and enforce the two following propofitions, namely, that a motion of light is. neceffary towards illumination and vision; and that light is not projected and moved with rapid progreffive motion from the fun, or from burning bodies.

As the full view of an hypothefis is neceffary towards determining its plaufibility, we fhall fufpend our opinion of this author's principles, until we fee how far they are rendered fub. fervient to the folution of optical phenomena. In the mean time we must acknowledge that he difcovers a confiderable degree of ingenuity in thofe physical researches, which are fuch as have employed the fevereft investigation of the most eminent natural philofophers.

Materia

Materia Medica antiqua & nova, repurgata & illuftrata; five de Medicamentorum fimplicium officinalium Facultatibus Tractatus. Authore Johanne Rutty, M. D. 410. 11. 15. Dilly.

THIS

HIS volume is faid to be the refult of forty years labour and obfervation, and indeed fo great is the multiplicity of remarks which it contains, that we cannot confider it as difproportioned even to the length of that period. The author has not contented himself with reciting the virtues of medicines, as they are described in other writers, but has endeavoured to bring them to the teft of faithful experiment, without any undue prepoffeffion for the character which they have obtained either from ancient or modern phyficians. His extenfive refearches appear to include nor only the inveftigation of every pharmaceutical object, Lat likewife the clear afcertainment of fuch as have been confounded together in different ages, under a fimilarity of name; a matter of the greatest confequence towards elucidating, as well as improving medical practice. An extract from the work will be the most proper means to give an idea of its execution.

N. CORTEX PERUVIANUS.

In Hifpaniam a Peru primum illatus A. D. 1649, & inde in reliquam Europam.

Odoris eft mucidi, gravis, fubaromatici, faporis amari, nonnihil adftringentis, ingrati. In vero (adulterari enim folet) diffracto cernuntur particulæ fplendentes.

Infufum ejus in aqua pulchre viride fit, addendo folutionem falis Martis, non autem nigrum, aut purpureum; porro infufum fyrupum violarum tantummodo diluebat, & folutionem heliotropii vix rubefecit; proinde corticis vires haud acido aut adftringendi facultati infigniori tribuendæ.

Spiritus vini rectificatus vires ejus extrahit longe plus quam aqua, magis quam vinum; & fpiritus vini tenuis plus quam

aqua.

Spiritus falis ammoniaci cum calce viva, & fpiritus falis ammoniaci dulcis intra paucas horas tincturam faturatam extrahit; imo & calx viva ipfa fequenti modo: R cort. Peruv. 3ij. calcis vivæ 3j. conterantur: dein affunde aquæ calcis xxx: ftent per xij horas, dein filtra: dofis iij ter die. Hæc tinctura preferri meretur fpirituofæ, quoniam non, ut illa præcipitationem fubit additis liquoribus aquofis.

• Infufum frigidum ex 3jad viij vel xij aquæ in 24 horis extrahit ejus gummi & refinam plus quam coctio & hac ratione, confervatur aroma, ac dofi Zij vel iij diu ufurpatum in febribus intermittentibus curandis efficax eft.

• In experimentis D. Hale vafa animalium contrahit, & feeundum experimenta D. Havers mucum glandularum coagulat; veruntamen fanguinem diffolvit; fi enim admifceatur infufio ejus fanguini, hic non coagulatur, quin & qui coagulatur priorem ftatum fuum refumit.

Antifepticum eft potens, carnem confervans, ejus putredinem arcens Izoies diutius quam fal marinus in experimentis D. Pringle; quin & caro putrida reftituta eft decocto corticis & fimul fibris firmitas. Cuti applicatus fpecie cataplafmatis dicitur optimum effe remedium contra gangrænam.

Experimentis D. Macbride accelerat fermentationem vegetabilium cum carne, & hinc æque ac a vi roborandi vires ejus antifepticæ deducendæ.

Ufu etiam interno vires ejus antifepticæ ulterius patent in gangrænis cum relaxatione vaforum & fanguine diffoluto, in febribus petechialibus cum hæmorrhagiis, in ulceribus faniofis, fordidis & putridis, in variolis cum maculis purpureis & dejectionibus fanguineis, etiam ubi pulfus celer, ad 3j fecunda vel tertia quaque hora.

