New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


SYSTEMATIC TREATIsE, HIsfoMCAL ETIo-
LOGICAL AND PRACTICAL, ON TIE PRlNCl.
PAL DISEASES or THE INTERIOR VALLEY
or NORTh-AN ERICA. By DANIEL DRAKE, MD.
Cincinnati: Winthrop B. Smith Co New. YORK
Mason Law. Svo. PIP s78.
The plan Of this work is of very comprehen-
sive character, requiring for its successful exc
cution DO common share Of sagacity, patience of
research, correctness Of observation, and freedom
from the influence Of favorite theories. From the
unprofessionkl examination which we have been
able to make Of its contents we conclude that these
qualities have been brought, in an eminent degree
to its preparation, and that it will not fail to secure
the favor those Who are better able than ourselves
TO pronounce ali opinion on its scientific claims.
The author considers t%e diseases of this country,
n they appear in the Caucasian, Indian, and Atri-
can varieties Of our population, in contrast and
comparison with each other, taking the Caucasian
type as the standard to which the others are re-
ferred. The intimate connection nf thase races in
the United States, affords a peculiarly favorable
opportunity for such comparison. In addition to
the above toned varieties, we find the Mongo
Ian, represented by the Esquimaux tribes, and
presenting many points of interest in their habits
and physiology, which have not escaped the OBJ
servant eye OF the author
In the commencement of bis volume, DR.. Drake
gives general analysis of the geographical fea-
lures Of the region designated the interior valley
of North America, and then proceeds to the South
ern Photographed Basin, including the Gulf Of
Mexico, the Delta OF the Mississippi the Bottoms
and Bluffs Of the Mississippi above the Delta, the
Rivers west and east of the Mississippi, and the
Ohio Basin, completing the Autographed view
-:,l.o IL. e tba -.
GLIDING the Great Lakes, and Of the Arctic asin,
extending to the Polar Sea. The author next treats
of the subject OF climate, and of the effects Of ply
Biological and social circumstances, In the modli
cation of health and disease. The remarks under
this head are of great value, and embody large
collection Of curious facts of exceeding interest to
the student Of anthropology no less than to the
medical reader. In the course Of bis discussions,
the author often leaves the field Of purely scientific
investigation, and INDUCES in details that not oaly
form very agreeable reading, bat possess no small
degree Of practical utility. As specimen of the
latter class the following enumeration of the
vicious modes Of cooking which prevailin the valley
Is worthy OF notice.
/. With the mass OF our population, bread of
every kind is apt 10 be baked too soon after the
-four or mealhas been wetted-thatis, before there
has been sufficient maceraton. But what il still
worse, it is scarcely ever baked enough.
9. Biscuits as they are called, are baked in close
ovens, by which process the fat they contain is
rendered empy reumRtic and indigesto,e.
g. When the dough for leavened bread, by ex.
cess of panary fermentation, has been charged
with acetc acid, that product is not in general
tazed by the carbonate Of potash or soda, bat the
bread is eaten sour.
4. Pastry, instsa d Of being flaky and tender, is
eften tous h and bard, sometimes almost horny
s. Meats are often baked and fried, instead o
being rosated or broiled, whereby they become i'm
pregnatod with empyreunatic oil, AID not unife
quently charred o. the outside. In general, they
are overcooked.
6. Fresh me ats, and especially poultry are com.
monty COOKED TOO soon after death
7. Soup is often prepared from parts deficient in
Resiine, and Astounding in fat which swims upon
the surface AID Ia much more indigestible thsa the
meat would have been, il eaten in the solid form
8. Fees are generally boiled 40 bard as To render
them tough, and many are eaten fried in fat, to .
still gre ster degree Of indurstion, Fried bacor
and eggs, eaten with hot unleavened biscuit con
tainins lard, and then battered is favorte break
fast in many paris Of the Valley.
o Vegetables, sbounding in feculs, such as pc
tatoes rice and pulse often boiled so little, tina
ali the starch grains are not burst open; Will
hose contsiniDg slbumen, as cabbage. are boile
until that element is firmly coagalsted and deposit
ed in the structure Of the leaf.
The remarks on Lodgings, are Characterize
by the practical good sense, and neatness Of style
which distinguish the numerous suggestions on th
preservation of health that are scattered through
out the volume.
Many persons in the middle and northern par:
ofthe Valley sleep, throughout Winter, 10 room
warmed by stoves or open 6replaces, bat create
number lodge without IRE. Toe general opinion
IN favor Of the latter, far as hes,hs concerned
-. k.fN.~ Hkol
The stoye a. fsvoriug ventilation. If & stove b.
Used. a screen should be interposed between 1
and the bead Of the bed to intercept she rsdiaEinl