"It appears then by these experiments, that in the animals which were the fubjects of them, not only the intestine may be returned into the cavity of the abdomen, but the ligatures which are applied upon it; and that no apprehenfion need be enter tained of these ligatures being feparated into the cavity to produce the inflammatory effect of extraneous bodies. However, as the protruded parts in hernia are fo much inflamed as to endanger a speedy feparation of the ligatures; and, as it appears by the first experiments which I have related, that the animal did not fuffer from the ligature hanging from the abdomen; I should still prefer performing the operation of uniting the divided inteftine, in fuch a manner as to give an opportunity of extracting the ligatures, if any inconveniences arose from their application.

"The practice, therefore, which ought to be followed in an inteftine divided by mortification, is to cut off its mortified extremities, and then to pafs four ftitches through them, one at the mefentery, and the three others at equal distances round the inteftine. Then returning it to the mouth of the hernial fac, which fhould be opened higher up than ufual, it must be there firmly confined by a ligature being paffed through the mefentery, in the manner already directed. If ftools pafs the lig atures, and the patient goes on well, the ligatures may remain until they are thrown off by ulceration; but if there are no ftools, and the patient fuffers from a diftended abdomen, three of the stitches should be cut away, leaving that which attaches the inteftine to the hernial fac, as well as that which joins its edges at the mefentery. The fæces can then readily escape at the external wound; and as granulations arife, and the wound heals, the mouths of the divided inteftine will become united, fo that the faces will take their natural courfe, as they did in the cafe which I have related, where many inches of the inteftine floughed."

Mr. Cooper next fpeaks of the difficulty of managing an intestine with "a large opening in its fide, occupying one-half

of its cylinder," and has the following obfervations on the treatment of it. "The means which will occur to the mind, as being most likely to effect this object," (the healing of the opening)" will probably be to make an uninterrupted future upon the opening in the inteftine; but this treatment would leave the inteftine with only half its cylinder, the fæces will not pass, they will either foon burst the stitches from the wound, or it will become neceffary for the furgeon to cut them to unload the inteftine, and prevent the death of his patient.

"There is a curious difference in the facility with which a longitudinal and transverse wound of the inteftine unite. It has been already fhewn, that the tranfverfe heal readily; but with refpect to the longitudinal, they have a contrary tendency. Mr. Thomson made the following experiments, the refult of which will be found extremely curious.

"Exper. 1. Expofing the intestine of a dog, he made an incifion into it of an inch and an half in length, in a line oppofite to, and parallel with the mefentery. The cut edges were brought together by four stitches, which were cut away close to the knots by which they were tied, and the intestine was returned into the belly.

"The dog became uneafy in the evening and continued fo the next day. The belly became tense, and he shewed an averfion to food; and in less than forty-eight hours he died.

"Upon opening the abdomen ftrong marks of peritoneal inflammation were apparent, and a quantity of fluid was found confifting in part of exudation from the inflamed furface, and in part of the contents of the intestinal canal. The edges of the wound were torn open. One of the stitches had disappeared, but the three others remained, each adhering to one fide of the wound.

"Exper. 2. He repeated the foregoing experiment, and, to prevent the escape of the fæces, fewed up the intestines between the interrupted stitches with a fine thread. This dog, like the former, foon became uneafy and reftlefs, the belly became

tense, and he died in lefs than forty-eight hours from the experiment. The appearances, upon opening the abdomen, were the fame as in the former experiment."

"Experiment 3d. Saturday January 14th, I made a longitudinal incifion of one inch and a half into the small intestine of a dog, and then having fewed the edges of the wound together with great care by an uninterrupted future, I cut off the ligature close to the inteftine, and returned it into the abdomen. In twenty-four hours after this experiment the animal was fo ill as to make his recovery doubtful; but in forty-eight hours he was much better, and able to take food. From that time he recovered quickly, running about the house, and taking whatever was offered to him. On the feventh day I killed him, and found, upon examining the abdomen, the intestines glued together fo as to prevent my feeing the ligature upon the outer side of the intestine; but upon cutting them open, I found the thread loosely adhering to the edges of the wound, but the knot which I had made upon the outfide was hanging on the inner fide of the bowel. The inteftine was uninflamed upon its internal furface, and the lacteals were loaded with chyle. Although this animal did not die from the experiment, it was certainly in greater danger, and fuffered more, than in that in which the inteftine was divided, and it requires much greater care to perfectly close the longitudinal wound than is necessary in the tranfverfe.

