-therefore, of vastly greater extent, or philosophical value, than can be furnished by any view of the Human Species.

Now to show this was the object of the undertaking!"

We will now give a few extracts from the body of the work :

"Accident," says this writer," accident, which brings us upon so many new truths and opinions, has subjected to my actual observations in various parts of the world, a pretty extensive view of free animal life, under circumstances certainly very favorable to such a comparison as we are now considering. Had this experience been limited to any one district or country, I think it probable, it might not have led me to a serious comparison, any more than such an extent seems to do with people in gene ral: but the local diversity of situations in which the facts have coine under my view, has awakened the consideration of generality in this matter, and the extent of the whole has impressed my imagination much more deeply, than I think is likely to follow a man's observing only a small part of animal nature, and reading accounts of all the other parts."

One would imagine from this preface, that the author had made some important discoveries in the history of civil society or in the philosophy of the human mind. He has travelled much; and the reader shall not be disappointed of a portion of the acquisitions made during his travels-none of which, however, tend in the slightest degree to illustrate the subject of which he treats. The second part opens in what we should think quite a poetic style, ill adapted, certainly, to a serious philosophic disquisition. He tells us, but doubtless does not suppose that any body will believe him, that "his theme is sober truth, and not poetic flight." The reader must determine the point.

"Scarce had Ocean gathered up his mantle vast, which whole the earth had erst o'erspread :-scarce had the earth a breathing time, to suck in store of nectar from the sun; when man like some o'erladen jade impatient of the load, shook off his galling reason, and set up to brew. The scripture tale is simply told, and bears internal witness of the truth; for so do men, e'en now, and ever since. Thus mariners, from shipwreck haply snatched, fly straightway to red Bacchus coffers with a fixed resolve: nor joy they less to have from reason scaped, than now from fate. Cheated of their cares by magic poison, mark their witless gladness in their eyes, those portals stern, where moody leaden Reason, watching sat. But Reason (thanks to Reason) ship-wrecked like ship, lies drown'd; and they are doubly free. E'en Hell himself may roar, and Horror look aghast they jeer the fun and crack rude jokes with Destiny: shaking bully Danger by the beard; and teazing growling Fate, as 'twere a ter rier's pup, full impotent as mad."

Attend now to his description of a shipwreck :

"How easy 'tis to cleave the yielding brine! Hath no man marked the sea-pressed merchant, poring through the gloom of future with his carefraught, beamless eye? pent up in noisome vessel frail, and leaky prisoned close; his fate bawled loud by ruthless elements, his melting hopes washed less by every wave: his dismal deep funeral knell beat heavy by

the murmuring billows on the body of his once stout bark, made now the groaning coffin of a gallant crew. None but Heaven can save him: nothing in his sight, but the capacious boundless arms of Proteus danger, now arrayed in foaming Ocean's form; embracing close, and to his horrid bosom pressing the affrighted ship. How oft at such an hour hath this poor human sport of elements beheld the playful porpoise rise, in myriad legions far as eye can reach. In saucy daring to the surface close, they slanted oft. Then turning tail in independence proud (to others giving place) were off again; as if in sportive mock at awkward man's distress." He speaks of "Adam's becoming wholesome drunk with pearly intellectual dewy nectar, shot in sun-beams warm from Eve's sweet April eye, as deep she drank the affection of her Lord."

But the reader must be tired of such effusions, and wonder that bombast like this should have been admitted into a volume bearing the imposing title of " an Essay on Immortality."

ART. XI.-The Belgian Traveller, or a complete guide through the United Netherlands; containing a full description of every town, its objects of curiosity, manufactures, commerce, and inns; the mode of conveyance from place to place, and a complete itinerary of the intermediate country. To which is prefixed, a brief sketch of the history, constitution and religion of the Netherlands; the general appearance, productions and commerce of the country; and the manners and customs of the inhabitants. By EDMUND BOYCE, Esq. translator of Labaume's narrative of the campaign in Russia. Embellished with a large map, and a plan of Brussels. London. Leigh, 1815. pp. 272. Pr. 8s.

THE splendid events of the late campaign in the Netherlands have rendered every thing respecting that part of the world peculiarly interesting, and as this little publication is calculated to introduce its readers to a tolerably intimate acquaintance with the component parts of that country, we should think that it will be a good deal called for. The title-page is so explicit that it forms a very good table of contents. We shall therefore do little more than merely give a short extract from the preface which will explain the author's views in writing, and the method in which he has proceeded.

"It has been the earnest wish of the author to re der the present volume what it professes to be,-a complete guide through the kingdom of the United Netherlands.

"In addition to extensive and careful personal observation, he has availed himself of every authentic source of intelligence, and gratefully acknowledges considerable obligation to Mr. Syphorien's Voyage histo rique et pittoresque dans les pays bas,' and the 'Itineraire complet de Empire François.'

The author has first given a concise history of the Netherlands, their constitution, religion, commerce, productions, character and manners, that the tourist may be enabled to form some general and correct idea of the people and country which he intends to visit. He then conducts his reader by the most practicable and pleasant routes, through the various provinces of the kingdom, noticing every object of curiosity, and even the most inconsiderable towns.

"The account of the various modes of travelling, the necessary cautions on the road, the principal inns at each town, the time at which the different stages and vessels start, the productions, manufactures, and commerce, of every place, and the complete table of coins, are important features of the work."

