Notices respecting New Books. M41 
there are black men in New Holland, and very dark-coloured 
skins near the north pole. 
Thirdly: There is no such thing as a pigment in the rete mu- 
cosum at all. In the eye, indeed, there is a pigment. There was 
once a Frenchman who pretended to demonstrate one in Edin- 
burgh; but neither Professor Monro nor any person could dis- 
cover it, but only the Frenchman himself. It is quite impossible 
to separate the rele mucosum from the cutis vera or under skin, 
otherwise than by an arbitrary separation. The colour of the 
skin depends not upon any pigment, but upon its texture ; the 
texture of that of the Negro is thicker, but coarser wove. This 
would be a better preventive against the sun’s rays than any pig- 
ment. But the truth is, the whole idea is ridiculous; and it was 
decided as long ago as the days of Buffon, that it is the obtuse- 
ness of the nervous system of the Negro which renders him cal- 
lous to the most scorching heat. 
The College of Surgeons boast that they never read, but make 
experiments only; and it may be indeed said that they know 
how to use their hands better than their heads. There is such a 
thing as drawing conclusions from experiments which the experi- 
ments do not warrant; and the above is an instance of how little 
use men’s hands are, unless there be a head to guide ther and 
reason upon their experiments. 
XXXIV. Notices respecting New Books. 
Recent Publications. 
Bavyiry’s History and Antiquities of the ‘Tower of London. 
Part I. 4to. 3/. 13s. 6d. 
One thousand Experiments in Chemistry, accompanied by 
Practical Observations, &e. By Colin M‘Kenzie. Svo. 1d. 1s. 
Robertson’s Colloquia Chemica, &c. &c. 18mo. bs. 
F. Accum’s Culinary Chemistry, 12mo. 9s. Gd. 
Scientific Amusements in Philosophy and Mathematics. By 
W. Enfield, M.A. 12mo. 3s. 6d. 
A Practical Treatise on the Hydrocephalus Acutus, or Water 
Inflammation in the Head, By L. Golis, of Vienna, Translated 
by Robert Gooch, M.D. 8vo. 8s. boards. 
A Treatise on "Cataract. By P. C. De La Garde, &e. S8vo. 
8s. boards. 
The Theory of the Plague, as it has lately appeared in the 
islands of Malta, Goza, Corfu, &c. &c. By J. D. Tully, Esq. 
Surgeon to the Forces. 8vo. 10s. 6d. 
Observations on certain Affections of the Head, nowmoanly 
caliet 