"Thefe experiments greatly affift in elucidating the treatment of the mortified inteftine in hernia. Inftead of endeavouring to maintain a diminished canal by fewing the inteftine longitudinally, the furgeon fhould not only cut out the mortified part, but all the remaining part of the cylinder of the intestine, and then approximating the extremities of the inteftine, he should endeavour to unite it in the manner in which a transverse divifion of the intestine is treated, by making four futures upon it, and confining it by means of the mefentery to the mouth of the hernial fac."

THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY have lately published the First Part of their Sixth Volume.-The Table of Contents will afford fome idea of the importance of this valuable addition to their former Volumes.*

*1. AN Account of the Language of Signs, among certain North American Indians. By William Dunbar, Esq. of Natchez on the Mississippi; Member of the Society: communi. cated by Thomas Jefferson, President of the Society.-2. Meteorological Observations for one entire Year, ending the 31st of January 1800, made by William Dunbar, Esq. at the Forest, four and a half miles East of the Mississippi, in Lat. 31° 28′ N. and Long. 91° 30' W. of Greenwich; on an Eminence about 150 Feet above the Level of the highest Waters of the annual Inundation of the Mississippi. Communicated by the President of the Society.-3. Description of a singular Phenomenon seen at Baton Rouge, by William Dunbar, Esq. Communicated by the President of the Society.-4. A short and easy Rule for finding the Equation for the Change of the Sun's Declination, when equal Altitudes are used to regulate a Clock or other Time-Keeper. By Andrew Ellicott, Esq. Com. municated by the Author.-5. Account of an extraordinary Flight of Meteors (commonly called shooting Stars). Communicated by Andrew Ellicott, Esq. as extracted from his Journal, in a Voyage from New-Orleans to Philadelphia.-6. An improved Method of projecting and measuring plane Angles. By R. Patterson. Communicated by Andrew Ellicott, Esq.-7. Sur la Theorie des Vents, Par M. Dupont de Nemours,-8. Extracts of a Letter from William Dunbar, Esq. of the Natchez, to the President of the Society; relating to fossil bones found in Louisiana, and to Lunar Rainbows observed West of the Mississippi.-9. Meteorological Observations, made by William Dunbar, Esq. at the Forest four Miles West of the Mississippi, in Lat. 31a. 28′. N. and Long. 91°. 30′. W. of Greenwich, for the Year 1800-with Remarks on the State of the Weather, Vegetation, &c. calculated to give some Idea of the Climate of that Country.-10. Abstract of a Communication from Mr. Martin Duralde, relative to fossil Bones, &c. found in the Coun. try of Apelousas, West of the Mississippi-to William Dunbar, Esq. of the Natchez, and by him transmitted to the Society.-11. Observations made on a Lunar Eclipse, at the Observatory in the City of Philadelphia, on the 21st of September 1801; by R. Patterson and A. Ellicott.-12. On the Hybernation of Swallows; by the late Colonel Antes. Communicated by Dr. Barton.-13. Astronomical Observations made at Lancaster, Penn- › sylvania, chiefly with a View to ascertain the Longitude of that Borough, and as a Test of the Accuracy with which the Longitude may be found by Lunar Observation; in a Letter from A. Ellicott to R. Patterson.-14. Notices of the Natural History of the northerly Parts of Louisiana; in a Letter from Dr. John Watkins to Dr. Barton.-15. On two Species of Sphex, inhabiting Virginia and Pennsylvania, and probably extending through the United States. By Benjamin H. Latrobe.-16. Memorandum of a new Vegetable Muscipula. By Dr. Barton.-17. On the Claying of Sugar; describing a new and economical Mode of conducting that Process. By Jonathan Williams, Esq.-18. An Account of some newly discovered Islands and Shoals in the Indian Seas. By Mr. Thomas, an Officer on board the American Ship Ganges.-19. First Report of Benjamin H. Latrobe, to the American Philosophical Society, in Answer to the enquiry, "whether any, and what Improvements have been made in the Construction of Steam-Engines, in America?"-20. An Account of the Fusion of Strontites, and Volatilization of Platinum; and also of a new Arrangement of Apparatus. Communicated by Robert Hare, jun. a Member of the Society.-21. An Account and Description of a Cock with two Perforations, contrived to obviate the necessity of a Vent-Peg, in tapping air-tight Casks. By Robert Hare, jun.-22. Some Account of a new Species of North American Lizard. By Dr. Barton.-23. Continuation of Astronomical Observations, made at Lancaster, Pennsylvania; in a Letter from A. Ellicott, Esq. to R. Patterson.-24. Observations and Experiments relating to equivocal, or spontaneous Generation. By J. Priestley, L. L. D. F. R. S.-35. Observations on the Discovery of Nitre in common Salt, which had been frequently mixed with Snow; in a Letter to Dr. Wistar, from J. Priestley, L. L. D. F. R. S.-26. A Letter on the supposed Fortifications of the Western Country; from Bishop Madison of Virginia, to Dr. Barton.-27. Supplement to the Account of the Dipus Americanus, in the IV Vol. of the Transactions of the Society, No. XII. By Dr. Barton.-28. Hints on the Etymology of certain English Words, and on their Affinity to Words in the Languages of different European, Asiatic,

