Notices respecting New Books. 293 



two substances may be totally dissolved in cold water: 2dly, be- 

 cause they form with iodine blue combinations soluble in the 

 same liquid ; and 3dly, because they do not form empois with 

 boiling water, as the starches of corn and of potatoes do. 



Of Arrow-root. 



This substance is brought to us very probably after having 

 been extracted and dried, in the same manner as the fecula of 

 thepotatoe is treated here. I shall say very little of it, because 

 it acts chemically like this last. It yields but a trace of gummy 

 matter to cold water, and remains insoluble; whilst boiling water 

 dissolves it like ordinary starch, and converts it into amidine. 

 [To be continued.] 



XLIV. Notices respecting New Books. 



A Letter to Sir Gilbert Blane, Bart., Physician to the King, 

 from Sir Anthony Carlisle, Surgeon Extraordinary to His 

 Majesty, on Blisters, Rubefacients, and Escharotics, descri- 

 bing the employment of an Instrument adapted to effect those 

 several purposes. London, 1826, 12mo. 



Ij^EW persons need be reminded of the tediousness and trou- 

 -*- blesome operation of blisters, as employed by the physi- 

 cian to relieve internal affections of various kinds, or to cause 

 a translation of inflammatory action from an inward to a 

 more superficial part of the body, — as to the skin ; but many 

 will be glad to learn, that the numerous inconveniences attend- 

 ing their use may now be obviated by the employment of an 

 instrument which will effect as much in a few moments as 

 blisters can in as many hours. • A most unpleasant affection 

 of the urinary organs sometimes follows the application of 

 cantharides, in the form of an ointment, to the skin; for when 

 a small portion only is absorbed into the system, a painful 

 strangury is frequently produced: and when we consider 

 how inadmissible this application must be in all inflammatory 

 or irritable affections of the urinary organs, and how tardy 

 their operation in those acute cases where an immediate effect 

 is most desirable, we feel anxious for the success of the me- 

 thod now first proposed to the profession by Sir A. Carlisle. 

 This gentleman assures us that this method of blistering is 

 free from cruelty, and, with common caution, not liable to 

 those evil consequences which are sometimes attendant on the 

 ordinary methods. " The action of a Metallic Substance," he 

 says, "heated in boiling water, was first tried on my own 

 arm; and although the instant pain was severe, the sum of di- 

 stress was far below that which is occasioned by a blister of 



cantharides. 



