of the heart of the child could still be perceived, but not the pulsations referred by the author to the placenta. In about two hours Madame L was safely delivered of a strong and healthy child.

In a second CASE of a woman, who by her own account had reached the fifth month of pregnancy. M. Kergaradec was unable to distinguish the pulsations of the heart of the fœtus, but the single pulsation with rustling was very perceptible.

In the eighth observation M. Kergaradec examined at the Hôpital Necker, in the presence of M. Laennec and several, other physicians, a woman in the sixth month of pregnancy, whose abdomen appeared very little enlarged. The pulsations of the heart of the foetus only could be distinguished, and these were very faint, occasionally disappearing during the examination. Three days afterwards, M. Laennec heard them much more distinctly, and at the same time discovered the simple pulsations with rustling. These last were perceptible in the left part of the abdomen, in a line extending from the umbilicus to the crista of the ilium. M. Laennec has since frequently repeated the same observations, and demonstrated them to some strangers, and to the students who follow his visits. Once he was unable to distinguish the simple pulsations with rustling, and at another time neither these nor the pulsations of the heart of the fœtus. At one time, whilst the woman on whom these observations were made was calm and her pulse regular, M. Laennec remarked a sudden increase in the action of the heart of the fœtus. The sound almost equalled that of the heart of an adult, but without any impulsion or irregularity. M. Kergaradec explains the cases in which he was unable to distinguish the double or single pulsations in question, by remarking, that most of these observations were made in haste, on women while in the erect posture, and covered with their clothes; and by the impossibility of procuring a perfect silence around him. In general he distinguished them with equal ease, simply by the application of the ear, or by the use of the stethoscope.

In a different part of the Memoir, M. Kergaradec gives some additional facts. In his first observations, the double pulsations, or those referred to the heart of the foetus, were heard on the opposite side to that towards which the inferior extremities were directed. He observed the contrary in a case where the uterus was inclined quite to the right side. It had appeared, that the situation of the simple pulsations (those of the placenta) were very circumscribed, and that they were met with on the opposite side of the abdomen to the double pulsations. In a visit to the Hospice de la Maternité with MM. Lens and Laennec, he found,

the space occupied by the simple pulsation much more extended than in the first observations. In a female, at the eighth or ninth month of pregnancy, the seat of this simple pulsation (of the placenta) appeared to be the anterior part of the abdomen, below the umbilicus, and extending to the right and left of the median line. The contractions of the heart of the foetus could only be distinguished on the right side. They were not very strong, and evidently traversed the part where the simple pulsations with rustling were felt. The inference drawn from these circumstances is, that the placenta was fixed to the anterior part of the uterus, and that the child was placed behind it.

In a woman who had only reached the fifth month, the simple pulsation was felt with great force at the lower part of the abdomen, a little to the left; that arising from the heart of the fœtus was not perceptible. M. Kergaradec explains these facts by the comparatively greater developement of the placenta than of the foetus in the early periods of pregnancy, and by the consideration that in most instances the former is attached to the fundus of the uterus, and thus presents itself to the ear of the observer, whilst the child is placed in the lowest and most remote part of the uterus.

M. Laennec pointed out to the author one case, in which the pulsations of the heart of the mother, were perceptible at the middle of the left side of the abdomen. This woman was in her eighth or ninth month, and without any appreciable organic disease. In another female, at the same period, these pulsations were perceptible at the lower and right part of the same cavity; but in this instance, the heart was evidently in a state of hypertrophia with dilatation. It is not necessary to remark, that the difference in the number of these pulsations rendered it impossible to confound them with those of the heart of the foetus.

M. Kergaradec next points out some of the principal advantages likely to be derived from the application of auscultation to the study of the circumstances connected with pregnancy. By this means, it appears possible to acquire some certain information as to the existence or absence of the state of pregnancy, and particularly as to the vitality of the child. Of course, the absence of the pulsations of the heart of the fœtus will not afford a sufficient proof of its death, as this phenomenon may depend upon its position, and other circumstances. On the other hand, the presence of these pulsations will be decisive evi dence of the state of pregnancy, and the vitality of the foetus. He supposes, that it may be possible, in this way, to ascertain the effects of the moral and physical affections of the mother upon the child; to discover the existence of twins; the posi

tion of the child in the uterus; the point of attachment of the placenta to this organ previous to the performance of the cæsarian operation; the existence of extra-uterine pregnancy, &c.

M. Kergaradec remarks, that some of these are founded on such rational principles, that he considers them as positive facts. The greater number, he fairly allows, are simple conjectures, to be established or rejected according to the results of future experiments, and for this purpose he indicates certain subjects for inquiry; as the period at which the pulsations become perceptible; the ratio of their variations in different circumstances, &c. In a postscript the author gives an extract from an article by Professor Fodéré, in the Dict. de Sciences, Med. Vol. 57, who relates the fact that M. Maoir, of Geneva, had discovered that -it was possible to recognize the vitality of a child when nearly at the full period of gestation, by the application of the ear to the mother's abdomen, when the pulsations of its heart may be easily distinguished from those of the mother. Though this remark excludes M. Kergaradec's claim to priority, it affords a very interesting and unexpected confirmation of his researches. M. Maior's observations are confined to the latter part of pregnancy, and he says nothing of the simple pulsation (of the placenta). M. Kergaradec's Memoir terminates with the approbation of a Committee of the Academy, and three cases by M. de Lens, in support of his observations.

