nothing but the most careful and minute investigation of the nature and seat of the morbid irritation can enable us to an ply the artificial irritation of medicine, with any prospect of ultimate success. This view of the subject might open the eyes of mankind to the devastation which is daily produced in the digestive organs by the careless and indiscriminate administration of a farrago of medicines, which, like food and drink, both by their quantities and qualities, keep the whole line of the alimentary canal, and, in faet, the whole system, in a state of morbid irritability. For this the patient has generally to thank himself. Instead of making a moderate remuneration for the advice or opinion of the medical attendant, he prefers paying him, like his wine merchant, at per dozen, for what he can swallow! In this way the most efficacious remedies are often rendered inert, by commixture or dilution, and perseverance is prevented by satiety or disgust.* 'But it may be said, that, as the specific action of medicines on the human frame, was found out by accident and observation, and as their effects are pretty uniform, so the knowledge of applying them cannot be so very difficult or complicated. Why no. A man of very common understanding may soon learn the names, the doses, and the qualities of the whole Materia Medica, and he may be able to * I could adduce numerous instances where the power of medicines is affected by commixture; but the following will suffice. In certain urethral discharges, whether recent or chronic, the balsam capivi is possessed of singular efficacy, when simply administered in a little water, or on sugar. But I have seen it given in dranghts and mixtures, for weeks together, without effect. When given in pretty large doses, and watched till it produces its specific symptoms, it rarely fails to stop the most inveterate gleet in three or four days. It is a curious fact that it removes irritation, or even chronic inflammation from the prostrate gland, or neck of the bladder, at the very moment that it causes heat in making water. The manner and the dose, however, in which it is generally given, render it abortive. tell pretty nearly how each will act upon the living machine, in a state of health. But the great difficulty is to discover the nature and seat of the disease, and how to remove that disease by remedies, which often produce diametrically opposite effects. It is not by seeing a great deal of sickness only, that this knowledge can be acquired; but by closely studying what we do see. Now, as in civic society, the health is constantly wanting repairs; as the human frame is there in a state of morbid sensibility and irritability; and as patients, quacks, and illiterate practitioners are constantly pouring a flood of physic, upon real or imaginary diseases, it is no unreasonable inference, that upon the whole, a greater quantum of suffering and mortality is thus induced, than is prevented by the scientific and judicious administration of medicine!' Such are the practical hints of Mr. Surgeon Johnson, whether orthodox in the doctrine of the healing art, it would be presumptuous in any but an M. D. to decide. As every man thinks however that he knows something of medicine, we may be allowed to say the reasoning of the surgeon appears sensible and consistent, and the advice which he offers to the world, if not likely to diminish disease, would be, if followed, conducive to temperance, tranquillity and peace of mind. ART. V. The Search after Happiness, or the Quest of Sultaun Solimaun, with other poems. By Walter Scott. Philadelphia, republished by M. Carey and Son. 1820. [THIS is a medley of minor pieces made up from an entire edition of Scott's poems. Most of those in the volume before us, have not hitherto been reprinted in this country. The principal poem is a bagatelle, attempted in a style of frolic and humour, very different from the grave character of Scott's muse, as it usually appears. Whether the endeavour was successful, the reader shall judge, as the whole His unguent Mahazzim al Zerdukkaut,** While Roompot, a practitioner more wily, Relied on his Munaskif al fillfily. More and yet more in deep array appear, And some the front assail, and some the rear; Their remedies to reinforce and vary, Came surgeon eke, and eke apothecary; Till the tired Monarch, though of words grown chary, Yet dropt, to recompense their fruitless labour, Some hint about a bow-string or a sabre. There lack'd, I promise you, no longer speeches, To rid the palace of those learned leeches. Then was the council called-by their advice, (They deem'd the matter ticklish all, and nice, And sought to shift it off from their own shoulders) Tartars and couriers in all speed were sent, To call a sort of Eastern parliament of feudatory chieftains and freeholders Such have the Persians at this very day, My gallant Malcolm calls them couroultai;t I'm not prepared to show in this slight song That to Serendib the same forms belong, E'en let the learn'd go search, and tell me if I'm wrong. |