The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-02 00:00:00

gISCELLANEOU&

Tait's Edinburgh Magazine commences with "A
Glance at Alliances." " A Christmas Vacation in.
Jutland " is continued, and describes a ghost's ad-
venture. W. Carleton begins an Irish tale,
which promises to increase in interest. There are
several political articles.--The Colonial continues
" The Euphrates Valley Route to India," and this
month describes the climate of Syria. " A Year
in Mexico" is entertaining. There is a variety of
colonial intelligence.—The Eclectic presents us
with an eloquent article on the " Life and Writings
of St. Paul. "The chief criticisms are on "Pulszky's
Sketches of American Society," "Moore's Memoirs,'
and the "Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin."—The National
Miscellany is a new competitor, and is full of pro-
mise. The subjects are replete with interest. Among
them are " Layard's Discoveries," " Public Libra-
ries," and " Slavery in America."—The Illustrated
Magazine of Art gives us upwards of thirty illus-
trations for the price of one shilling. If not of a
very superior class, they convey a good idea of the
subjects, at a very moderate price. " The Alps,
Switzerland, and Savoy" is to be completed in 12
monthly parts. It consists of a description of
those countries, with accompanying illustrations.
—The Follet, in addition to its usual elegant plates,
gives us a sheet of sleeves and collars.—Sunday
Reading, conducted by John Kitto, D.D., is an
excellent miscellany, which is a valuable addition
to the list of serials.

On Rheumatism, Rheumatic Gout, and Sciatica ;
their Pathology, Symptoms, and Treatment.
By Henry. William Fuller, M.D. Churchill.
This volume of Dr. Fuller's will be gladly wel-
comed by the junior members of the medical pro-
fession, and by students ; treating, as it does, of a
highly important disease, which has for so many
ages claimed discussion, and upon which there still
remains so much to explore. In a climate like
ours rheuthatism is ever likely to be a prevailing
malady, influenced as it is so much by moisture.
It is true that many diseases once rife amongst us
have totally disappeared, and are now unknown in
nosology. Intermittent fever, or ague, reigned do-
minant in the last century. It is now of rare
occurrence, and the Registrar-General has for
four or five years reported no cases of hydro-
phobia in London ; but we believe rheuthatism, in
all its varied forms and types, will always be a
rampant malady. In the volume before us there
is a great deal of research displayed in the nature,
treatment, and phenomena of all that may be com-
prehended in the designation—rheumatism. In-
troductory to the subject is an inquiry into the
nature of this disease, its causes, predisposing and
exciting ; and the Doctor bestows great pains in
showing that atmospheric agencies, cold and mois-
ture, are the exciting causes. He next attempts
to prove that the predisposing cause is a morbid
condition of the blood, charged with lactic acid,
which essentially produces mal-assimilation. Here
we must be pardoned for saying there are no in-
stances or cases brought forward in the form of
analysis to support this theory, and without proof it
rests on physiological assertion alone. This is much
to be regretted. kle want of proof of an acrid poi-
son shows that the theory is not based on stable
ground. We are perfectly well aware that lactic
acid is present, and always exists in the secretions
of every human body; but we do not, nevertheless,
get rheumatism any more than we get dyspepsia
by the abnormal presence of this acid. The objec-
tion, then, to this theory is—want of proof.
There is a great deal, nay a vast amount, of prac-
tical knowledge in the book, founded on experience,
coupled with an acquaintance of all those writers
who have preceded him, and on the solid ground of
observation are the symptoms tested by an accurate
examination and careful elucidation.
Great praise is due to the chapter on the
treatment of rheumatism, in which are reviewed
the numerous remedies now in use for this pain-
ful malady, and sound opinions formed of the
merit and demerit of each ; and all this is elu-
cidated with great practical judgment, explaining
how far, and under what circumstances, each
remedy may be carried with safety to the patient.
A most important feature, too, in the work, is
the numerous and carefully-arranged statistics' or