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Recovery in Dublin, by William Stoker, M. D. one of the physicians to that institution, &c. &c. 8vo.

Medico-Chirurgical Transactions, published by the Medical and Chirurgical Society of London. Volume V.

The Morbid Anatomy of the Brain in Mania and Hydrophobia; with the pathology of these two diseases, as collected from the papers of the late Andrew Marshall, M. D. With an account of some Experiments to ascertain whether the pericardium and ventricles of the Brain contain water in a state of Health; to which is prefixed a Sketch of his Life, by S. Sawrey, Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Surgical Observations on Injuries of the Head, by John Abernethy, F. R. S. &c. a new edit. 1 vol. 8vo.

A Treatise on the Puerperal Fever; illustrated by cases which occurred in Leeds and its neighbourhood in 1809-12, by William Hey, junr. Surgeon to the General Infirmary at Leeds.

Observations on the Diseases of Females which are attended by Discharges, illustrated by copperplates of the Diseases, by Charles Mansfield Clarke, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, Lecturer on Midwifery, &c. &c.

Medical Transactions published by the College of Physicians in London. Vol. V.

The Morbid Anatomy of the Liver, being an Inquiry into the anatomical character, symptoms and treatment of certain diseases which impair or destroy the structure of that viscus. Part II. by J. R. Farre, M. D.

Pathological Researches in Medicine and Surgery, by J. R. Farre, M. D. Part II.

Engravings from specimens of morbid parts, preserved in Mr. Charles Bell's collection, Windmill Street, and selected from the divisions inscribed Urethra, Vesica, Ren, Morbosa and Læsa.

Commentaries on the Diseases of Children, by John Clarke, M. D. &c. &c. One vol. 8vo.

Natural History, Botany, &c.

An Epitome of the second edition of Hortus Kewensis, for the use of Practical Gardeners; to which is added a selection of esculent vegetables and fruits cultivated in the Royal Garden at Kew, by W. T. Acton, gardener to his majesty. Post octavo.

Essay on Dew, and several appearances connected with it, by Charles Wells, M. D. F. R. S.

A General Description of Shells, arranged according to the Linnæan system, by William Wood, F. R. S. and L. S.

A new edition of Dr. Lettsom's Naturalist's and Traveller's Companion. All the subjects formerly treated of are carefully revised and adapted to the present state of knowledge, and several interesting additions made.

An Introduction to Entomology, or Elements of the Natural History of Insects, by the Rev. William Kirby, B. A. F. L. S. and William Spence, esq. F. L. S.

A System of Mineralogy, comprehending Oryctognosie, Geognosie, Mineralogical Geography, Chemical Mineralogy, and Economical Mineralogy, by Robert Jameson, F. R. S. E. &c. &c. 2d edit. 3 vols. 8vo.

The classes and orders of the Linnæan System of Botany, illustrated by select specimens of foreign and indigenous plants, 26 numbers, 240 plates-Published in monthly parts.

The History of the Royal Society from its institution to the end of the 18th century, by Thomas Thomson, M.D. F.R.S.L. and E.F.L.S. 4to.

Dr. Adams is preparing an illustration of Mr. Hunter's Doctrine concerning the vitality of the Blood, in Answer to the Edinburg Review of Mr. Abernethy's Lectures.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

In the press, and will be published in the course of a few days, by Edward Parker, No. 178, Market Street, a new me.

dical work, of which Dr. William Currie of this city is the author, entitled, A Synopsis or General View of the Theories or Doctrines of Diseases, that have been taught at different times; including a critical examination of the theories of the late Doctors Cullen, Brown, Darwin and Rush, and an abstract of that at present taught, by Doctor Gregory, Professor of the Practice of Physic in the University of Edinburg.

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Two Cases, with Observations, demonstrative of the Powers of Nature to reunite parts which have been, by accident, totally separated from the Animal System. By WILLIAM BALFOUR, M. D. Edinburgh.

[From the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal for October, 1814.]

THE practice of ingrafting trees first suggested to medical practitioners the idea of repairing mutilated parts. This practice was successfully prosecuted by a few, when the state of society afforded opportunities, but has uniformly been treated with a certain degree of ridicule, by far the greater number of the profession. This distrust in the powers of nature, in the face, too, of evidence which it would be difficult to controvert, is not more unphilosophical in itself, than its influence on practice must be detrimental. What a man believes impossible he never will attempt. But if a branch of one tree unites with the stump of another, so as not only to live, but to bear fruit, it can be no great stretch of imagination to suppose, that a part totally separated from the animal system, may, under proper management, reunite and live, and perform all its proper functions.

A number of years ago, an accident happened, in the management of which I proceeded upon the principle of the VOL. V.

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possibility of parts entirely separated uniting again, with all the success I could desire. This idea was suggested by the necessity of doing something without delay, and the recollection of the Taliacotian mode of forming artificial noses. At that time, however, I knew of no case in which even an attempt had been made to replace parts, as near being totally separated from the system as were those in this instance. This case I did not publish at the time it occurred, for reasons hereafter to be mentioned. Indeed it had almost gone out of mind till a fresh accident occurred, the cure of which by reunion, ranks, under all the circumstances of the case, among the most wonderful instances of the powers of nature, and for ever sets at rest the question, "Whether parts, which have been completely separated from the rest of the animal system, and in which circulation has ceased altogether, can be again reunited?" There is a circumstance, too, which stamps a value and importance on the two following cases, above all, or most others of the kind,—that is, their authenticity, or the proof that can be offered, that the facts recorded really happened precisely as recorded; a proof which, from the number and respectability of the witnesses, must convince the most scep

tical.

The recollection of what took place in the first case, left little doubt in my mind of an equally favourable result in the second; for I never attributed the least degree of the success attending the former, to the small slip of skin that remained undivided. It appeared to me highly improbable, that a connection so very slender could keep up circulation betwixt the system and the separated parts, with a vigour sufficient to keep the latter alive.

From the moment, therefore, I found reunion to have taken place, I began to suspect, that the precautions employed by Taliacotius, and his contemporaries, to keep up circulation in parts destined to supply the place of others, were unnecessary, and inadequate to the purpose. Can it be supposed, for instance, that an extensive surface cut out of the arm for forming an artificial nose, could be fed by a small attachment, with a

* Dr. Thomson's Lectures on Inflammation, page 230.

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