108 Dr. Mac CuUoch on Malaria, 



courage than our author ; while we cannot doubt that who- 

 ever attempts it would at least find it a profitable specula- 

 tion. With these remarks we must pass over this chapter, 

 as we could take no statement from it which would serve 

 any useful purpose ; though, as far as it goes, it will form 

 a very useful guide to travellers on the continent of Europe, 

 or to those who, as emigrants, are in search of a residence 

 abroad. 



The tenth chapter examines the inquiries which have been 

 instituted into the chemical nature of malaria, leaving the 

 question just where it was. In fact we, as chemists, do not 

 believe tnat this science is yet in possession of the means 

 required for analyses of this delicate nature ; but we see no 

 reason whatever why it should be despaired of, when che- 

 mistry has already, within a very few years, effected things 

 which seemed far more impracticable and hopeless. 



The eleventh and last chapter contains an enumeration of 

 the diseases produced by malaria, presenting a most formid- 

 able list, and absolutely making us shudder in some of the 

 details which relate to the worst parts of France and Italy. 

 The representation here given of the average of life in these 

 districts is particularly striking ; while of the truth of all 

 the facts, we can speak from personal knowledge. Our 

 author has also noticed the effect of this poison on animals ; 

 showing that it is the cause of the noted epidemics in cattle, 

 and also of the rot in sheep. If he will look into Livy, he 

 will find a confirmation, which he appears to have passed by 

 when quoting that author for epidemic seasons : this being, 

 that in the same years in which epidemic '' pestilences" ap- 

 peared among the people, there was also a great mortality 

 among the cattle. 



We do not know what his own profession will say of his 

 attempt, or rather proposal, to prove that the celebrated 

 disease of the nerves called Tic Douleureux is the produce of 

 malaria and a mode of intermittent fever ; nor how they will 

 receive his proposal to arrange Sciatica and Rheumatic pains, 

 with many other local diseases, under this head. But this is 

 not our affair : and as he has promised us two other volumes, 

 on all the diseases which are produced by malaria, including 

 these, we must wait with patience ; knowing at least that he 

 is a dealer in facts and not in hypotheses, and expecting, 

 that even if he should fail to establish his point, he will try 

 to do it, as he has been used to do in the other sciences 

 which he has attempted, through the road of facts and 

 evidence. 



