1 832. J Monthly Review of Literature. } 15 



" The wave rolled clear and still ,P. 8. 



We should also like to see Mr. Henningsen's theory of "falling thunder" 

 p. 40. 



We will not, however, be severe judges, but for such lines as these : 

 " For there, by abyss' fearful side p. 32, &c. 



We sentence the culprit to learn two columns of Walker's Dictionary, daily, for 

 the next two years ; for the following, 



" He little drinks, and eateth less," &c. 



to be kept on short commons once a week ; and, finally, to refrain from appear- 

 ing before the public during our judicial pleasure. 



A TREATISE ON PULMONARY CONSUMPTION, ITS PREVENTION, AND REMEDY. 

 BY JOHN MURRAY, F.S.A., &c. SECOND EDITION. 



Mr. Murray believes he has discovered two new remedies for consumption ; 

 and he here fairly and honestly tells us what they are. He evidently writes in 

 earnest ; and is entitled to praise for his sincerity, and respect for his good 

 intentions. His first remedy is the Chlorate of Potash, taken internally. His 

 second, and principal means of cure, consists in inhaling the fumes of Nitrous 

 acid Gas, properly diluted. With regard to the salt of Potash, he proposes it 

 as new only in its application to the cure of consumption : it having been 

 before recommended by Chaussier ; but the " inhaling" he claims as pecu- 

 liarly his jjown or, to use his own odd phraseology "in the vapour of 

 nitric and nitrous acid, we stand alone." The value of Mr. Murray's recom- 

 mendations, we, of course, have no means of ascertaining, and we rather 

 think that medical men themselves are, in general, not much better off. The 

 trial of any new remedy, to be conclusive, should be instituted at the same time, 

 on a number of patients similarly affected and similarly circumstanced. These 

 conditions are found in our great hospitals alone, and to them we naturally turn 

 for information. We regret to say our inquiries on such matters have been 

 singularly unfortunate ; and Dublin, " the silent sister," is the only place whose 

 " hospital reports" rescue her from the disgrace of neglected opportunities, and 

 the shame of indifference to the cause of science and humanity. We can thus 

 sympathize with Mr. Murray when he complains of the general disposition to 

 ridicule without inquiry, and condemnation without trial. He must, however, 

 be aware that such is the usual reception awarded to any thing new ; and that 

 we may judge of the vigour of the sapling, by the rough usage it has borne 

 without breaking. Mr. Murray's preliminary observations are too diffuse. 

 They are clever and entertaining; but not " ad rem." When looking for the 

 remedies which he declares to be the exclusive objects of his work, we thought 

 he had lost himself in his own erudition ; for it was not till the 144th page we 

 found what we were in search of. Should the success of Mr. Murray's plans 

 call for another edition of his work, we think he might speak rather more con- 

 fidently than he does in the following paragraph relating to Laennec. " Its 

 author," speaking of his work, " fell a victim to the very disease he had endea- 

 voured to substantiate, &c., now mingles with his kindred elements. This is 

 generally the fate of the good and great." 



THE CHAMELEON, A COLLECTION OF TALES, SONGS, &c. 



The Chameleon has selected from its extensive wardrobe a, pretty sky-blue 

 vest for its debut, which, however, we fear, for the sake of the admirers of the 

 " outward book," will soon change. We understand that this little melange 

 comes not only from the shop, but from the pen of a bibliopole, who, we should 

 have presumed, in pity to the starving printers, had issued the present sheets to 

 keep them moving, were we not informed, in the first article, that he has been 

 long "seeking a name." Some of the prose sketches contain a flippant smart- 

 ness, which will be pleasing to many, and a snack of reading, which prove' 

 that the author's study has not been confined to the labels and title-pages of h' 



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