t797:] 
mitted a comparative analyfis of the four 
principal forts of allum, which are moft 
commonly known and ufed. From the 
réefult of this analyfis, it appears, that the 
allum brought from Rome, from the Le- 
vant, and from the manufaétory, are pre- 
ferable for the purpofes of giving a brilli- 
ancy to colours in dying; and that Englith 
allum cannot be fubfticuted in their ttead 
for thofe delicate ufes, whilft ic is em- 
ployed to advantage ‘in the workthops, 
where fkins are dreffed with allum. 
DAUBENTON, who, for many years 
paft, has purfued his refearches with great 
fuccefs in comparative anatomy, read a 
memoir concerning the method of prepar- 
ing the fkeletons of fithes. The procefs 
confifts in boiling the fifth in water, but 
not longer than is fufficient to feparate the 
flefh from the bones, with the affiftance of 
a knife. After the bones are picked, a 
little hole is to be made with the point of 
a needle, wherever a joint is operon 
through which a thread of brafs or filver 
wire is admitted, which faftens them toge~ 
ther. This procefs is attended with no 
difficulty, and does not require any know- 
ledge of anatomy. Women may work at 
it, as patience and manual dexterity are 
the only qualifications heceffary. ‘There 
is nothing difgufting or revolting in the 
procedure; which, im faét, is almoft as 
fimpie as preparing and carving fith for 
the table. 
There is a fpecies of fifth, known among 
the naturalifts by the name of Codstis Ana- 
bleps, which inhabits South America, and 
. particularly the rivers in Surinam. This 
fith has commonly been fuppofed to have 
four eyes, and, indeed, it muft be owned, 
that there are fufficient appearances to 
lead a fuperficial obferver into this erfor. 
But Lacerepe, who has inveltigated 
that fubje€t with great care and ingenuity, 
has difcovered that this is nothing but an 
optical illufion. The Codisis~ Anableps, 
which is of the fame {pecies with the river 
leach, poffeffes in reality only one organ 
of fight on each fide of the head. Each 
eye has only one cryftalline tunic, one 
cryftalline humour, and one retina. But 
at the fame time many of the component 
parts of the eye are double, as a double 
cornea, a double cavity to receive the 
aqueous humour, a double iris, and a dou- 
ble pupil. This faét has not been afcer- 
tained nor fpecificd by any naturalift 
prior to LACEPEDE. 
Whenever the fubjef&t of anatomy is 
difcuffed, it naturally leads to 2 mention of 
the ingenious PorTaL. This gentle~, 
man has.giyen a very accurate defcription 
es 
Proceedings of the National Inftitute. 
of the nerve, known by the name of the 
intercoftal, which has numerous conmec- 
-tions with the other nerves diftributed in 
the neck, the breaft, and toa ftill greater 
diftance. On account of thefe communi- 
cations, anatomiits have denominated it 
the grand fympatheic; becaufe when 
called into a€tion, it occafiens, by its impli= 
cations and its various poists of corref- 
pondence,a fort of fympathy. with other 
organs, which are widcly afuider from 
each other. \ $ 
Anatomy is the groundework of the art 
which conduces to health; but this arc 
refts likewife upon experience and obfer- 
vation. Of this, citizen DESESSARTS has 
furnifhed a frefh and ftriking proof, hav- 
ing afcertained the truth of what has been 
advanced by Boerhaave, and the Enelith 
phyficians, refpecéting the application of 
Mercury; which is fo far from being noxi« 
ous in the fmall pox, that ir may be em- 
ployed with fuccefs to attenuate the virus, 
and mitigate its effets. It is not an abfo- 
lute fpecific, but it may be adminiftered 
fuccefsfully in this malady,which is a great 
point gained. : 
As itis impracticable to effeét a dacom- 
pofition or dilfolution of the ftone in the 
bladder, it comes within the province of 
furgery to undertake the cure of thofe who 
unfortunately labour under this malady. 
The mode of procefs neceffary to be adopt- 
ed in this cafe has been brought to fuch 
a degree of perfection, that nothing more 
is required, than faithfully to follow the 
routine pointed and traced out by experi- 
ence. SABATIER 1s of opinion, that 
the inftrament known for feveral years by 
the name of the Ltholomeé cache, ought te 
claim the preference, before al! others, for 
which he gives very folid and fatisfaétery 
reafons. wae 
The art of curing the human fpecies, 
contributes to the progrefs of our know- 
ledve relative to the care and treatment of 
animals. An ancient prejudice has long 
induced a general belief, that if a horfe, for 
inftance, breaks a thigh, it is impoffible to 
effet a cure. Hence it is cuftomary in 
thefe cafes to difpatch the animal immedi- 
ately for the fake of its‘hair, its fkin, and. 
its hoofs, But Citizen Huzarp has dew 
monftrated, in confequence of various ob- 
fervations of his own, together with the 
refult of fuch as have been communicated 
to him by others, the praéticability of ef- 
feéting a confolidation of the fraétures of 
the long bones in horfes, and other large 
animals; and has fpecified the beft and 
fimpleft medes of procedure in thefe cafes. 
Symptoms of an ep:zootis haye mani- 
3 N a. fefted 
449 
RP Le 
Toa aad en 
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1 ee 
