only motionless or nearly so, but is also contracted and irregular, and the humors are misty. This likewise seems to be an organic disease, and although slowerin its progress than the former, is generally incurable. In a third form of amaurosis, which is commonly called Gutta serena, a simple loss of sensibility in the retina, whether it is idiopathic or symptomatic is ascertained by observation on the pupil.

As a symptomatic affection it is in recent cases capable of being cured.-First, when it is accompanied with paralysis of the upper eye-lids and a flushed face, marking arterial congestion in the encephalon. Secondly, when it arises from the disordered functions of the abdominal viscera, but especially of the alimentary canal or of the uterus. Thirdly when it attends syphilitic inflammation of the iris. The first is cured by active depletion, by a gentle but long continued mercurial course, and by a very abstemious diet; the second, by restoring the function; the third, by the specific remedy.

The sixth and last chapter is" on the Congenital cataract" and contains a detailed account of what Mr. Saunders has done to improve this interesting department of surgery. Until his attention was fortunately engaged upon it, this peculiar form of Cataract had received no distinct consideration; and the unhappy subjects of it were permitted to pass the most important and valuable years of early life (as far as regards moral and physical education) in a state of partial or total blindness. Nor was even this, great as it was, the only disadvantage of their condition. According to a general Jaw of the animal economy, the retina from long inactivity becomes less sensible, and the muscles of the eye, acquire a rolling unsteady motion which not only increases the hazard and difficulty of an operation, but for a long period of time renders it impossible, by any effort of volition, to direct the eye to an object with sufficient steadiness for the purposes of distinct and useful vision. The advantages therefore of operating in early infancy are incalculable, but to this period, of life the extraction and depression of the lens are perfectly inapplicable, the first being too hazardous and difficult even in the hands of the most dexterous operator, and the nature of the congenital cataract rendering the last impracticable in most instances-In by far the greater number of instances the congenital cataract is capsular, that is the lens having become opaque is removed by the action of the absorbents, and the anterior lamellæ of the capsule retiring upon the posterior, they unite and form a white opaque and very elastic membrane This change had taken place more or less completely in 21

of 44 cases upon which Mr. S. operated. Of the remaining 23, 10 were cases of solid lens either totally or partially opaque, 9 were soft and opaque, with or without opacity of the capsule, and 4 were cases of fluid cataract. It is obvious that in by far the greater number of these cases the operation ofextraction or depression could not be employed, and Mr. S. merits the highest praise for having suggested and brought to perfection an operation at once simple, efficacious, easily performed, and applicable to all varieties of the disease. It consists in making a permanent aperture in the centre of the capsule, not exceeding the natural size of the pupil, the object of the operation being to destroy this portion of the capsule (that it may not be closed up by the adhesive process) without dislocating the lens.-Previous to the operation Mr. S. applied the extract of Belladonna diluted with water to the consistence of cream to the eye or eyelids; in the space of half an hour or an hour this had produced its full effect upon the iris, and he then proceeded to perform the operation with the aid of the necessary assistants to secure the patient. He employed Pellier's elevator to raise the lid and fix the eye-ball, and the needle which he prepared was small, sharp pointed, and had a cutting edge from its shoulders to the point, and was so thin as to penetrate with the utmost ease. Mr. S. operated upon the anterior or posterior surface of the cataract according to circumstances; in the former case the needle was made to penetrate the cornea near its junction with the sclerotica; in the latter, the puncture was made in the sclerotica, and the needle was passed carefully behind the iris. When the needle had reached the centre of the pupil, he worked cautiously upon the centre of the capsule with a lateral motion, and having made a sufficient opening he gently sent the needle into the body of the lens (where the capsule contained one) and carefully opened its texture without disturbing its situa ion. By this means the lens is completely exposed to the action of the aqueous humour by which it is gradually dissolved, though sometimes not without a necessity for opening its texture by several successive operations, a fortnight at least being interposed between each. It is one of the great advantages of this operation that it rarely excites inflammation, and though it is more slow, yet it is more certain than any other; when the disease is entirely capsular more freedom may be used with the needle, as there is less danger of inflammation; the fluid cataract sometimes excites a good deal of inflammation. The greatest success attended the operation when performed between eighteen months and four years of age, the editor recommends two years as the best age-The number of operations requisite to effect a cure may vary from one

to six. With respect to the best mode of operating in the adult cataract it does not appear that Mr. S. had come to a positive conclusion; he was satisfied of the superiority of his operation in the soft cataract, but its positive superiority in all the varieties of cataract he was aware could only be determined by a fair and long continued comparative trial of the various modes of operating, owing to the very slow solution of a hard Jens in the aqueous humour; he was inclined to prefer the operation of extraction in that variety of the disease, but the editor appears to be doubtful if he would ultimately have conceded even thus much in favour of extraction. When however he performed his operation of the capsule in this variety of the disease, he was particularly careful to leave a sufficient portion of the anterior lamella of the capsule around the circumference of the lens to retain it in its position, as its dislocation and consequent pressure on the iris produced a hazardous inflammation which it was hardly possible to controul by the most active treatment.

A number of plates very beautifully executed and admirably coloured accompany this volume, they serve to illustrate either the more remarkable appearances of disease in the eye, or particular circumstances necessary to be attended in operating. Their value is considerably increased by copious explanations.

