with the corrosive sublimate, are more virulent poisons than the sublimate, that the only antidote to this substance is albumen; which decomposes the muriate of mercury, and converts it into calomel, an oxyde of mercury, at minimum. The treatment recommended, therefore, in poisoning by corrosive sublimate, is to encourage vomiting by copious and frequent draughts of mucilaginous drinks, and to give large quantities of whites of eggs. Upon the same principle the author might have recommended, where eggs could not be obtained, the use of milk. Arsenious Acid. The medicines which had been recommended as counter-poisons to this substance were the alkaline sulphurets, the sulphurated hydrogen, and acetic acid. These, the author has proved, are all useless or deleterious, when taken into the stomach with the arsenic, and that the only true antidote is the Hydrosulphureted Water; nevertheless, as this remedy is not easily and readily obtained, he advises the use of mild emetics, aided by large quantities of warm water and mucilaginous drinks; which by disseminating the poison over a greater extent of surface, will prevent the deleterious effects from the residue in the stomach, after vomiting. Lime water may be given with benefit when the arsenious acid has been taken in solution. The bitter infusions are only useful in consequence of the vehicle which forms a part of them. All oily substances he believes to be rather injurious than beneficial. As an antidote to the corrosive sublimate and arsenious acid, great virtues have recently been ascribed to charcoal. The experiments made with this substance by Dr. Bertrand, who has most confidently recommended its use, have been repeated by Dr. Orfila, and he affirms that "neither charcoal nor the water of charcoal are (is) antidotes (an antidote) to corrosive sublimate or arsenious acid." "Any results respecting antidotes," he observes, "can be of no avail, unless the esophagus of the animal, that is the subject of the experiment, be tied;" and in consequence of this neglect he concludes the experiments of Bertrand to have been fallacious. Acetate of Copper, or Verdigris. The impropriety of administering the hydrogenated sulphurets, which theory had so highly extolled as antidotes to this poison, was pointed out by M. Drouard. The substance which was held in the highest estimation, before our author's experiments, was sugar. He discovered, how ever, that a decomposition only took place at a boiling temperature, and that sugar could not, therefore, be considered as an antidote, though it may be directed as a useful auxiliary in calming the irritation of the stomach after the poison shall have been ejected. He has also demonstrated, that the proper antidotes to this poison are albumen, and the prussiates of potash and iron; all of which readily decompose the copper at a low temperature, though the former, the best preparation of which is the whites of eggs, is represented as the most eligible. Muriate of Tin. From numerous experiments, the author has proved that this substance is an active poison, and that its best antidote is milk. Milk with sweet mucilaginous drinks, in large quantities he also recommends as the best counterpoisons to the Nitrate and Sub-Nitrate of Bismuth. To the Caustic Alkalis, the proper antidote is vinegar. The Caustic Acids are most effectually counteracted by the immediate use of Magnesia. Nitrate of Silver-Lunar Čaustic. The author has made many experiments to discover an antidote to this active poison, and concludes by saying, that he does not hesitate to recommend as such, the muriate of soda or common salt in solution. We are not prepared to say that this substance is not the best counterpoison to the lunar caustic, or that it will not, if given under the most favourable circumstances, decompose it in the stomach and thereby prevent its deleterious effect. But keeping in view the general axioms of the author in specifying the essential qualities of a perfect antidote, we are of opinion that he has not, in this case, given satisfactory proof of the correctness of his conclusion. From a series of experiments to ascertain the modus operandi of the lunar caustic, he says that he is of opinion that "when introduced into the stomach, it induces death by corroding the texture where it may come into contact; and by producing an inflammation more or less considerable." From the readiness with which lunar caustic decomposes animal matter, this theory of its physiological action appears plausible, and is probably correct. Now, in all the experiments which he has recorded to show the efficacy of the marine salt in preventing corrosion, the caustio was conveyed into the stomach in solution, and with it, or immediately after it, was given a solution of the muriate of soda. The animals died in four or five days without showing any other symptoms than dejection, and without discovering the small est eschar in the stomach and intestines. It is obvious, that in these cases the salt decomposed the poison; but the author has told us, that an antidote must act upon the poison, whether it be in a fluid or solid state, and that it must act promptly. We know the caustic to be a salt which is readily soluble, but we know also, that its action on animal matter is instantaneous: therefore the experiments do not prove that death would have been prevented had the poison been administered in a solid form. Opium. The various remedies which had been recommended as antidotes to this poison were, the vegetable acids, coffee, fluid oxygenated muriatic acid, camphor, mucilaginous drinks and bleeding. After a laborious investigation of the efficacy of each, the author says, that "froma very great number of facts collected with care," he is able to affirm" that the vegetable acids aggravate the symptoms of poisoning by opium whenever they are not vomited;" that in case the poisonous substance has been expelled by vomiting, "vinegar and water, and other vegetable acids, possess the property of diminishing the symptoms of poisoning, and even of putting an end to them altogether." The writer of this article formerly made some experiments, which appear to corroborate this opinion; though from the high reputation of the vegetable acids as counter-poisons to opium, it was then thought, that the unexpected result of the experiments was to be imputed to the dissimilar operation of the poison on the brute, and the human subject. A cat was made to swallow two and a half grains of opium, with half an ounce of lime juice with which it had been mixed two hours; little effect was produced in one hour, when the dose was repeated. The experiment was made on another cat, of the same age and size, water being substituted for the lime juice. No symptoms of stupifaction followed in either ease, but, on the contrary, both the animals were obviously excited. The one which was the subject of the last experiment was furious for a short time and recovered; the immediate effects on the other were less violent, but the animal declined for a few days and died. From the author's experiments with the infusion and decoction of coffee, he infers, that they are not to be considered as antidotes to opium, because they neither decompose it in the stomach nor convert it into a harmless substance; but as they do not, like the vegetable acids, increase its deleterious action, they may be emVOL. 1.-No. v. ployed without danger; and the infusion, when well prepared, will sometimes produce the most salutary effects. The fluid oxygenated muriatic acid is proved to possess no decided advantages over vinegar, and as the preparation is complicated, the author gives the preference to the vegetable acid. Of camphor, he affirms, that it does not decompose opium, nor hinder its acting as a poison, and consequently that it is not its antidote; nevertheless it may be given in small quantities with benefit, to counteract narcotic effects. The result of the author's experiments by blood letting is, that bleeding never exaggerates the symptoms of poisoning by opium, nor accelerates the moment of death--that in some instances it was highly useful-that it ought to be performed in robust persons who are under the influeuce of opium, and that it is most advisable to bleed from the jugular vein. From all his observations and experiments on the treatment of poisoning by this substance, the author concludes that the best means to be pursued, are to expel the poison from the stomach, if possible, by active emetics, and if these medicines will not produce their effect when taken into the stomach, he suggests the propriety of injecting a few grains of tartar emetic into the veins. Bleeding should be performed from the jugular vein immediately after the expulsion of the poisonous substance, and repeated according to the temperament of the patient. After the expulsion of the poison, water acidulated with vinegar and lemon juice, tartaric acid, and a strong infusion of cof fee, should be alternately administered in small doses every ten minutes. Diluent drinks, in large quantities, are objectionable, as they dissolve the poison and disseminate it over a greater extent of surface, and thereby facilitate its absorption. The observations on the treatment of poisoning by opium, are applicable to the whole class of narcotic poisons, except the Prussic acid, to which no antidote has yet been discovered. The oil of olives, milk, ammonia, theriaca, and chlorine, have all been found feeble or inefficacious remedies. The oil of terpentine is recommended as useful after the operation of strong emetics. Not the least interesting and important part of this volume, is that which relates to the physiological action of poisons. On this subject we conceive the writer to have done more towards explaining the true phenomena, and reconciling the discordant opinions, and apparent contradictions of authors, than all 16 those who have preceded him. It has been maintained, by some, that the action of poisons was entirely mechanical; by others, that it was chemical; by a third class that it was exerted exclusively on the circulating system; while others have supposed their effects to be produced, either by a direct or indirect impression upon the nervous systema. This diversity of opinion has probably arisen from the limited observations of the respective writers, each having directed his attention to the operation of a few poisons, taking it for granted that the action was the same, or analagous in all. From the experiments of our author, who seems to have noticed the symptoms and organic lesion produced by each of the poisons, without fear of bringing discredit upon any preconceived theory, it appears that the variety of action of the different poisons is sufficiently great to accommodate a yet larger number of opposing theorists. He has shown that some substances, such for instance as verdegris, operate on the alimantary canal, producing inflammation and gangrene; that the operation of others is various and complicated; as is that of the preparations of