AN ENQUIRY into the Effects of Ardent Spirits, &c. &c.--By Benjamin Rush, &c. &c.--Philadelphia--Dobson---pp. 50.

This greatly enlarged edition is divided into three parts. Part I. treats of the effects of ardent fpirits, as they appear in a fit of drunkennefs, &c. &c. &c.

The deftructive effects of ardent fpirits upon the human mind are thus enumerated.

"A more affecting spectacle cannot be exhibited than a perfon into whom this infernal fpirit, generated by habits of intempera ance, has entered. It is more or lefs affecting according to the station the perfon fills in a family, or in fociety, who is possessed by it. Is he a husband? How deep the anguish which rends the bofom of his wife! Is fhe a wife? Who can measure the shame and averfion which she excites in her husband? Is he the father, or is the the mother of a family of children? See their averted looks from their parent, and their blushing looks at each other! Is he a magistrate? Or has he been chosen to fill a high and respectable station in the councils of his country? What humiliating fears of corruption in the administration of the laws, and of the fubverfion of public order and happiness, appear in the countenances of all who fee him! Is he a minifter of the gofpel?-Here language fails me. weep,--it is at fuch a fight."

If angels

In Part II. we are prefented with the "Subftitutes for ardent fpirits," &c. Their use, combined with bitters, to prevent

and American (Indian) Nations; in a Letter from Dr. Barton to Dr, Thomas Beddoes.29. Astronomical Observations, made by Jose Joaquin de Ferrer, chiefly for the Purpose of determining the geographical Position of various Places in ne United States, and other Parts of North America. Communicated by the Ahor.-30. Description of the River Mississippi and its Delta, with that of the adja-ent Parts of Louisiana; by William Dunbar, Esq. of the Natchez. Communicated by the Author, through the President of the Society.-31. Abstract of Meteoroloical Observations for the Years 1801, 1802, and 1803, made at the Natchez; by Witam Dunbar, Esq.-Proceedings of the Society on the death of their late eminent Assolate, Joseph Priestly, L. L. D. F. R. S.

It is greatly to be lamented, that the dies upon ardent spirits have been taken off by the Legislature of the Union. In ple of encouraging the immorality, which the improper use of ardent spirits has invariably led to, it has always been the policy of the most enlightened governments, check it as much as possible by the heaviest duties; and even these have been found adequate to the purpose. Whilst our rulers do not discountenance, by every mess in their power, this pernicious habit; it is to be feared but little benefit will resuls from the philanthropic views of the author of this pamphlet, VOL. I.