In the author's account of the prevalent diseases at Damietta, he refers them to four heads; diarrhoea, dysentery; ophthalmia, and tertian fever. An epidemic fever (synochus) took place, when rain and fogs were brought on by the south winds: it was accompanied with a severe affection of the lymphatic system; and when glandular swellings did not ensue, the patient died. M. SAVARESI terms this disease synochus lymphatiIt agrees in every respect with the description which writers have given of the plague. The reinedies employed were laxatives, diaphoretics, and antiseptics.

cus.

The same author next gives a Description of the Egyptian Ophthalmia. The causes of this endemic are referred to the action of a burning sun, in a flat country, where the soil is argillaceous and chalky, and contains the nitrate of pot-ash readyformed, natron, and the muriate of soda. The days are clear and scorching: the nights are cold, damp, and cloudy. Not only the human species, but brute animals, suffer from these causes. Most of the dogs are blind, or one-eyed.-M. SAVARESI's description of the different species of ophthalmia contains no addition to our knowlege on the subject, nor is there any thing new in the method of cure. He says that it is easy to prevent the disease by attending to a few simple rules; viz. to avoid exposure to the sun with the head bare, or to the night air without proper covering; to bathe the eyes repeatedly, in the course of the day, with vinegar or lemon-juice mixed with water; or, if the eyes have been weakened by exposure to light or moisture, stimulating liquors must be introduced into them, &c.

The Physical and Medical Topography of Old Cairo; by M. RENATI. This paper contains a lively and agreeable description of this remarkable city. The author expatiates on the annual overflowing of the Nile, and considers the continuance of its benefits as endangered by the ignorance and supineness of the present possessors. He imputes the increase of the desarts, and the desolation of many antient cities, to the cessation of those labours in deepening the bed of the river, and clearing its canals, which were injoined in Antient Egypt.

After having drawn an animated picture of the present Egyptians, whose defects seem to originate in a great measure from oppression, he mentions that, notwithstanding the healthiness of the climate and the sobriety of the people, Cairo destroys a great share of the population: a circumstance which arises from two prevailing diseases, the plague, and the <rickets: the former often sweeping away one third of the inhabitants. He imputes the frequency of ophthalmia to the bril

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fiancy of the sun, and to the particles of heated sand which float

in the air.

Notes on the Diseases which prevailed during a part of 1799, in the Military Hospital of Old Cairo; by M. BARBÉS.-It is bere stated that, in Egypt, during the month of November, and in the beginning of December, the days are burning and the nights freezing. The sun is excessively hot from ten o'clock in the morning till two in the afternoon; and the alteration to cold is felt about one in the morning. Then those who sleep in the open air are awakened, and obliged to bestir themselves to procure fire. Cold and penetrating fogs succeed, which inevitably produce diseases. Those which appeared at first were fevers of different types, rheumatism, and dysentery; afterward, as the nightly cold predominated, they assumed more of a catarrhal character, and at length inflammatory complaints prevailed. Like the other French practitioners, this author ascribes great efficacy to emetics in dysentery, especially when they were followed by opiates and blisters.

Fragment of a Collection of Medical Observations respecting the French Army in the East; by M. DESGENETTES.-This paper relates chiefly to the progress of the plague, in the Military Hospitals. The details, into which we cannot enter, tend to confirm an old observation, that soldiers are generally most healthy while they are engaged in active service; and that they become subject to epidemic diseases when they are stationary in camps, and not sufficiently protected from the variations of the seasons.

The volume is concluded by an address to M. Desgenettes, from the supreme Divan of Cairo, than king him for a dissertation which he had sent to them, in Arabic, on the Cure of the Smallpox, and which was dispersed widely in Ethiopia. It does not appear whether he recommended inoculation.

We have certainly met with instructive papers in this work: but, in general, they are only promises of future intelligence, 'which we shall be glad to receive.

