Page:Repository of Arts, Series 1, Volume 01, 1809, January-June.djvu/61

. We must not forget a work relating to indigenous botany, Mr. Dawson Turner’s elaborate and elegant publication, "The British Fuci.” Whoever is acquainted with the difficulties attending the examination and study of the cryptogamous marine plants, the most intricate of all the vegetable tribes, will readily join us in our wishes, that such a meritorious undertaking may be crowned with all the success it deserves. Mr. Dilwyr’s "British Confervæ" we suppose is discontinued.

In mineralogy we have to notice a periodical publication of the indefatigable Mr. Sowerby, entitled "British Mineralogy,” in which he endeavours to depict, in their natural colours, the various minerals with which this island abounds. The idea is new, at least in this country, and executed with as much success as can be reasonably expected from so difficult undertaking.

MEDICAL REPORT.

the last twelve months, London has not been visited by any epidemic disease, or universally prevailing complaint. Typhus fever, at one time so much and so justly dreaded, is now scarcely known; not because a fever-house has been established to receive cases of this nature, and thus secure the poor from exposure to the contagion: however laudable and excellent this institution may be, we know that very few patients are admitted within its walls, because there are very few affected with the complaint. We must rather attribute the cause of this happy truce from the attack of contagious fever, to the plentiful and comparatively cheap supply of food: whilst the wages of labour are high, the industrious poor are able to obtain every necessary, and many of the comforts of the affluent. This induces a desire to improve their condition, they have a greater respect for themselves, they take more pains to keep their habitations clean; and where temperance, cleanliness, and plenty are combined, we need not fear the prevalence of contagion. It would not be difficult to lay down certain rules by which typhus fevers might be engendered. In corroboration of the opinion that scarcity essentially promotes fevers of this description, we may remark, that some years ago, when provisions and particularly bread, were extremely scarce and dear in London, and the public mind was desponding, typhus fevers were both frequent and fatal.

Scarlet fever and measles (formerly we might have added, and the small-pox,) are seldom absent. In the spring of last year, measles spread throughout the metropolis and its environs; for, though it never occurs twice to the same individual, yet (children constantly coming into the world) the infection is readily continued, and probably there is also a certain state of atmosphere conducive to its propagation. In this climate, where the disposition to pulmonic affections  is strong, the accession of measles must always be regarded with an eye of jealousy, and its progress watched with unremitting assiduity. No. I. Vol. I. H