lead, affecting at one time the stomach and bowels, at another the nervous system only, whereas in a third case it will show its immediate effects upon all these organs. Some poisons seem to exert their influence directly on the nerves of the stomach, and sympathetically on the brain; while others are absorbed into the blood-vessels; as is manifested by a coagulation, or partial destruction of the natural texture of the blood. All these different effects might be inferred from the diversified phenomena of poisoning. Who that has witnessed the symptoms of poisoning by arsenic, such as fiery redness of the eyes, copious ptyalism, continual spitting, painful constriction of the pharynx and œsophagus, grinding of the teeth, hiccup, nausea, violent vomiting, perhaps of blood, great anxiety, frequent faintings, burning heat in the region of the stomach, with an inability to retain the mildest fluids, horrible fætor, contrasted and irregular pulse, palpitation of the heart, unquenchable thirst, a sensation over the whole body as of a devouring fire; followed by cold sweats, swelling of the body, with livid spots, and finally delirium, convulsions and death ;—and again has seen the person poisoned by opium in a state of complete stupifaction, perfectly immoveable and unconscious, with dilated pupils of the eyes, insensible to the impression of light-the lower jaw fallen, and the mus cles of the limbs and trunk completely relaxed, loss of deglutition, slow and sonorous breathing, diminished heat of the body, and death-like coldness of the extremities;-who we ask, after having witnessed the symptoms of poisoning by these two substances, will doubt, that there is a difference in their physiological action? A still more striking contrast is exhibited in the deadly stupifaction produced by the hellebore, and the furious excitement, the horrible contortions and grimaces which are the effects of large quantities of camphor. Before we conclude, we must observe, that though we duly appreciate the labour and perseverance of the author in the prosecution of his great work, and acknowledge the preeminent value of those deductions, which are the fruit of experiment, compared with the fallacious ar guments, and fair-formed theories of dead letter logic, and creative imagination: yet there are, notwithstanding, two apparent objections, which, though they may have been unavoidable in the author's inquiry, would seem to us worthy of further consideration before we implicitly subscribe to his conclusions. 1st. His experiments known, that many substances which ope were performed on brutes; and it is well rate as active poisons on man, do not affect at all some other species of animals, and vice versa. tying the esophagus, the inflammatio 2d. The operation of constant irritation keptup in the stomach, which unavoidably follows it, and the not only by substances introduced, but by the inverted action of that organ, must necessarily produce serious effects, independent of the operation of the poison. These objections the author has anticipated. To the 1st, he replies: "We al firm, after having made more than twi thousand experiments upon dogs, and compared them with what is observed in the human species, that the difference is null with regard to the nature of the symptoms which poisons produce, and the manner in which they ought to be combatted: that it exists only in the doses necessary for producing the disease. in the same degree, in the influence of the moral powers, and in the relative strength of the animals-circumstances which can produce an influence only on the violence of the symptoms, and on the duration of the disease." This observation may be correct, if limited to the effects of poisons on dogs,-we have made no experiments on that animal to verify or disprove it; but there is not the analogy which the author has represented, in the effects of medicines on many other species of animals. To the 2d objection, it is answered, that from vigorous experiments, it is ascerfained, that the conclusions to be drawn from the experiments with poisons, are in no way modified by the ligature of the esophagus-that it is impossible to write a complete work on poisons with out frequently performing this operation-that if performed with address, it scarcely lasts more than a minute or a minute and a half-that from twelve experiments of this kind, performed on dogs, no other effect was produced than slight fever, and a little dejection; and, that animals killed some time after undergoing the operation, presented no apparent lesion. Z. ART. 9. An Essay on American Poetry, with Miscellaneous Pieces on a variety subjects, Sentimental, Descriptive, Moral, and Patriotic, By Solyman Brown, Å. M. New-Haven. Hezekiah Howe. 12mo. pp. 188. THERE is a Spanish proverb, the import of which we well remember, though not the precise words in which is couched; it is to this effect: "God preserve me from my friends-I will protect myself from my enemies." Never have we felt more deeply the force of this deprecation than on the present occasion. The attacks of mercenary or envenomed slanderers of our country's fame, we know how to contemn, or to repel-but the advances of officious auxiliaries, where we respect the motive, but must reject the aid, place us in a situation of extreme embarrassment. The author of the poems contained in the volume before us, certainly appears to be a well meaning man, and, with due allowances, a decent scholar. But certainly a more unhappy conceit could not have entered his fancy, than that he was destined to vindicate the honours of the American muse. We cannot, indeed, imagine a fairer opportunity for one of those malignant English critics, whose illiberality our author so keenly resents, to give vent to his spleen and pungency to his paragraphs, than this very production affords. Were it to be taken for a specimen of that genius, whose claims it presumes to assert, what might be said of it with truth would be a severer satire on the objects of its solicitude, than any of which it complains. Such mistaken zeal as is displayed in this book, is to be deplored. It aggravates the mischief which it affects to remedy. It lowers the standard of our literature in the estimation of foreigners, and invalidates the arguments of those who are disposed to maintain the literary pretensions of their native land. Even the ground which the writer assumes, admitting the merits of those whom he eulogizes, is one on which no legitimate son of science or of song would wish to intrench himself. Were Ame rican poetry as transcendent as it is inferior to the poetry of Great Britain, since the distinction between them has existed, it would be mean and contemptible to deny its just tribute to the latter. But the position which our author has taken in this regard, as well as in respect to literature generally, is as untenable as it is audacious. Every one who knows any thing, knows that there are ten publications of value in England, where there is one in the United States; and consequently if we would, in conformity with the advice of our author, confine our reading to the works of our compatriots, we must be ten times more ignorant than those whom we are instigated to rival. But we cannot stoop to this controversy. The learned of all nations form one community, and he who renders a service to this community, is entitled to a gratitude exactly proportionate to the benefit conferred, and to an admiration commensu rate with the talent exhibited. Enlightened minds entertain philanthropic views; and philanthropy recognizes no distinction of lineage or language. To avoid collisions of an unpleasant nature we will, without further comment, pass by the preface, in which the author has given loose to his patriotism to the great disparagement either of his judg ment or his candour. But the work opens with a dedication, and however sweeping a stride we may be disposed to take, after we shall have passed the threshold, we must be permitted to pause for a moment in the vestibule. The volume is dedicated to "James Morris, Esq." a magnus ignotus, or embushelled luminary, the rays of whose renown have not yet spread beyond the perimeter of a Winchester standard. But, says our author," With the utmost confidence, I commit this little volume to the American public, shielded by a name which Envy and Detraction must ever assail in vain." We know nothing of the efficacy of this name, being quite beyond the sphere of its influence; yet we can imagine a very satisfactory reason why Envy and Detraction should assail it in vain. It is a received maxim, that de non apparentibus et de non existentibus eadem est ratio. Envy and Detraction would be amazingly perplexed to find the object which they are defied to assault. We may conceive, however, from this accension, of what corruscations the poet's imagination is capable. He has conjured up to his apprehension a tremendous apparition of Envy and Detraction, those fell blood-hounds, in full scent of Esquire Morris! He doubtless experienced a vision not less vivid and intense than was Cicero's when he exclaimed-"Versatur mihi ante oculos aspectus Cethegi," &c. But his fervour suddenly subsides, and timidity succeeds to assurance. "That it" (the work,) says our poet," should inherit the immortality of my Patron's (videlicet Esquire Morris's) virtues, it would be presumption to hope." Now this seems to us an excess of diffidence; for were we to vaticinate, we should prediet precisely the same immortality both of the poem and its patron-an immortality of six weeks in a circuit of twelve miles. 66 But it is time to say something of the poems which are ushered in with so much pomp. The principal performance is entitled an Essay on American Poetry, though it might as well have taken any other appellation. It is written in the heroic measure, and is divided into three parts. The first canto is a diatribe against British reviewers, with friendly hints to American critics-the second is a monologue in the character of the Genius of Columbia--and the third is a picturesque, geographical, physical, statistical, and political survey of this continent. There is some good sense, and there is much smooth versification in this essay. The author's prejudices are honest, and his frankness is commendaple. He does not, however, evince the poet either in the wildness or grandeur of his conceptions, or in the force or dignity of his diction. He possesses little vigour of fancy, or vivacity of expression. But if he does not often rise above mediocrity, he seldom falls below it. We will extract a few lines from the introduction to this poetical essay as a specimen of Mr. Brown's best manner, and as containing the burden of his whole song. hurl'd Parnassian Nine! who give poetic fire! We will make one further selection from this poem. Slow up the west the cloud of summer rolls; roar, The distant thunder rocks the trembling poles; What mean those flaming arms and foaming steeds? Alas! 'tis war-a friend, a brother bleeds! Adorn Atlantic's western-slander'd shore: |