3. That this fluid and the nervous fluid or energy are not the fame, but differ effentially in their nature.

66

4. That this fluid acts merely as a ftimulus to the nervous fluid or energy.

5. That thefe experiments have merely fhewn a new mode of exciting the nervous fluid or energy, without throwing any farther or direct light on the nature of this fluid or energy." P. 42.

The first of the conclufions is built upon experiments fo very analogous to thofe of Valli and Fowler, that it is unneceffary to take much notice of them. They are intended to prove the refemblance of the electrical fluid to this new influence, in producing fimilar fenfations of tafte, in having fimilar conductors and non-conductors, and in bringing on convulfions.Dr. M. found that both boiled meat and raw meat were equally good conductors of this influence, and that, although a piece of them was interpofed between the tongue and filver, and another between the tongue and zinc, they did not prevent the peculiar fenfations of tafte.

As to the 2d corollary, we are by no means fatisfied that it is fufficiently proved by experiment. In our account of Dr. Fowler's work, we made ufe of fome arguments to fhew that ftimuli which acted on mufcles through the medium of nerves, alfo affected the mufcles themfelves, when immediately applied to their fibres. Experiments on the mufcles of perfect animals tending, to prove the pofition laid down by the author, we acknowledge to admit of much doubt, for as in them there is a mixture of nervous matter, it may be argued, that it is owing to this, that the ftimulus acts. Now, granting for the fake. of argument, that this new influence only produces action in a muscle by irritating the nervous energy, it would be natural to fuppofe that its effects on any given mufcle would, without exception, be most readily produced when applied to the nerves fupplying that muscle; yet it is hardly poffible to excite contractions in the heart in this way, whereas, if the zinc and gold be applied to the body of the heart itfelf, contractions are very easily excited. But the heart is fuppled with lefs nervous matter than any other mufcle of equal fize in the human body: it has even been denied of late, that it has any admixture of nerve, which circumstances all tend to render it pro bable, that the influence, when applied to the muscular or irritable fibre, is capable of exciting it into action as well as when conveyed by the nerves.

Differtatio qua demonftratur cor nervis carere, auctore J. B. G.

Behrend.

The

The 3d, 4th, and 5th conclufions appear to us to be just and fair deductions from the preceding experiments and facts; only we would add, that this new influence is alfo a ftimuJus to the principle of irritability, as well as to the nervous energy.

Among the number of experiments one or two deferve to be mentioned on account of their novelty, and the particular facts they prove.

"It has been alleged, that the flash happens before the two metals touch each other, and is repeated on feparating them: but these facts appear to me very doubtful, as I do not find that a flash is produced when a piece of cambric paper, in which a number of holes is pierced with a pin, is interpofed between the zinc and filver, although the paper does not in thickness exceed the fifteen hundredth part of an inch." P. 25.

In another experiment, the Doctor finds, that although a piece of the fineft paper, full of holes, when dry, prevents the influence from acting; yet, when wet, it becomes a good conductor. He alfo relates a very good experiment, proving that the influence can pafs along the nerves, in a direction both to and from the brain.

As to that part of the pamphlet which contains observations on the circulating and nervous fyftem of frogs, and an account of his experiments with opium, we find but little new or interefting; and when we confider the extreme jealoufy which the learned Profeffor at all times fhews in regard to his own discoveries, and alfo the great fenfibility he evinces, when from an ignorance of what he has faid or done, an author unfortunately happens to make a remark which the Doctor confiders as one of his own, we are at a lofs to conceive why he should, with an air of novelty, relate to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, experiments, which have been often made before him, to establish an opinion which has already been advanced by ma ny others. We allude to the very first facts, and the first corollary in the work, which we fhall give in his own words.

"Two days after cutting off the head of a frog at its joining with the first vertebra, I found it fitting with its legs drawn up, in their ufual posture; and when its toes were hurt, it jumped with very confiderable force. Its heart likewife continued to beat about forty times in a minute, and fo ftrongly as to empty itself and circulate the blood." P. 7.

The corollary he deduces from this is,

1. "That the frog, after its head is cut off, feels pain, and, in Confequence of feeling, moves its body and limbs." P. 12.

In

In another place he fays,

5. As, after cutting off the head, this animal is fufceptible of pain, and, in confequence of that, performs voluntary motion, it ap pears that, in it, the brain is not the fole feat of the Senforium Commune." P. 13.

Now, as to the fact, we fay, it has been obferved by many, not only in regard to frogs, but many other cold-blooded animals, in proof of which, we quote the following paffage from Haller together with a few of the authorities:

46

*

Et primum vulgare eft in animalibus de infectorum genere, et in frigidi fanguinis quadrupedibus capite refecto "vivere ea animalia, currere, † clamare et cibum quærere et "venerem exercere et de hoftibus vindictam fumere, etiam a plufculis diebus ."

1

Upon thefe facts Unger has, in feveral of his works, founded an opinion that animals feel not only pain but pleasure after decapitation,

In regard to this feemingly paradoxical conclufion we have to obferve that it is a circumftance greatly to be lamented, that Phyficians fhould be fo extremely ignorant of the opinions and language of Metaphyficians as they commonly are, and on the other hand, that the principles of Physiology should be fa little ftudied by thofe who endeavour to make discoveries in the human mind,

Metaphyficians in general confider feeling as a faculty of the mind, and connected with confcioufnefs. To them, therefore, it must appear abfurd to say, that animals feel after their heads are taken off. When a Phyfiologift speaks of feeling, he often refers to the firft effect produced upon the nerves, and he confiders it, therefore, in a great meafure as a corporeal funetion. How is it poffible, therefore, if this circumstance be not attended to, that there fhould be a mutual understanding between these two claffes of men?