M. Fodera, in Magendie's Journal de Physiologie, (ii. 112), just received, is of opinion, that auscultation may yet be applied to many other departments of medical diagnosis, than has yet been done; for example, in urinary calculi, in fractures, and in ascertaining the state of the abdomen, as in the case of colica pictonum, whether there be a contraction of the intestines, or whether they contain gas.

In opposition to the doctrines of M. Kergaradec, he mentions several anatomical facts connected with the uterus, and proved by his own experiments. In confirmation of the opinion of anatomists, he has repeatedly injected the placenta, and found that the wax passed with ease from the arteries into the veins, and from the veins into the arteries, but never the smallest portion of it reached the uterine surface of the placenta, except when it was torn. The rustling (bruissement) cannot arise. solely from superfœtation, for M. Kergaradee's own experience proved, that the woman, whom he supposed would have twins, had only a single child.

M. Fodera seems to shew little favour to the boasted instrument of Laennec, and asserts that the same sounds may not only be perceived by the naked unassisted ear; but in most

cases, much more distinctly than by means of the stethoscope ;nay, in many cases, and particularly in pregnancy, the pulsations, and the rustling, may be perceived directly by the ear, when they can not be heard through the stethoscope, whose inconvenient length smothers the sound. He only advises the use of the stethoscope, when it is inconvenient to apply the ear directly. To estimate the value of the instrument, he proposes the simple experiment of holding a watch between the hands, so that the sound of it may be propagated, not through the air, but through the substance of the hand, and in this state of things to apply the stethoscope to the back of the hand. Without the instrument the sound is clear; with it, the sound is muffled and feeble. This, it would appear, must settle the question.

M. Rostan, (Dict. de Médecine, ART. Auscultation,) is still more incredulous of this mode of diagnosis, than M. Fodera ; and gives many instances in which all the signs pointed out by M. Laennec, were distinctly present, and not one of the symptoms of which he says, these are the indications. M. Rostan, however, thinks it has done good, from the minute inquiries to which it has given rise.

ON THE NOMENCLATURE OF OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS, BY M. HUFELAND.*

PROFESSOR Hufeland is too late with his address. Fifteen years ago, Dr. Bostock published remarks very similar,† but his success was exactly what we venture to foretel will be that of our author, though it seems he has had influence enough to obtain the unanimous opinion of the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Berlin in his favour. In Germany, Prussia, and some other parts of the continent, the new nomenclature has not indeed been so universally adopted as in France and Britain; but the influence of the French and British medical authors is of late become so extensive, that the new nomenclature must be under

* Invito a tutti i medici sulla necessità di conservare il nome officinale dei medicamenti; del Signor HUFELAND, M.D. &c.—Translated from, Adresse à tous les Médecins, &c. 12mo. Berlin, Is.

+ Remarks on the Reform of the Pharmaceutical Nomenclature. By John Bostock, M.D. 8vo. 1807.

stood by all who read their works; and we have no hesitation in saying, that its superiority is such that it will always, where it is understood, be preferred to the vagueness and uncertainty of the old. We grant M. Hufeland that inconveniences do arise from the change, but we are not quite sure whether greater inconveniences are not produced by the mode which he proposes.

One of his objections to the change is, that the writings of one age and country come not to be understood in another. We repeat, that his objection comes too late; for if we are, as he wishes us, to discard the chemical terms, and go back to precipitates of Mars, and sublimates of Saturn, instead of oxides of iron and lead, we ask him what is to become of the great number of valuable medical works which have been published within the last twenty years, in which the new terms are adopted? Are they all to be banished from our libraries? or are new editions of them to be got up, with the new terms done into the old? We wonder much why these queries were not thought of and answered by M. Hufeland before he ventured upon so hopeless a field.

We fully agree, however, with our author, that at least some degree of uniformity should be observed when the new names are adopted, though this is very far from being the case, and is not likely we fear ever to be remedied, considering the waywardness and caprice of human invention. We were not aware, indeed, of the extent of the evil, though many instances of it had repeatedly struck us-till we saw it pointed out by M. Hufeland. A few of his examples will put the objection in a very strong light.

Cremor tartari, is called in the Austrian Pharmacopoeia, tratris lixivæ acidulus depuratus. In the Russian, supertartras potassæ. In the Prussian, tartarus depuratus. In the French, tartris acidula potassæ.

Spiritus mindereri, is called in the Austrian, acetas ammonii liquida. In the London, aqua ammonii acetata. In the Edinburgh, aqua acetitis ammoniæ. In the Prussian, liquor ammonii acetici.

Nitrum, is called in the Austrian, nitras lixivæ. In the Russian, nitras potassæ. In the Prussian, kali nitricum. In the London, kali nitratum. In the French, deutonitras potassii.

Mercurius sublimatus corrosivus, is called in the Austrian, murias hydrargyri corrosivus oxydatus. In the Russian, murias hydrargyri oxydatus. In the Prussian, hydrargyrum muriaticum corrosivum. In the Edinburgh, murias hydrargyri. In the French, murias hydrargyri superoxygenatus. In the London, hydrargyri oxymurias.