$4 On Infetis which cure the Tooth-ache. 
other authors we have quoted do not mention the circum~ 
ftance, that, to infure the efficacy of the procefs, the infeé 
* fhould ‘be alive; becaufe when dead, its internal parts, in 
which he prefumes the virtue chiefly refides, become dried 
up, leaving only the wings and an empty fhell; and there- 
fore propofes to phyficians, to turn their attention to the 
finding out of fome method for preferving the virtue of the 
infe@t, fo that its efficacy may be in full vigour throughout 
the year. 
Profeffor Gerbi’s work on the virtues faid to be poffeffed 
by the antiodontalgicus was firft announced in this country 
by Dr. Beddoes, in a paper publifhed m the Monthly Ma- 
gazine for November 1796; but in fuch a cautious manner 
as evidently to fhew that he was afraid an improper degree 
of credulity might be afcribed to him. He has however 
propofed, that impregnated fhamoy leather fhould be import- 
ed by the way of Leghorn; butas the virtue feems to belong 
to feveral coleoptera in this country, fuch an importation is 
unneceflary. The impregnating of leather (other fubftances 
might alfo be tried) by rubbing it with the infects, ‘feems a 
good way of realifing what has been propofed by Dr. Hirfch. 
The fear of having credulity imputed fhould never hinder 
the publication of phyfical facts, announced by men of learn- 
ing and reputation, however unaccountable they may ap- 
pear; for, noone will pretend that we already are acquainted 
with all the laws of nature: on the contrary, they ought to 
be made generally known, that their truth or falfehood may 
be eftablifhed by numerous experiments, efpecially when, 
as in the prefent inftance, the means are fo much within 
the reach of every perfon who may wifh to determine the 
matter for himfelf. 
While on the fubject of tooth-ache, we may add, for the 
information of thofe who have not perufed Dr, Beddoes’ in- 
genious publications on the medicinal effects of factitious 
airs, that charcoal has been found to relieve the pain. “Mr, 
Sandford, to a letter on the virtues of ‘charcoal, addreffed ta 
Dr. 
