many animals appear protected by an analogous apparatus; thus the ova of frogs, and other amphibia, are enveloped in spheres of mucilage, which the experiments of Spallanzani shew to be essential, as he found when this gluten was removed, the egg immedi ately perished. It is an evident fact that those fishes who retain their vitality long after their removal from the water, as eel and tench, have the power of secreting a slimy fluid, with which they envelop their bodies; whilst, on the contrary, those which, when drawn on shore, quickly die, as for instance, mackrel, possess no such fa culty, or at least only in a small degree; is it not therefore ex. tremely probable that this albuminous matter, by repressing evaporation, and preventing (like the fluids of the egg) the escape of heat by its non-conducting nature, is the principal cause of this peculiar tenacity of life * "The hen bird seems herself conscious of the mischief that would accrue from an irregular or decreased temperature; she is often seen to make use of her bill to push to the outer part of the nest, those eggs that were nearest the middle, and to bring into the middle, such as lay nearest the sides. The Egyptians t however, by a nice adjustment of the temperature of their ovens, succeed in hatching a great proportion of the eggs subjected to artificial heat. The celebrated Reaumur introduced this method into France, and Sir James Hall has lately invented a regulating stove, by which an equable temperature for this purpose may be easily and advantageously procured. Sir Busick Harwood, the ingenious Professor of Anatomy at Cambridge, has frequently attempted to develop the egg, by the heat of his hot bed, but has succeeded only in producing monsters; the evident result of an unsteady application of heat. It must however be remarked, that deviations from the correct temperature, are injurious and fatal only in proportion to the degree of vital energy which the ovular embryon possesses; thus we learn, from the experiments of Spallanzani, that the eggs of insects are better able to sustain the vi cisitudes of temperature than those endued with more exalted vitality; thus it is, that the eggs of cold blooded animals bear with impunity such an increase or decrease of temperature, as is sufficient to destroy the animals themselves; for Spallanzani found tadpoles Perhaps a prodigious accumulation of fat may also, sometimes, have a share in producing this effect; thus the Silurus Glanis, which is the fattest of all fresh water fishes, as it grows to the weight of 300 lb. lives very long after being taken out of the water. The inhabitants of the single village Berme, amongst whom only this art is practised, give life, by means of their ovens, to two-thirds of the eggs intrusted to their care, amounting in one season, which continues but for six months, to the astonishing sum total of 99,600,000. Corneille le Bruyn, tom. 2, has collected the observations of many travellers on this subject. Spallanzani, Tracts on the nature of animals and vegetables tadpoles and frogs to perish at 110°, bnt their eggs only at 133°. If we pursue this inquiry, and quitting the animal kingdom, descend into the scale of vegetable existence, where the energies of vitality are still more feeble and obscure, we shall find the same relative power of sustaining heat or cold between the plant and the seed, as we recognized between the animal and its egg. (To be continued.) An Account of Diseases in an Eastern District of London, from June 20 to July 20, 1810. ACUTE DISEASES. Peripneumonia Notha 3 Amenorrhoea Cynanche Tonsillaris Dysenteria Rheumatismus Acutus CHRONIC DISEASES. 7 3 1 1 2 Fluor Albus Procidentia Ani 2 Epilepsia 3 Urticaria 5 Ephemera Tussis cum Dyspnoea 4 Hæmoptysis 5 Menorrhagia Lochialis Phthisis Pulmonalis 3 Rhagas Papillæ 3563 214 6 During the last few weeks a considerable change has taken place in the state of the weather. After a very long continuance of Easterly and North Easterly winds, and an almost total absence of rain, in consequence of which, the surface of the earth assumed a most dry and sterile appearance, the occasional changes of the wind to the West and South West, together with some very copious showers of rain, have produced a favourable appearance, and given the hope of a more plentiful supply of the necessary articles of food both for man and beast. This alteration has also proved favourable to the human constitution, and some diseases which were aggravated by the long continuance of the cold winds have now assumed a milder form, Still, however, the very quick alternation of heat and cold has exposed many persons, especially those of a delicate habit, to considerable inconvenience. The difference of tempe rature, rature, even at the same hour, under the influence of the sun's ray, and in a situation exposed to the Eastern winds, which have still in some degree prevailed, has produced unpleasant effects. Pains of the face and teeth have been very common. These might be in some instances traced to a carious tooth, the removal of which has proved a radical cure; but in other cases they have appeared to be a symptom of rheumatism. This disease, as it is well known, appears in such a variety of forms, and is so connected with some peculiarities of constitution, that it is sometimes not easy to detect it, and the cure is at all times tedious and difficult. Affections of the throat have been very frequent during the period referred to. Cynanche tonsillaris has appeared in several instances, but in a milder form than it sometimes assumes. It has been rather a local than general disease; even where the tonsils have been considerably enlarged, and where difficulty and pain of deglutition have been felt, the degree of fever has been inconsiderable. The use of a domestic gargle, and the opening of the bowels with small doses of cathartic salts, have been the only means that were found necessary to the cure, Report of the Diseases of Edinburgh for May, 1810. Before the commencement of the month, the weather had become dry, and it continued so during about one-third of it. Till this time, when we had some gentle falls of rain, vegetation was so parched as to be almost completely arrested in its progress. From this period till the termination of the month, we had frequent falls of rain, and some thunder storms. The