In tumoribus glandulofis refolutionem promovet: hinc in ophthalmiis inveteratis, tumoribus ftrumofis incipientibus fine carie vel dolore infigni, & in puftulis ftrumofis prodeft.

• Vires ejus roborantes abunde patent, utpote Herculeæ antidoti hæmoptoes, cum febre recurrere folitæ, authore Mortono; audiri tamen meretur Mead, fcil. perniciofum effe hecticis illis, quæ cum exulceratione partium aliquarum internarum conjunctæ funt, licet circuitus fuos hæ frequenter habeant, & intermittentis aut quotidianæ fpeciem præbeant.

• Calorem fanguinis & menfium fluxum, hinc provenientem, præ quibufcunque aliis remediis, lenit.

• Omnia alia fuperat roborando nervos, a febribus petechialibus debilitatos: & tinctura a 3j ad 3fs quarta, fexta vel octava quaque hora cum guttis x, xv, vel xx elix. vitrioli ad finem febrium lentarum nervofarum & in putridis malignis vafa roborat, præcavetque ulteriorem fanguinis diffolutionem, & hujus crafin reftituit.

Vel fimplex vel chalybi junctus roborat ventriculum, eupepfiam infert, & ad fpiritus ftabiliendos fummarum virium eft. Vermifugus eft.

Adverfus febres intermittentes, præfertim quartanas & tertianas autumnales certum eft remedium, ad 3j ter die, vel & ad uncias tuto aucta dofi, & in clyfteribus æque feliciter fuccedit, fæpe repetendo, & corticis dofi non parcenda: non tamen in duplici tertiana, femitertiana & quotidiana adeo certum, quin & in continua cum diathefi inflammatoria nocet.

Notandum quoque, in intermittentibus cum doloribus atrocibus venæfectionem ejus ufui præmittendam effe; & in

tem

tempeftatibus humidis frigidifque utiliter ei adjungi amara, falia fixa & volatilia.

In affectibus fpafmodicis, hyftericis, hypochondriacis fine labe vifcerum præftans eft remedium, necnon in chorea fancti Viti, & in pertuffi, non quidem in recenti nec in pulmonum infarctione, fed potius inveterafcente morbo & præfertim præmiffa v. f. & emefi, monente D. Cullen.

Quinimo ufus ejus eft infignis in plerifque morbis periodicis, in fudoribus colliquativis, menfium fluxu nimio, fluore albo, &c. Aliter dicitur menfes & urinas ciere.

Juxta celeberrimum de Haen non tantum febrifugum omnium tutiffimum eft, fed in febre lenta imminutam vim vitalem incitat, pulfum celeriorem reddit, criticofque juvat motus.'

As the work is copious, compiled with care, and methodi cally digefted, we may affirm that its usefulness will be equal to the industry with which it has evidently been compofed; and though the language in which it is written, may render it lefs intelligible to fome practitioners, it cannot fail to be approved by thofe reader's who have a competent knowledge of the Latin tongue.

Obfervations on the London and Edinburgh Difpenfatories; with an Account of the Virtues of various Subjects of the Materia Medica, not contained in either of thofe Works. By John Rutty, M. D. Small 8vo. 35. 6d. Dilly.

THE

HE London and Edinburgh Difpenfatories have doubtless divefted the Materia Medica of many fuperfluous objects, which had obtained unmerited reputation, while the practice of phyfic was involved in fuperftition and ignorance. It may however be queftioned, whether they have not proceeded too far in endeavouring to reform this abufe, by retrenching such fimples, as by their frequency and ufefulness are well adapted to the purpose of thofe practitioners, who live in remote parts of the country. To fupply this defect is the defign of the Obfervations before us, which afford farther evidence of the author's uncommon induftry, and zeal for the improvement of his profeffion. We fhall prefent our readers with a few of the obfervations, as a specimen.

• L. & E. * ERIGERON, SENECIO MINOR VULG. C. B. Groundfill.

Its great frequency and ufe as a most ready emetic for children, ought to recommend it: a fpoonful or two of the

* The letters L. & E. refer to the difpenfatories in which the Gmples have been omitted.

juice