stomach with unwholesome substances. Flatulence, acid eructations, a sallow countenance, a foul tongue, and reddened fauces, are indications of this second and often very obstinate stage of the disease. In such cases, a few dozes of calomel are recommended to evacuate the diseased contents of the bowels, followed by rhubarb and magnesia; also the compound decoction of aloes three times a day, with half a drachm of the carbonate of soda.

In this, however, as well as in most other cases, the oil of turpentine is still the favourite remedy. The best mode of administering it is in emulsion, prepared by diffusing the oil by means of honey, or mucilage in some strong aromatic waterhalf an ounce of this, containing half a dram of the oil, is usually ordered to be taken three times a day in a cupful of milk. Dr. Prichard has not much confidence in the argentum nitratum, nor in any of the metallic oxides, although it is in this species of epilepsy, that he imagines they will be most likely to prove beneficial. The good effects of the oil of turpentine, are exemplified in the following case.

A girl of pallid complexion, aged 11, was seized with fits ten weeks ago, of which she had several during the day. At first she was convulsed during the fits, but now they have the cha-racter of uterine epilepsy. Pulsation full, abdomen tumid, bowels irregular. Her fits were stopped a fortnight ago by cathartics, and a dram of the oleum terebinth. every night, but the disorder returned. Six ounces of blood were now withdrawn, and cathartics ordered, which were continued for six days, during each of which she had a fit. Half a dram of the oil of turpentine was now ordered three times a day, and the cold affusion every morning. From this period the fits immediately ceased and did not recur. On this medicine disagreeing with her stomach, the dose was diminished to twenty drops, -afterwards increased to twenty-five, which she continued for a month :-she remains free from the complaint.

The origin of EPILEPSY FROM DISEASE OF THE LIVER, is less obvious than that from the uterus, or alimentary canal. It has, however, happened several times to Dr. Prichard to witness cases of epilepsy, in which on examination, the symptoms, which point out active inflammation, or those of chronic disease of the larger viscera, and particularly of the liver, were discernible. The REMEDIES adopted to remove the disease of the viscera, if successful, remove at the same time, or alleviate, the epileptic affection. From this it is inferred, that there is a connection existing between the morbid state of the viscera, and that state of the brain which gives rise to cpilepsy. The treat

ment is founded on the same principles as in the preceding varieties.

MADNESS.

The detail of the SYMPTOMS presents to us nothing worthy of remark. The history of this disease, like that already given of epilepsy, is accurate and comprehensive, and much discrimination is evinced in selecting and grouping those trains of symptoms, which lead to important views regarding its origin In his considerations of the origin of this affection, he excludes from sharing in it certain intellectual phenomena, such as sensation, perception, and judgment, and confines the abberration to memory and imagination, conceiving that that feature which most distinguishes the lunatic, is a habit of mistaking the ideas of reverie for impressions of memory. When the maniacal hallucination becomes exalted to a very intense degree, it represents unreal objects as actually present; and some particular phantasms the creations of reverie or imagination, are presented to the mind in such vivid colours, as to produce a similar effect to that of actual perception-the patient in other respects making no mistake with regard either to place or time.

Certain changes in the configuration of the cerebral structure, being conceived by our author to precede, or take place in connection with every individual perception of mind, it is inferred that the impressions of memory are also preceded or accompanied by an organic operation, in some degree similar to that through the agency of which the idea was originally presented to the mind. It is next inferred that organic operations occur likewise in imagination or reverie, and that such are merely modifications of those of memory. In a diseased state of the brain, the distinction between them is conceived to be abolished, and hence the mistake which the maniac falls into of regarding the impressions of reverie as those of memory.

The brain on DISSECTION of maniacs is found to exhibit the same vascular fulness and appearances of the effect of inflammatory action, as is found in those who die of apoplexy, and other nervous diseases.

The SYMPTOMS of UTERINE MANIA are irregularity in the returns, and a slow, scanty, and laborious flow of menstruation, great affection of the animal spirits, often assuming the character of hysteria-in other instances, maniacal impressions, unusual vehemence of feeling, and of expression, arising from too vivid impressions on the fancy. The CAUSES are, suppression of the catemania from cold, over excitement, or powerful mental emotion, and irregular and difficult menstruation.

In the TREATMENT of uterine mania, more may be expected from stimulating emenagogues than in uterine epilepsy. Bleeding is not requisite, nor safe, to a large extent; although in some cases a considerable loss of blood, with the aid of the warm bath, walking exercise, &c. have removed the disease by restoring the natural functions. The treatment in other respects resembles that of uterine epilepsy.

