.Notices respecthg New Boohs* ^ 



of the species and not necessary to the existence of the in- 

 dividual, as the breasts and uterus in women and the testi- 

 cles in men, which are most succptihie of the disease at that 

 period of hfe when they become useless, and consequently 

 possess but a small porlion of vitality; hovvever, that the 

 cancerous predisposition may he anticipated by injuries, 

 which render them entirely or in part incapable of per- 

 forming their usual functions. 



*' As to the scirrhous structure which forms the most 

 considtrabie portion of cancc, and possesses somewhat 

 the appearance of softened cartilage, he argues, that ^ if 

 carcinoraata pass through the same stages as Dr. J. Hunter 

 has remarked of the connnon or lymphatic hydatid, is it 

 not probalde thai on the death of any of them suppuration 

 will follow, and that this suppuration may expose the 

 living hydatids in such a manner that many of them 

 may die from not being surrounded by living animal mat- 

 ter? To prevent this, he conceives a fuogus is formed, 

 which incloses individuals or clusters of them in senarate 

 conijiartmenis, so that the death of one set produces no 

 effect on the rest.* However, the Doctor does not inforrr^ 

 ns whether this fungus is produced by the hydatids for their 

 own preservation, or by the surrounding parts for the pur- 

 pose of preventincr the departure of those troublesome visi- 

 tors ; if the latter is the case, it at least proves, that we do 

 not always profit by the assistance of the vis medicatrix 

 naturae. . 



" But when the mind rests a length of time on any fa- 

 vourite theory^ it is too apt to seize only the evidence that 

 may confirm, and to ne<rlect altogether that which may 

 subvert the opinions it has formed : thus the ingenious au- 

 thor, who has the merit of o])ening a new field of inquiry, 

 overlooks some obvious circumstances that are strongly 

 adverse to his theory, which appears to me to have its 

 foundation in the following circumsiauces; viz. the colour, 

 the quantity, and the consistence of the yellow greenish fat 

 above taken notice of, together with its accumulation in 

 capsules, and the papillary appearance expressive of motion 

 observable on dividing it by a transverse section. , 



** But these appearances seem to be merely the effects of 

 the deranged actions of the animal ceconomy ; except the 

 one evincmga contractile power in what he terms capsides, 

 but which, notwithstanding repeated invesligatioUj 1 never 

 could perceive. The colour of the fat in cancerous breasts, 

 that Doctor Adams seems to lay so much stress on, may 

 te produced by animal hepatic air, which Doctor Crawford 



E 3 hai 