Such are the principal contents of this interesting volume, which exhibits proof throughout, of superior understanding, nice discrimination, patient investigation and manly decision, It is painful to think that the labour of such a man should have been closed, when his powers had reached their full maturity, and when his valuable attainments were opening to him a boundless field of honorable and useful exertion.

Art. IV. Essays on Song-writing; with a collection of such English songs as are most eminent for poetical merit. By John Aikin, a new edition, with additions and corrections, and a supplement, by R. H. Evans. 12mo. Evans, 1810.

Art. V. Vocal Poetry, or a select collection of English songs. To which is prefixed an Essay on Song writing. By John Aikin, M. D. 12mo. Johnson and Co. 1810.

Art. VI. Letters to John Aikin, M.D. on his

volume of vocal poetrys and on his "Essays on Song-writing; with a collection of such English songs as are most eminent for poetical merit." Published originally by himself in the year 1772; and republished by R. H. Evans, in the year 1810. By James Plumptre, B. D. Fellow of Clarehall, Cambridge. To which are added a collection of songs revised and altered by the Editor; with some original songs. 12mo. Rivington. 1811.

OUR readers, are, no doubt, acquainted with the ingenious

essays on Song-writing by Dr. Aikin, which first made

*

their appearance in 1772, accompanied by a collection of some of the best English songs, intended as exemplifications of the author's ideas upon the subject. The copyright expired, the book was out of print, and its scarcity, moreover, having, we are told, long been a subject of popular regret, Mr. Evans, of Pall-mall, undertook a new edition of the work.

The many years which have elapsed,' says Mr. E. in his advertisement, since the publication of the last edition, seemed to leave no hope that Dr. Aikin could be prevailed on to gratify the public by a revision and enlargement of his work. He had declined the task in the prime and vigour of life; and he might now think it unbecoming his years, to engage in a republication of these nugæ canoræ.-Turpe cenilis amor, the doctor might exclaim, and though we might be pleased to see his volume ranged by the side of those of Percy, Ellis, and some other similar publications, yet he has abandoned the friendly office of revision to other hands.'

But Mr Evans "reckoned without his host," and was, it seems, rather deceived in his calculations. Instead of receiving the thanks of Dr. Aikin for taking charge of his literary progeny, our editor finds his services regarded as officious: and he may, perhaps, consider the doctor from his conduct on the present occasion, as bearing some resemblance to those animals who, if their young ones are looked at or handled, forsake or destroy them. Soon after the appearance of Mr. Evans's book, Dr. Aikin "found it necessary" to declare, by public advertisement, that he had never been consulted on the republication of the Essays, and had no concern whatever in it. Another bantling is immediately sent forth, which, enjoying the advantage of being owned by its parent as a legitimate production, steps forward a candidate for public favour, in opposition to its discarded elder brother.-In the advertisement which appears in the book itself Dr. Aikin makes no direct allusion to Mr. Evans's publication.

As inquiries,' he says, 'were still from time to time made after the work, the editor was asked the question whether he had any intention of reprinting it; accompanied with the intimation, that, as the copyright was expired, should he decline the business, others would be ready to undertake it.-Unwilling that his book should again be given to the public with all its imperfections on its head, he was obliged to declare, that if it were reprinted at all, it should be with many material alterations, corresponding to his own change of taste and opinion in various points during so long an interval.-Under these almost compulsory circumstances, although he perhaps should not now have chosen for the first time to appear as the collector of productions, the general strain of which is more suitable to an earlier period of life, yet he thought he night without impropriety avail himself of the opportunity of making a new and much more extensive selection of compositions which will not cease to be fa

vourites with the lovers of elegant poetry, whatever be the vicissitudes of general taste.'

Thus two kindred but rival performances upon this important subject, present themselves to view almost at the same moment, like the two kings of Brentford in the Rehearsal And thus the canse for "popular regret" which was afforded by the scarcity of the former work, is happily and effectually removed.

But to be serious it certainly does appear somewhat strange that Dr. Aikin was not consulted by Mr. Evans about the republication of his work, though some authors, perhaps, would have thought it hardly worth their while to trouble themselves about the matter. However, with such an elegant and attractive little volume before us as his Vocal Poetry, we must own ourselves under some obligation to Dr. Aikin for feeling and acting as he has done on this occasion. On the other hand, we are not disposed to call Mr. Evans to very severe account for republishing another man's work without his permission, because we find it by no means uninteresting to compare the doctor's present ideas upon the subject in question, with those which he entertained at the commencement of his literary life.

The essays republished by Mr. Evans are four in number, one on song-writing in general, and one on each of the three classes into which the collection of songs was originally distributed, namely, balfads and pastoral songs, passionate and descriptive, and ingenious and witty songs: an arrangement formed upon manner rather than subject. In the volume pub lished by Dr. Aikin himself a new arrangement of the songs is given, with a single preliminary essay, in which he tells us there is scarcely a sentence copied from his former work. We must content ourselves with a very brief notice of these publications, confining our remarks chiefly to Dr. Aikin's own edition.

He begins his essay by remarking, that antiently the alliance between poetry and music appears to have been constant; but that in process of time, as poetry took a wider range, the accompaniment of music was laid aside as inconvenient; still, however, he observes, musical tones continued to be associated with a large class of compositions, to which was given the denomination of Lyric Poety: comprehending a great variety of topics, which fall within the province of the modern ode and song.

Relinquishing to the ode the more elevated subjects and elaborate exertions of the lyric muse, song chiefly confines itself to lighter topics, and especially delights to express the pleasures and pains of love, and the