barometer, during the early part of the month, stood high, and even during the succeeding rains, it did not fall considerably. The thermometer stood in general from 55 to 70, and, once or twice, it rose even several degrees higher, During this period, there scarcely seems to have been any one complaint of such a prevalent or troublesome nature as to require any very particular description, There were various slight affections, such as catarrh, cynanche tonsillaris, &c.; also some cases of fever, which are indeed, never absent from this place; some few remaining cases of chin-cough, and a few of hydrocephalus internus. This scarcity of disease among us seems to be owing partly partly to the nature of the season, and partly to the great number of families which have retired into the country; at which times they carry with them not only the healthy but also the sick. INTELLIGENCE. The Editors have the pleasure to insert the further proceedings of the Lincolnshire Benevolent Medical Society, on reformation in medical education and practice. As the Bill, it is understood, will certainly be introduced into Parliament early next winter, they are very desirous to recommend the subject to the attentive consideration of their readers, and for that purpose the Medical and Physical Journal will be open to the temperate observations of the Faculty. whether they be favourable or adverse to the plan. "Bull Inn, Horncastle, July 19, 1810. "At the Anniversary of the Lincolnshire Benevolent Medical Society, held this day, SAMUEL PITTINER, Esq. President, in the Chair; Dr. HARRISON having laid before the Meeting a printed Sketch of the proposed Bill for the Improvement of the Medical and Surgical, and Veterinary Sciences, and for regulating the Practice thereof,' and having given an account of the powerful en◄ couragement and support which the Plan received during his two last visits to London, from many persons of great professional and political consideration: "Resolved, unanimously, "1st. That this meeting is much pleased to find, that in consequence of inquiries first instituted in Lincolnshire, and subsequently extended throughout the United Kingdom, it is now generally admitted, that legislative interference is become indispensible to establish the proper distinction between well educated practitioners and others, who have assumed their titles, and filled their stations, to the great injury of society and the regular faculty. 2dly. This meeting is of opinion, that it is desirable to procure better information of the present state of medical practice, being convinced that such information, if complete, would establish beyond all controversy, the great and increasing necessity for some proof of professional competence being required from all future candidates for medical employment, 3dly. This Meeting having carefully examined the printed sketch of the Bill, and compared it with the manuscript copy submitted to them last year, are confirmed in the unanimous sentiment then `expressed—that the Bill by establishing a National Register of accredited Practitioners, by providing for the careful admission of future members of the profession; and by increasing the opportu The Bill, divested of legal form, to bring it within the rules of Parliament, has been printed, and is published, together with Dr. Harrison's Address to the Lincolnshire Benevolent Medical Society, &c." nities for medical instruction, would, if carried into a law, become the foundation of a gradual and effectual improvement in medical science and practice. 4thly. "That the Thanks of this Meeting be given to Dr. Har rison for his unwearied exertions in the business, and that he be requested to take such further steps as appear best adapted to carry into effect this desirable object." The following report was read at the last annual meeting of the Governors of the London VACCINE INSTITUTION. "The Board of Managers have the happiness to inform the Annual Meeting, that the cause of Vaccination still continues to flourish under their auspices. This is evinced by the numerous applications for matter, not only in the Metropolis, but from all parts of the United Kingdom, the colonies, and countries abroad. "They have great pleasure in observing the increasing progress of vaccination; their returns being greater than on any former year, It appears that since the last annual report, there have been inoculated by Dr. Walker 2,087; from the beginning 6,105. By the appointed inoculators in the metropolis, last year 1,105; from the beginning 2,163. By the appointed inoculators in the country, last year, 54,665; from the beginning 156,573. "Dr. Walker, since the last report, has supplied to 3,973 applie cants, 19,865 charges of matter. From the beginning, to 12,361 applicants, 61,088 charges. "In having been enabled to effect the foregoing incalculable services to society at large, the board of managers have to acknow. ledge a liberal support from a generous public; yet they owe to that public, and to the cause of vaccination, the statement of the fact, that the support of this most extensively useful establishment requires still further contributions, to enable the managers to com pletely effect the vast patriotic and philanthropic plan, "It is to be lamented, that the fatal malady which has, during the last thousand years, committed ravages the most dreadful in every quarter of the world, is not yet extinct in the metropolis. The board of managers, however, request the attention of every member of the institution to this most important and gratifying circumstance; namely, that while 1163 have died of the small-pox, during the last year, as appears from the bills of mortality, not a single instance of the kind is represented as having occured from vaccination." At a late meeting of the Royal Society, the translation of a paper by M. DELILLE was read, describing the real nature and properties of the celebrated Boban Upas, or poison tree of Java. The author, a French physician, and a member of the National Insti tute of Egypt, transmitted this paper from the East Indies to the Royal Society, by an English lady. The botanical account of the plant in question he received from one of the French naturalists who accompanied Captain Baudin, and who resided some time in Java, where he visited the interior of the country, and with much difficulty |