Art. XIII. Reise durch Deutschland, &c. i. e. Travels through Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and a Part of Italy, in the Years 1797, 1798, 1799. By CHARLES GOTTLOB KUTTNER, Crown 8vo. 4 Vols. Leipzig. 1802.

WE 7E have perused these travels with a considerable degree of interest, since we have found in M. KUTTNER Do ordinary tourist. His attention has been directed to every object; and his descriptions, though circumstantial, are de

livered

livered not only in a correct but in an animated style. We have been well informed that the work is in much request on the Continent, particularly for its accounts of Vienna, Sweden, Copenhagen, Hamburgh, Trieste, &c., and for the marks of strict adherence to truth with which the whole narrative is stamped. M. KUTTNER'S manner of relating the occurrences that befel him, the little events which characterize the peasantry of the different countries visited, the mode of life of the natives in general, &c. undoubtedly render his publication both entertaining and instructive.

About half of the first volume relates to Hamburgh; and from this part we shall lay before the reader an account of the public entertainments in that free imperial city. The work is composed in the form of letters, of which the tenth relates to this subject. After having delivered an unfavourable opinion of the state of the German stage in general, the author says:

At Hamburgh, also, the German theatre is far from being an elegant whole. It is a curious circumstance that even here, at this northern extremity of Germany, I found last summer a French company of comedians; who, without being distinguished by performers of the first magnitude, had among them such a number of moderately good actors and actresses, that they not only formed a very agreeable combination, but played so well together, that I have seen few provincial theatres in England and France which pleased me better.

The German playhouse has of late undergone some alterations. On my coming hither, I found that Schrader had for some time past ceased to act. The report was, that the good reception given to the French drama here had put him out of humour. However, he still retains the management: but this also, it is currently said, he intends to resign.-Nothing is more difficult than to guide the helm of theatrical politics. I really and truly believe that many great ministers of an empire would find it beyond their skill! The whole company was split into parties, and every one of the chiefs played his own game; whence, as usual, the public were the greatest sufferers. They even proceeded so far that the magistracy was obliged to interpose, and decide their differences by authority. Since that time, M. Schrader has not only resumed the management, but has likewise resolved again to act. I have had the pleasure of seeing him perform several times, and consider him as a very capital player. -Many people affirm that he no longer is what he formerly was. That may be but it is also very possible that these judges may mistake, and that the change which they think they perceive in Schrader has been wrought in themselves. In our early years, we are much disposed to contemplate certain objects with fondness, which in maturer age we submit to a far more severe examination. We habituate ourselves to that which delights us, ere we can be proper judges of its merits; and when our judgment is enlarged and refined, we still remain so strongly attached to what gave us pleasure

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in our better days, that we adopt, as the standard of perfection, a decision which in reality is derived only from priority of impression.

In the account of Hamburgh by M. Von Hess, I find that so early as 1677 a playhouse was built in this city, on the identical spot on which the present stands. It was opened with the opera of “ Adam and Eve, a sacred drama, with music." Here also was acted "Ancile Romanum," "La Schiava Fortunata,” “ Michael and Devid," "the Birth of Christ," &c. Schonemann came to Hamburgh in 1741, and performed the Cid, &c. Since that time he, Korb, and Ackermann, played alternately. The last met with such success that he demolished the old opera-house, and in 1765 erected the present edifice It is said to be capable of containing thirteen hundred spectators, and the highest receipt has been fifteen hundred marks.Considered as a structure, it is not only no ornament to the city, but it is likewise very disagreeably situated; both the entrance as well as the outlet opening into two narrow lanes, which are extremely inconvenient to foot-passengers. The compass of this building, and its architectural character, with all its dependencies, are a disgrace to so populous, important, and opulent a city as Hamburgh.-The French theatre is not far from it, equally inelegant, and too small; though the avenues to it are better.

So much puritanism still prevails at Hamburgh, at least in this respect, that on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and what are called holy eves, no plays are allowed to be performed.