A knowledge of the particulars mentioned in the preceding extract will be desirable to all who turn their attention to the affairs of the Netherlands; but more especially to those who may at any time think of travelling through those provinces, or of residing in them. The volume is very small, which is a great recommendation of it. It is neatly printed; and the matter contained in it is both well arranged and clearly expressed. We ought by all means to add, that it contains, not only a good plan of Brussels, but a large map of the whole surrounding country, more accurately laid down and better executed than any that we had before seen.

ART. XII.-On Gun-Shot Wounds of the Extremities, requiring the different Operations of Amputation, with their AfterTreatment: establishing the Advantages of Amputation on the Field of Battle to the Delay usually recommended, &c. &c. &c. With Four explanatory Plates. By G. J. GUTHRIE, of the Royal College of Surgeons, London; Deputy Inspector of Military Hospitals. 8vo. pp. 384. London: Longman. 1815.

THE peninsular war, while it has added so much to the glory of Britain, and led directly to the overthrow of French tyranny, has afforded an ample field for both the improvement and the display of chirurgical talent: and a vast debt of gratitude is due to the medical staff of our army, whose unremitting exertions have contributed much to the successes we have obtained; exertions which, in civil life, are little understood, and much too lightly appreciated.

The perusal of the present work will afford much gratification to the general reader, as well as the professional man, from the proofs it furnishes that the efforts of British surgeons in reliev

ing the miseries necessarily attendant on war, have been as preeminent as the feats of their brethren in arms have been brilliant. The author has presented us with a valuable store of informa tion, founded in an extensive acquaintance with the casualties of war-the melancholy effects of which he has been greatly instrumental in mitigating; and he has completely succeeded in laying down some important rules of practice on grounds which cannot again be disputed. He has principally labored to prove the necessity of early amputation in those injuries which, from their nature, evidently require the removal of the limb; and to point out the proper moment for the operation. His observations are highly judicious, and mark a thorough knowledge of the economy of the human frame.

"During the course of the peninsular war, the success of amputations performed on the field of battle became so notorious, even among the soldiery, that the anxiety expressed by them to have these operations executed with as little delay as possible, has frequently been prejudicial; for as much attention must be paid to avoid operating too soon, as too late, and perhaps for a reason quite contrary to that usually received as legitimate for not operating, viz. that the sufferer may have time to recover from the shock of the injury, and approach as near as possible to a state of health; and the farther he is from this state of health, the greater the chance of a fatal termination. If a soldier at the end of two, four, or six hours after the injury, has recovered from the general constitutional alarm occasioned by the blow, his pulse becomes regular and good, his stomach easy, he is less agitated, his countenance revives, and he begins to feel pain, stiffness, and uneasiness in the part: he will now undergo the ope ration with the greatest advantage, and if he bears it well, of which there will be but little doubt, he will recover in the proportion of nine cases out of ten in any operation on the upper extremity, or below the middle of the thigh, without any of the bad consequences usually mentioned by authors, as following such amputations. If, on the contrary, the operation be performed before the constitution has recovered itself, to a certain degree, from the alarm it has sustained, the additional injury will most probably be more than he can bear, and he will gradually sink under it and die. At the storming of Ciudad Rodrigo I amputated a thigh in a convent close to the breach, within an hour after the accident, at the anxious desire of the patient, the leg having been destroyed by the explosion of a shell. There was not more than the usual loss of blood, or of delay in the performance of it; my patient did not, however, recover the shock of the operation, and at day-light I found him dead, without the bandage being stained with blood. At the battle of Salamanca I had two men brought to me during the action, laboring under great anxiety: one had his arm carried away close to the shoulder, and his breast collsiderably grazed by a cannon-shot; the other had the greatest part of the leg torn away close to the knee; this was about four in the evening. These men, like many others in the like situation, were particularly low, and the constitution seemed to sympathize more with the injury. They were laid in a ditch, without any covering over them, and a very small quantity of rum and water given them during the night. At day-light, hve in the morning, they were much recovered, the countenance was less

ghastly, the pulse regular and good, the stomach not irritable, and what Is of essential importance, the wound was becoming stiff and painful. The disposition for inflammation was forming, and would of course have been very great, from the laceration and incurable state of parts, if I had not prevented it, by removing the whole of the seat of the injury, leaving a clean, incised wound, the greater part of which healed by the first intention, with little comparative fever or constitutional derangement. Instead then of inflicting an additional injury on the original one, and increasing the general symptoms of irritation in those persons, I relieved them completely. They became calm, tranquil in mind as well as body, gradually recovered something more of their natural appearance, took some light nourishment and slept. If these men had suffered amputation when they first came to me, I think their recovery would have been less certain; and I have, under such circumstances, seen more than one case die on the table."

The following tables afford so fine an illustration of part of Mr. Guthrie's argument, that we offer no apology for making them more public.

"RETURN of the capital Operations performed at the Hospital Stations between the 21st of June and the 24th of December, 1813, of the Army under the Command of his Excellency Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington; being a period of Six Months, from the advance of the British Army from Portugal, until its establishment in winter-quarters in front of Bayonne.

Number operated Of which Discharged Under

died.

cured.

cure.

296

255

551

The operations at the shoulder joint not included.

"RETURN of the Capital Operations performed in the same period on the Field of Battle, and for the most part kept in Regimental and Divisional Hospitals.

Number ope- Of which Discharged Under

rated upon.

died.

cured.

cure.

Amputation of the upper?

extremities

"The cases marked under cure,' in both statements having passed the period of danger, are considered as recovered; and from this it will appear that the comparative loss, in secondary or delayed operations, and primary or immediate operations, is as follows: