Notices respecting New Books. 297 
the lighter or darker shades of its plumage, and has less yellow in 
it than any other species. I have purposely given only the osten- 
sible varieties of these birds, which may be seen when the bird 
is on the trees.—The new wren may perhaps become the subject 
of future observations of a more detailed and accurate nature. 
I am, &c. 
Walthamstow, Oct. 16, 1817. THoMAs ForsTER, 
L. Notices respecting New Books. 
An Experimental Inquiry into the Laws of the Vital Functions ; 
with some Observations on the Nature and Treatment of In- 
ternal Diseases. By A. P, Witson Puiuip, M.D. F.R.S.E. 
[Continued from p. 228.] 
Tae spasmodic asthma is fortunately a very rare disease ; so 
much so, that but one case of it has occurred to me since I have 
employed galvanism in asthma, while I have had an opportunity 
of employing this remedy in about forty cases of the habitual 
form of the disease. I cannot therefore, from experience, speak 
with certainty of the effect of galvanism in the former. In the 
above case it was twice employed in the paroxysm, and I could 
observe no relief from it. In both instances the patient said 
that, had it not been used, the symptoms would have been more 
severe. In this patient, the spasmodic paroxysm was often suc- 
ceeded by a state of habitual asthma for several weeks, in which 
galvanism gave immediate, but temporary relief. 
“© Of the above cases of habitual asthma, many occurred in 
work-people of the town where I reside, who had heen obliged 
to abandon their employments in consequence of it, and some 
of them, from its long continuance, without any hope of return- 
ing to regular work. Most of them had tried the usual means 
in vain. By the use of galvanism they were relieved in different 
degrees, but all sufficiently to be restored to their employments. 
I have seen several of them lately, who, although they have not 
used the galvanism for some months, said they had continued to 
work without any inconvenience. Some, in whom the disease 
had been wholly removed, remain quite free from it ; some have 
had a return of it, and have derived the same advantage from 
the galvanism as at first. 
“ { have confined the application of galvanism to asthmatic 
dyspnoea. I think there is reason to believe, from the experi- 
ments which have been laid before the reader, that in inflamma- 
tory cases it would be injurious, and, in cases arising from dropsy, 
or 
