ost 
refpiration are limited to the human fub- 
ject ; Spallanzani, one of the moft labo- 
rious and accurate experimentalifts that 
ever explored the fecrets of nature, has 
extended his phyfiological enquiries con- 
cerning refoiration to the whole animal 
creation. His plan for the examination 
of this important funtion in the animal 
economy, was very extenfive, and pro- 
mifes to put the world in poffeffion of a 
great many curious faéts. In the execu- 
tion of it, he propofes to examine thefe 
four principal points: “ 1. The refpira- 
tion in the fix clafles of animals, begin- 
‘ning with the lowefl, and gradually 
afcending to the highelt, which compre- 
hends the mammalia, and, confequently, 
manhimfelf. 2. The refpiration in thofe 
animals rendered torpid by cold. It is 
well known, that the air is deteriorated 
by refpiration ; but how is this deteriora- 
tion produced by the agency of- thofe ani- 
mals which do net refpire, or are defti- 
tute of refpiratory organs, of which there 
are a very great number? 3. I have 
been led, in the courfe of thefe inveftiga- 
tions, to endeavour to difcover, if the 
fkin of thofe animals which are not pof- 
feffed of refpiratory organs, produce the 
fame alteration in the furrounding air. 
4. Finally, having obferved that the air, 
in which the animals were clofeiy con- 
fined, became vitiated, I conceived it ne- 
cefiary to afcertain if their dead bedies 
produced the fame effcés.”” 
Spallanzani, therefore, begins with the 
clafs of worms. He performed feveral 
curious experyments, to afcertain the na- 
ture and eftects of re{piration in a variety 
of land and aquatic fnails. The clafs of 
infes next engaged his attention; and 
he examined the funétions of refpiration 
in them (cfpeeially in thofe which are fub- 
jeG to transformation), under all their 
changes, and in their different fituations. 
The fithes, amphibia, birds, and mam- 
matia, follow in their order. Whe author 
makes mary inte:efting cbfervations on 
the refpiration of each particular clafs, 
and points out feveral diltinétions be- 
tween the different clafles which were un- 
known to the ancient naturalifts. 
The three memoirs which are here of- 
fered to the public, contain but a_fmall 
part of the plan of the author. hey 
are only occupied with a detail of the ex- 
periments performed on the terrefrial and 
aquatic {nails, Thewhole, however, we 
are informed, was ccmpleted by the au- 
thor befcre he dicd, birt found to be a 
work of too great magnitnde to be pub- 
lithed by his sela:ions ia the Italian lan- 
Retrofpes of Domeflic Literature.— Agriculture, 
guage. Spallanzani himfclf had been 
fenfible of this difficulty, and had, there- 
fore, accepted, with thanks, an offer made, 
by his friend Senebier, to tranflate the, 
whole into French, from the original ma- 
nufcript. A confiderabledelay and diffi- 
culty took place by the death of Spallan- 
zani; but M. Senebier confidered hrs 
promife as facred, and, therefore, not to 
be annulled by the death of his friend. He 
fent notice to thofe relations of Spallan- 
zani, who had the poffeffion of his manu-- 
{cripts, that he was ready to perform his 
engagement; but the three following me- - 
§4g ; § 
moirs only have been as yet fent to him. 
Thefe contain a great variety of experi- 
“ments upon the funétions of refpiration, 
in fome land and water {nails, which con- 
clude the author’s vbfervations on the 
clafs of worms. 
Mr, ABERNETHY’ © Surgical Obfer- 
vations’ are diftinguifhed by that pre- 
feffional acutenefs and accuracy, which 
he is fo well known to poflefs, in a very 
eminent degree. They contain a claffifi- 
cation of tumours’ with cafes illuftrating 
the hiftory of each fpecies ; an account of 
difeafes which ftrikingly refemble the ve- 
nereal difeafe, and various cafes, illuftra- 
tive of different furgical fubjeéts. 
Mr. CHEVaLiIER has publifhed a va. 
luable ‘* Freatife on Gun-fbot Wounds,” 
which obtained the premium given by the 
Royal College of Surgeons, in London, 
for the year 1803. 
Dr. KinGLake has publifhed ** 4 Di/- 
Jertation on the Gout; exhibiting a new 
View of the Origin, Nature, Caufe, Care, 
and Prevention of that afflidting Difeafe ; 
illufirated and canjirmed by a Variety of 
original and communicated Cafes.” fa: 
Mr. NEaLE has tranflated Dr. Assa- 
Lini’s ** Obfervations on the Difeafe called 
the Piague, the Dyfentery, tte Opbthalmy 
of Egypt; and on the Means of Preven- 
tion. With fome Remarks_.on the Yeliow 
Fever of Cadiz,” ©&c. Dr. Afialini ts 
one of the chief furgeons of the Confular 
Guard ; he was wiih the Fieech army 
_ during its invafion of Egypt, and after- 
wards penetrated into Syria, under the 
commaud of Bonaparte. He maintains, 
without fufficient evidence, that the plague 
is anon-contagious diforder. This isa 
dangerous theory. 
Dr. TRotrer’s “ Effay on Drunken- 
nefs,” @&c. is an amplification of his In- 
augural Ifefis, printed at Edinburgh, in 
1738. His cafes of {ponraneous combuf- 
tion, preduced by the long-continued and 
immoderate ule cf fpirituous liquors, are 
curious; may they be relied en? . 
We 
