Notices respecting New Books. 47 



cisive experlrtient. The fallacy of the French doctrine ot 

 Pressure of the Frog exposed, and why this method has not 

 succeeded in actual practice. The cause of ring-bones in 

 horses feet explained. A more correct description of 

 founder^ and the mitigated founder. An nnknown and 

 vjery singular organization of the internal frog exhibited, 

 of constrated layers of tendon, which appear to break the 

 force of external concussion, by each layer receiving in 

 succession its effects. — A new and highly beautiful struc- 

 ture of plates of bone, on the sides of the natural coffin- 

 lone, imparting a degree of elasticity to it, and which 

 structure, is gradually obliterated by the overpowering 

 effects of the iron in shoeing, &c. To these is added, 



An highly important Essay detailing the result of several 

 expensive expenments, which show that expanding the 

 contracted feet of horses, is not generally attended with 

 benefit or advantage, and a discovery of the very unexpected 

 cause of this. Also, 



An Essay, respecting the Shoes of the Ancients, proving, 

 that their shoeing was without nails, and that the present 

 art was not in use till after the fifth century of the Christian 

 era: remarks on the shoe of King Childeric's horse, and 

 of the first nailed shoe on record, &c. 



The Philosophy of Arithmetic, {considered as a Branch of 

 Mathematical Science,) and the Elements of Algedra: 

 designed for the Use of School's, and in Aid of private 

 Instruction. By John Walker, formerhj Fellow of 

 Dublin College. 8vo. 2l6pp. Dublin 1812. 

 We cannot withhold our praise from the author of this 

 work, for his attempt to place arithmetic in that rank 

 which it ought to hold as one of the two great branches 

 of maihemaUcs. If we admit with Mr. Locke, tliai '< num- 

 ber is that which the mind makes use of, in measuring all 

 things that by us are n)easurable," Ahithmetic certainly 

 ought,as the author contends, to take precedence of Geome- 

 try, with which it has a more necessary connection than 

 some are willing to a l.)\v. 



In the first chapter, Mr. Walker, after noticing that we 

 are indebted to the Arabs for our i)reient method of nu- 

 meral notation, remarks that '* we may be impressed with 

 a conviction of its mgenious simplicity, if we reilect on the 

 endless varieties and indefinite magnitude of numbers ; and 

 then observe, that we are enabled, by the aid of only ten 

 characters (the nine significant figures and the cypher) to 

 ^tfsignaic any numbers whatsoever with the utmoii facility 



and 



