rous exertions to break the tyrant's sceptre, and to extend the blessings of freedom among the human race.

No man was ever better calculated to execute an enterprise of hazard than Xavier Mina. His person was slight, but well formed, and about five feet seven inches in height. His physical structure was well adapted for action. His moral qualities were great; and personal valour he possessed in an eminent degree. Serene in the hour of danger, he was always prepared to seize upon any advantages that were offered by the conjuncture of events. At the head of his men, he infused into them his own spirit, In his diet, he was frugal in the extreme; no privations nor hardships seemed to affect him. He always preferred the simplest beverage. His cloak and saddle were his usual bed; even in the worst of weather, when every accommodation could have been afforded him, He encamped with his troops. He was affable, generous, and candid; his moderation and humanity were alike conspicuous; and to all the qualities of the soldier he united the manners and accomplishments of the gentleman.'

We must refer to the work itself for the subsequent events: the details of a guerrilla warfare are not easily reduced into a ́narrow compaɛs, and they can be read with interest only in their original form. Los Remedios fell, and with the exception of a body of determined men under Guerrero, all the patriotic bands were destroyed or dispersed.

The concluding chapter contains a variety of speculations on the subject of trade, and on the practicability of effecting a communication between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, through the isthmus of Darien, and other parts of the long and narrow tract which connects North and South America. That the project is feasible, we suppose there can be no question; Mr. Robinson even affirms that it has been so far realized as to allow, until the interference of the government closed the passage, the transit of goods in canoes, Whether the different points of section marked in the map are the best chosen for this important operation, can be determined only by scientific

survey.

Art IX.

Advice to the young Mother in the Management of Herself and Infant. By a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons. 12mo. pp. 112. London. 1821.

WE regret that we cannot recommend this well-meant work.
VÉ
We can give no better reason for our objections to it,
than is supplied by a remark in the Preface,

is utterly impossible that any one not educated for our arduous pression, can be capable of understanding domestic medicine in all its branches indeed, the mischief daily witnessed upon the constitution of

numerous individuals, who seize with avidity a remedy before they have ascertained the disease, sufficiently proves the accuracy of the statement. It is better, and deserves deep impression upon the parent's mind, never to trifle with a disease, nor attempt prescribing, when the attack is of a formidable nature.'

After this remark, we hardly expected to find among the Contents, On Croup, on Hooping Cough, on Measles, on 'Scarlet Fever,' and on Small Pox.' These are, it is true, infantile diseases respecting which it is highly desirable that a young mother should have right notions; and had the Author contented himself with pointing out the nature and the incipient symptoms of these complaints, we could not have objected to his including them in his directions. But really, when he proceeds to lecture on their proper treatment at the successive stages of the complaint, and to prescribe an almost ad libitum, or at least indefinite exhibition of powerful medicines; as for instance, Epsom salts and senna, with previous doses of calomel, in scarlet fever;-we must pause before we give our sanction to such indiscreet advice. Scarlet fever, indeed, our Author does not rank among formidable attacks. He says:

'The scarlet fever, when joined with sore throat, is attended sometimes with fatal consequences; therefore, if the patient complains, and deglutition appears difficult, the medical man should be called in?'

This is very disinterested advice on the part of our Member of the College of Surgeons; but ours, more especially to a young mother, would be, to call in the medical man in the first instance, and not to tamper with her child's constitution.

In treating of Croup, the Author does advise that 'imme'diate recourse should be had to the medical man, when the disease is suspected or ascertained.' Any other advice would be madness. But having given this useful direction, it was quite unnecessary to perplex the young mother with distinctions between chronic croup, and inflammatory croup; distinctions which, we take leave to say, are by no means sound in themselves, and are likely only to mislead in practice. The name of croup is often misapplied, and its supposed cure has frequently brought no small credit to the practitioner. But croup, properly speaking, is in all cases inflammatory; and as depletion affords the only chance of subduing it, the parent, as she values her own peace of mind, ought not to lose a moment in calling in the aid of the medical practitioner.

We are surprized at meeting with a continual reference to the treatment of Adults. Surely, a young mother has little to do with them. Thus, speaking of measles, our Author says, 'when attacking adults, general bleeding is the very best

' remedy.' And again, we have graduated doses of various me dicines for adults. The cough in measles is, says the Author, 'best relieved by nauseating doses of ipecacuana, from half a grain to a grain or two, every third or fourth hour, combined with two or three grains of powdered nitre. Or by the following, if that be unpleasant: Take equal parts of milk of almonds, and syrup of white poppies, add a spoonful of paragoric to every ounce of the mixture, and give a little every now and then, as the cough is troublesome.'

Now, a young mother would be misled by this or into the notion, that between these two prescriptions there was little to choose. She would, therefore, naturally decide on the least 'unpleasant' to the child. In point of fact, the former is an excellent prescription; the latter is to be deprecated: the one is an expectorant; the other sedative and astringent.

Exercise is, beyond dispute, the best promoter of digestion, and should be taken as often as possible.' Here, again, we are under the necessity of differing from this Practitioner. Exercise is found to suspend the process of digestion: it is rather the promoter of appetite. As to the importance of exercise, there can be but one opinion; and there is not much danger of its being taken too often: but it may be resorted to too soon after a full meal. As to individuals obliged to write 'much,' we could furnish our Author with some experimental hints, but they would be of little use to a young mother.

Our most serious objection to this work, respects the Author's list of Domestic Medicines, and his rules for exhibiting them. And first, admitting the general correctness of his gradation of dose, what has a young mother to do with doses for an adult up to 21 years of age? If nothing more powerful than magnesia were entrusted to her, it might be of service that she should know what dose to take herself. But first on the list of opening medicines, stands

large.

• Adult dose
Calomel-from ij grains to 10 grains.'

Scammony, Epsom salts, jalap, &c., follow, and the most useful > f all domestic medicines, castor oil, closes the list. Now, of t his adult dose, an infant of twelve months is directed to take one twelfth; but whether, in the instance of calomel, it is to be a twelfth of two grains, or a twelfth of ten grains, the mother is to guess. It is a chance if she does not miscalculate. Why not at once prescribe a proper dose for an infant, or older child, of the more simple and unobjectionable medicines? Calomel and

several other medicines enumerated by our Author, are indispensable articles in a medicine chest, especially when the family reside at a distance from any medical practitioner; but they should be kept under lock and key. When the liver be⚫ comes affected by a residence in hot climates, or by the unhappy fondness for spirituous liquors,' we agree with our Surgeon, that calomel is prodigiously effective.' But as our present business is with young mothers and their infants, in whom the liver is not likely to be affected by such causes, we have only to recommend most earnestly, that calomel be never taken from the medicine-chest, but under specific medical directions. As to wine of antimony, given by our Author under the head of Emetics, we must protest against its use for any such purpose. On this point, we are directly at issue with our Author, who prefers it to the far more innocent and wholly unobjectionable medicine, the powder or wine of ipecacuanha. He gives a curious reason for preferring the wine to the powder as they' (the wines) are less nauseous, and produce vomiting (i. e. nausea) sooner.' We prefer the powder.

6

We should throw some other medicines out of his domestic catalogue, as either superfluous, or proper only to be kept in reserve for medical directions. But we have, we hope, said enough to induce our Author to reconsider his advice, and to caution our readers against the best intentioned anonymous general directions.

ART. X. SELECT LITERARY INFORMATION.

Gentlemen and Publishers who have works in the Press, will oblige the Conductors of the ECLECTIC REVIEW, by sending information (post paid) of the subject, extent, and probable price of such works; which they may depend upon being communicated to the public, if con sistent with its plan.