Every Phyfician who has attended much to the operations of the human mind, and who is well acquainted with the functions of the nervous fyftem, must acknowledge, that it is, in many cafes, extremely difficult to determine what phænomena

La certi, Vandelli Epift. ii. p. 243. Rane Whytt Phyfic. Effays, Edin. p. 214. v. 381. Zimmerman, p. 29, 30. Woodward, p. 89, 30. Redi Anim. Vivent Obferv. 82. Teftudines, Birch,

+ Mufia. Woodward Rana Zimmerman Borellus.

Vejpa et Pupilianes, Philofoph, Tranfact. n. p. 465, adde Feftudi

mes, &c.

belong

belong entirely to the one, and what to the other, and until fome perfon undertakes the investigation of these points, and has talents fitted for fuch nice researches, we thail make but little progrefs in Pfychology.

We conclude our remarks on this publication with strongly recommending a further investigation of the fubject by experiments, and especially with a view to difcover the nature and laws of this new influence, which, although it greatly refembles electricity, ftill differs from it in one or two effential cir cumftances.

ART, VI. Evidences of Criftianity; or, a Collection of Remarks intended to difplay the Excellence, recommend the Purity, illuftrate the Character, and evince the authenticity of the Chriftian Religion. By Gilbert Wakefield, B. A. late Felbow of Jefus Gullege, Cambridge. Second edit. much enlarged. 8vo. 227 pp. 4s. 6d. Robinfons, 1793.

Tis greatly to the praise of Christianity, that, though found, ed originally by men of ordinary underftandings, and limited attainments, it has afforded a field of difcuffion for talents and literature in all the ages which have fucceeded its establishment. A fyftem which had profelyted the bulk of an uninformed people, might very juftly be treated with fufpicion, as the diffufion of opinions is known to have been effected by other means than thofe of argument and conviction. But that a fyftem of religious principles promulged by men of no confideration fhould have fecured to itfelf an influence which neither fophiftry can undermine, nor criticifm overthrow, is an evidence of its authenticity, and a proof of its excellence which muft fatisfy the fulleft demands of rigid incredulity.

Within the space of the laft century, literature and religion have received no inconfiderable advancement by the study of the Chriftian evidences, and we are happy in feeing in the work before us another added to the cloud of witneffes, which have borne teftimony to the authenticity of the facred writings. We fhall not be able to deliver our opinion uniformly in fayour of the learned author, whofe labours we are defirous of appreciating, and we muft folicit his indulgence for the freedom with which we fhall animadvert upon thofe particulars, which may appear to us exceptionable.

The work pretends to no plan, and follows no particular feries of propofitions-it contains a fet of remarks, difcuffive

of

of various incidents which are recorded by the Evangelical writers. We fhall make fome obfervations upon those which may appear to deferve particular notice.

Remark II. prefents us with an argument in favour of the authenticity of the Gofpel of St. Matthew, drawn from the correfpondence of his phrafeology with the turn of thought peculiar to the Jews. The paffage particularly instanced by Mr. W. is that of the Angel troubling the waters in the pool of Bethesda." Thus he firft reduces a fuppofed miracle into a peculiar mode of fpeech, and then brings this very doubtful interpretation as a proof of his main point, the truth of the Gofpel. This is the modern way of believing the Gofpel; and we fhall doubtlefs fee in time, all our Saviour's miracles folved in the fame ingenious manner, for the accommodation of those who do not love miracles.

Remark XI. Mr. W. confiders the high degree of credit which accrues to the narrative of the Evangelifts, from the unambitious and unaccommodating character of their hero. Our readers will, we perfuade ourselves, be gratified by feeing the paffage at full-length.

"If we furvey the conduct of other fathers of fyftems, founders of fects, and heads of parties;-if we contemplate the means, which they have generally employed to procure reputation and allure followers; the mode of acting and teaching adopted by Jefus Chrift, will appear, perhaps, in this refpect, perfectly peculiar and without example. No forgers of the gofpel narratives in queftion (whofe motives in the first inftance to fuch an impofition would not caffly be ascertained) could have discovered any inducement, either from an acquaintance with human manners, or the operations of the human mind, to deliver fuch an extraordinary relation of the conduct of their hero. For my own part, I am able to devife no other tolerable folution of this difficulty, but this obvious fuppofition; that the gospel history is in reality an accurate tranfeipt from a TRUE ORIGINAL;-that fuch a perfonage as Jefus of Nazareth ACTUALLY APPEARED in the world; a genuine likeness of the picture which is prefented of him ;--that he came with the exprefs intention of publishing fuch a fyftem of religion, of executing that unprecedented project of founding an univerfal empire over the affections and confciences of men, by the gentle conftraints of truth, and the foothing captivations of purity and love.

Did Jefus allure his followers by oftentatious promifes of wealth, power, reputation, or any temporal advantage whatfoever? Or was not the first and effential qualifications of his difciples declared to be a relinquishment of every worldly expectation; an abandonment for ever of the very idea, I do not fay, of power, interest, and reputation, but of eafe and comfort? After his own example, who had not where to lay his head; who endured every hardship, every danger and perfecution, on his fleep and rugged road to Calvary, where the bitter cup of his afflictions was emptied to the dregs. After fuch a

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