The Coffee Houses, which may be reckoned among the places of entertainment belonging to a city, here differ widely from those in the inland parts of Germany. They are not only the resort of the idle and the inquisitive, but people of business repair to them on many accounts; and in those which are situated near to the exchange, very important affairs are often transacted. All pieces of intelligence from the various parts of Europe now find their way with incredible rapidity to Hamburgh, and get into circulation through the coffee houses. They are amply provided with newspapers; and, besides the principal of those published in Germany, I observe several French and English prints. Every body here being more or less concerned in trade, all take a great interest in the news of the day. Here is none of that indolent repose, of which I have uniformly complained in most of the towns of Germany; all is activity and life, motion, bustle, and energy; and all that can be wanted in the whole world is here brought daily to market. We have also an English coffeehouse, kept by a Scotchman, where may be read the English, German, and French newspapers-The principal coffee-houses 1 have always found full and very animated. In the rooms in which it is customary to talk aloud, the noise is often enough to stun one; and then generally some Coryphæus gets up, who harangues on a political subject. As in these houses every one utters what he pleases, without caring by whom he is overheard, the government being totally indifferent to all that is said in public places, you may easily imagine what a torrent of crude, trite, shallow notions is here poured

out.

Those who have the least knowlege and the worst digestion talk, as usual, the most and the loudest. Such a motley herd as are

scon

seen in these places, the droll caricatures of all kinds, the diversity of persons of different countries, the various sallies of temper, and the bold opinions continually advanced, amused me greatly at first: but I soon became tired of these coffee-house orators, and retreated gradually to the quietest rooms, in which I could read or reflect without molestation.-On the whole, the Hamburgh coffee-houses have a great resemblance to the English, except that they are not also eating-houses, as the latter are.

Those who want merely to see the papers, and to obtain news, find themselves better suited in the Harmony than in the coffeehouses. This indeed is not a public place: but even a stranger, who has made but little acquaintance, will find it easy to gain ad mission. It is one of those societies which are now formed under the names of Harmonies, clubs, casinos, &c. in all the principal towns of Germany and some other countries of Europe; this of Hamburgh, however, is superior to such of the kind as I saw at the Hague, at Berlin, Dresden, Leipsig, and Brunswick. It is not so much devoted to conversation as to reading. There are rooms, it is true, for play and for conversation: but I have seldom found much company in them, considering that the regular members are four hundred. I have hitherto mostly frequented the reading-room, in which there is no talking; or, if a person has any thing in par ticular to say to his friend, they retire to one of the windows and speak in whispers. This room is always much frequented, and is extremely well fitted up. Besides a very great number of news, papers in all languages, the journals and magazines are abundant, with a multitude of other new publications that are brought hither as soon as they appear. A man appointed for that purpose writes down in a particular book whatever comes in the course of the day; so that at any hour all the new things may be seen at one view. Strangers are admitted gratis during one month, for which permission they receive a ticket. That period being elapsed, they must renew their ticket, and every month pay a few marks, during, I think, six months; after which they cease to be strangers, and as such are, no longer admitted. How great is the number of strangers here introduced in the course of a year may be judged from this circumstance, that in July I found the number of names to be already two hundred and fifty in that year.

Among the public entertainments of Hamburgh, must be reckoned in summer the Vauxhall. It is curious that this entertainment came originally from England, where there is so much rainy weather, and where it is at all times extremely unsettled: whereas in southern countries, where it would be so agreeable to pass a part of the night in the open air, they know very little about a Vauxhall; and in all Italy I can recollect no more than one, besides that at Milan. The climate of Hamburgh is still less than that of England to be trusted for such an entertainment; and I should think that the proprietors can reap no great profits from it. The last was a shocking summer, and I perceived that the advertised Vauxhall was obliged to be repeatedly put off from time to time. Persons who frequently go thither are always complaining of the cold, of getting defluxions, rheumatisme,

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