In ENTERIC MANIA the SYMPTOMS are obstinate constipation; six, seven, and eight days frequently passing without any alvine discharge. The fæces often like coffee grounds, or chopped straw; not unfrequently of a dirty colour, and consisting for the most part of indurated bile, and marked by extreme fætor. Sometimes great torpor has been succeeded by diarrhoea, so that on inquiry the bowels are reported to be loose; this augments the evil. The abdomen, previously distended by indurated fæces, is now additionally swelled with flatulence, the load of solid contents being but partially discharged; sharp pains are felt in the abdomen, and there are marked symptoms of flatulence; dysentery, or hectic, at last frequently carries off the patient, The fauces and velum pendulum are red, with the vessels injected, and they are also covered with patches of mucus; the tongue is red, often with white streaks intermixed, when diarrhoea exists it is covered with a brownish hue. The mouth is viscid, and the patient generally spits out a frothy slime ardent thirst also exists, and a peculiar foetor of the breath, and of the whole person. The skin is clammy and cold. In cases of long duration there are scaly eruptions, and in debilitated subjects, furuncula which are disposed to slough; the complexion is flushed; the eyes wild and glossy, with inflamed tunica conjunctiva, and the pupils contracted: the urine is scanty and high coloured and contains fœcal matter; the pulse is rapid and irritable, and the carotids especially, beat with unusual force; the patient is sleepless, irritable, and tremulous.

The CAUSES of this disease and the manner in which the brain comes to share in the diseased affection of the alimentary canal are not easily discovered.

The TREATMENT is directed to what is considered the primary affection: the bowels are purged with cathartic medicines in as powerful doses as the patient can bear, and continued until the full effect takes place. Purgative enemas also are used containing oil of turpentine and castor oil. General bleeding is not required in many cases, only when there are symptoms approaching to inflammation of the brain; such as raving delirium, a bounding pulse, especially in the carotids-flushed countenance,

reddened eyes, dry tongue, heated scalp, and intense thirst. The remaining remedies are the same as those used in enteric epilepsy.

Diseases of the viscera, especially of those lying under the hypochondria, have, from the earliest times been supposed to have great influence on the mind and animal spirits; but Dr. Cheyne was the first who pointed out the conjunction sometimes met with in dissection of HEPATIC DISEASE and MANIA. Instances of such union of disease have not frequently occurred to our author, though he gives a case, in which on dissection there was found organic disease, both of the liver and brain, the combination of which he was not disposed to believe accidental.

Our author subsequently treats of cerebral disease giving rise to epilepsy and mania, whether they may have arisen from wounds, or narcotic snbstances, or mental emotions. In his remarks on the treatment there is one which we think cannot be too much attended to, namely that morbid determinations to the head as well as to other parts often co-exist with a very defective degree of vigour in the general state of the circulation, and with an exhausted, or debilitated, constitution, In such cases the general health and vigour of the constitution must be promoted, while at the same time the congestion in the brain is relieved by topical evacuations, and the other usual means. In some cases the indications of cure are to strengthen the habit and to relieve the local determinations. Issues and other drains are particularly recommended. For the varieties in the treatment, and for the numerous excellent observations in this, and the preceding part of the book, we must refer the reader to the work itself; as also for the original views he has brought forward on the nature of local convulsion, somnambulism, and ecstasis.

We are sorry that our limited space forbids us to enter at greater length into the masterly practical observations of Dr. Prichard, and we must make the same apology for passing over his numerous and instructive cases, in which we found every thing to praise, and very little to blame. His theory we also pass over, though we had noted during the perusal of it, many passages for remark, and had even embodied these in a dissertation of some length; but for such speculations we fear our readers would owe us but small thanks. Those who are interested in the metaphysical questions respecting the influence of mental manifestations on the cerebral functions and organization and reciprocally; with the discussion whether the will is intelligent, or merely a blind instinct,-we must refer to the original work. We expect the second part with some anxiety, though we fear that the ample favours which fortune is reported to have

lately conferred on the author, may put upon his future exertions the deadening spell which so usually and so mischievously accompanies them. Omen Deus avertat :-we have so few medical authors like Dr. Prichard, that we can ill afford to spare him,→ and that in the very dawn of his celebrity, as an original, a practical, and (what is still higher praise,) a useful writer.

BELL, SHAW, AND MAGENDIE ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.*

In a paper laid before the Royal Society. Mr. Bell has given an account of the peculiar views which he has been known for some time past to entertain respecting the nervous system. He - considers it in man, and in the higher animals, to consist of two distinct systems of nerves, the simple and the complex. The simple is found alone in animals possessing only sensation and locomotion, as in the leech and worm. In animals possessing other functions the complex is superadded to the simple, and in such animals this is the source of the intricacy and perplexity which till now have involved our knowledge of their nervous system. The nerves belonging to the simple class in man are distinguished by having each a double origin, by forming a ganglion on one of their roots, by going out laterally, by being all muscular nerves governing the voluntary motions, and by being all exquisitely sensible. They are the nerves of the spine, and the suboccipital of the fifth pair.

Mr, Bell affirms, that organs performing a variety of functions have a separate nerve arising from a separate origin for each function that the tongue, for example, being an organ of touch, taste, and speech, has distinct nerves, subservient to each of these functions. The system of muscles concerned in respiration, of which there are above an hundred, have all, in addition to their other nerves, a nerve of respiration which serves to govern, and to harmonize their action, so that the most remote are thus enabled to act in unison with the lungs. These RESPIRATORY NERVES are the par vagum, the portio

* On the Nerves: with experiments on their structure and functions. By C. Bell, Esq. Phil. Trans. 1821.

On the Nerves of the Face. By J. Shaw, Esq. in Brand's Journal XII. 231. Journal de Physiologie Experimentale. Par M. Magendie.