Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Loss of Blood. By MARSH. HALL, M.D. The Uterus and the Human Ovum, during the first months of Pregnancy. By Dr. X. 1. Illustrations of the Elementary forms of Disease. By ROBERT CARSWELL, 2. Principles and Illustrations of Morbid Anatomy, &c. By J. HOPE, M.D.Part II. 1. Dr. Macfarlane's Clinical Reports from the Royal Infirmary of Glasgow- (Wounds of the Bladder-Contusions of the Urethra-Urinary Abscess-Ab- scess of Prostate Gland-Prolapsus Ani-Enlargements of Clitoris and Nym- 54. On the Epidemic Sweating Fever at Aux-le Chateau 55. Memoir on the Functions of the Encephalon. By M. Rolando COOKE'S TRANSLATION OF MORGAGNI. We observe that some copies of that inestimable and inexhaustible treasure of infor- Dr. GILCHRIST's paper on Homeopathy has been received. Dr. DONAVAN's case and Drawing of Disease of the Tongue, came safe to hand. Our article "EXCERPTA CHOLERALOGICA" is deferred till next quarter, which will A translation of Mad. BOIVIN'S Maladies de l'Uterus, by Mr. HEMMING, is in the press. THE Medico-Chirurgical Review, No. XXXV. OCTOBER 1, 1832, TO JANUARY 1, 1833. I. On the InfluenCE OF PHYSICAL AGENTS ON LIFE. By Dr. Edwards. Translated from the French, with Notes by Dr. Hodgkin, and Dr. Fisher. 8vo. pp. 488. Highley, London. THE object of Dr. Edwards' researches is to examine and ascertain the effects produced by air, water, temperature, light, and electricity, those agents, whose operation is continually, although often imperceptibly, exerted on the life of different animals. It is true that they almost always act simultaneously.and conjointly; and hence it is no easy affair to discriminate the influences of one alone from those of the others; the air, besides its elementary constituents, is charged with moisture and electrical fluid; the quantity of heat and of light too is ever varying, so that in our inquiries into the agency of the atmosphere on animal existence, we ought to consider it under the conditions, not only of its chemical purity, of its quantity, motion, rest, weight, and rarity, but also of its dryness and humidity, of its strong and feeble electricity, of its translucency and darkness, and of its degrees of temperature. Dr. Edwards has laboured most meritoriously and with the most gratifying success in elucidating the influence exerted by each of these physical powers, separately and conjointly, and the present work is the record of the almost countless experiments which he has performed, and of the conclusions to which these experiments have conducted him. It is in truth a rich granary of curious and interesting facts, collected for a series of years with unwearied industry: and as most of his statements have been confirmed by the researches of others, we may place the most implicit reliance on their authenticity and correctness. So high is our opinion of the author's talent and ingenuity, that we regard him quite as a pattern and model to all physiological experimenters: his are not the once or twice observed phenomena, and the rapid inferences; the single fact, or fact supposed, and the widely spreading hypothesis, but the oft-repeated, and varied trial, on numerous animals of different classes and of different modes of existence, and the VOL. XVIII. No. 35 2 |