MEDICAL REPOSITORY, COMPREHENDING ORIGINAL ESSAYS AND INTELLIGENCE RELATIVE TO MEDICINE, CHEMISTRY, NATURAL HISTORY, MORE ESPECIALLY AS THEY ARE CULTIVATED IN AMERICA; SAMUEL LATHAM MITCHILL, M. D. F. R. S. Ed. AND EDWARD MILLER, M. D. Resident Physician for the City of New-York, Professor of the Practice Te deceat omni literarum genere imbutum cum Romano consule interdum Printed and sold by COLLINS & PERKINS, Printers to the New-York College of Herbarium. Diftrial of New-York, fi. (L. S.) BE IT REMEMBERED that on the fixth day of June, in the thirty-third year of the Independence of the United States of America, Samuel Latham Mitchill and Edward Miller, of the faid District, hath depofited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof they claim as authors, in the words and figures following, to wit: "The Medical Repofitory, comprehending Original Effays and Intelligence relative to Medicine, Chemistry, Natural Hiftory, Agriculture, Geography and the Arts; more efpecially as they are cultivated in America; and a Review of Ameri Conducted can Publications on Medicine, and the Auxiliary Branches of Science. by Samuel Latham Mitchill, M. D. F. R. S. Ed. Profeffor of Natural Hiftory in the University of New-York, Senator in the Congrefs of the United States, Fellow of the Philofophical Society of Philadelphia, Rofon, Marfilles, Leghorn, &c. and Edward Miller, M. D. Refident Phyfician for the City of New-York, Profeffor of the Practice of Phyfic in the University of New-York, &c. Te deceat omni literarum genere imbutum cum Romano confule interdum a republica ad academiam fecedere; et relicto fenatu, philofophos audire in Tufculano differentes, cum regimine politico conferre aconomiam animalem, et perspectis principum confiliis, in naturæ myfteria inquirere.' Mayor's Addrefs to Coventry. Second Hexade. Vol. VI." IN CONFORMITY to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, " An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by fecuring the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of fuch Copies, "An A& during the times therein mentioned;" and alfo to an Act, entitled, fupplementary to an Act, entitled, An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by fecuring the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of fuch Copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the Benefits thereof to the Arts of Defigning, Engraving, and Etching Historical and other Prints." CHARLES CLINTON, 3727 57-5 PREFACE. HAVING arrived at the close of the second Hexade, comprising a total amount of twelve Volumes from the commencement in 1797, the Editors conceive themselves bound in duty to present to the reader an account of the existing state of the work, and of the resources they still possess for the future continuance of it. How far the merit or utility of the Medical Repository may entitle it to the support of the community, is a question which it would ill become the Editors to discuss. They may be permitted, however, to observe, without imputation of arrogance, that the duration of twelve years, (unexampled in the periodical publications of a scientific or literary kind in this country) the repeated editions which several portions of the work have undergone, the prolific sources of the materials with which its pages have been steadily filled, the number of publications since commenced on a similar plan, and finally, the great accession to the number of subscribers lately gained, all serve to demonstrate that the public are not yet weary in this exertion of patronage, and that the objects held up to view in the original proposals are still considered, both with respect to their importance, and the degree of their attainment, as deserving the attention of men of science in the several parts of the United States. The Editors do not attempt to disguise the satisfaction they experience in the reflection of having first set the example of this mode of medical instruction in America, and having been enabled to prosecute the plan, as originally form. ed, without interruption, through all the doubtful and perilVOL. VI. b ous periods of its infancy, to the present stage of vigour and maturity. They willingly acknowledge that much of the value of the work, and much of its acceptance with the public, have been owing to the peculiarities of the times in which it appeared. The period in which we live has not only been rendered memorable by the rise and fall of empires, and by every variety of political commotion and calamity; but the same period also has been remarkably distinguished by the occurrence of malignant and fatal epidemics, by animated disquisitions concerning their origin, propagation and treatment, and by brilliant discoveries in medicine and other collateral branches of knowledge. As it was the duty of the Editors to state these discoveries, and to draw the attention of the public to them by all the means in their power, the Medical Repository undoubtedly derived much of its circulation from the importance of the matter of which it thus became the vehicle. The instrument is often honoured by the subject on which it is employed. While such interesting improvements are recorded and borne along the stream of time, it is one of the flattering distinctions enjoyed by the humblest followers in the train of Science, that they likewise "attendant sail, Pursue the triumph and partake the gale." At no period since the commencement of this work, have the Editors found the quantity of materials in their possession more abundant, or the value of them more imperiously demanding a continuance of their editorial exertions, than at the present time. Their correspondence, both domestic and foreign, never afforded a better prospect of supplying communications to any desirable extent. The benevolence and zeal of their friends, reinforced, if they are not too sanguine, by the approbation and good will of the public, never inspired more assurance of efficient and persevering support. And the pleasure they derive themselves, from contributing their endeavours in the cause of American Science, has not been experienced in a higher degree on any former occasion. So far, therefore, from sinking into weariness or languor, after the toil of twelve industrious years, or being deterred by the prospect of a renewal of it, the Editors approach the beginning of the third Hexade with confidence and satisfaction; and relying somewhat on the experience and habits of practised labourers, they indulge the hope of rendering the Medical Repository, hereafter, more worthy than ever of the public protection. TITLES OF THE ESSAYS AND REVIEWS CONTAINED IN THE SIXTH VOLUME OF THE SECOND HEXADE; OR THE TWELFTH IN THE WHOLE. No. I. 1. REMARKS on the Functions of the Stomach, as p. 1 5 12 23 IV. An Essay on the Temperature of the Seasons in different years; and on the course of the Winds, particularly upon the Atlantic Ocean, in the Northern temperate Zone, and the Countries adjoining that Ocean. By Mark Leavenworth, Esq. of Paris.(Continued from Vol. XI. p. 374, and concluded) V. Observations on the Character and Constitution of the Blood; with a Theory of Gout. By John Brickell, M. D. of Savannah. VI. Remarks on the Manners of the Indians living high up the River Missouri. Translated from a French manuscript Memoir written by Mr. Jean Baptiste Trudeau. By Samuel L. Mitchill. Reviews of the Transactions of the New-York Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts, p. 57; of Horne's Concise 45 52 |