as the approbation of the public has been unequis vocally expressed towards the plan of the Medical Repository, as hitherto conducted, we should deem it disrespectful to our readers, for any light or transient causes, to substitute another in its place, and thereby to incur the hazard of a less favourable acceptance. No country on earth presents stronger incentives to the improvement of medical knowledge and the dissemination of medical truth than the United States. In the vast extent of territory which our limits now include, there is not only a great variety of climate, producing a correspondent variety of diseases, but a large proportion of soil, which, though yielding to none in fertility, imparts, in exchange for this exuberant blessing of nature, an influence to the atmosphere extremely baneful to the health of its inhabitants. To abate the ravages of disease arising from this endemic source, to secure the benefits of a luxuriant soil without suffering its concomitant evils, and to protect our growing marts of business from the terrors of pestilence, would confer on the United States one of the most inestimable blessings. This blessing, however, must be chiefly sought through the medium of the discoveries and improvements which it is devoutly to be hoped the progress of Medicine will one day present to the world... The commerce of the United States, in consequence of the absurd opinions which still too generally prevail concerning the exportation and import ation of pestilential diseases, is oppressed in foreign ports by restrictions and detentions of the most inconvenient kind. An unreasonable length of detention is often imposed on our vessels in those ports; while, at the same time, little regard is shown to the means of purification, which are undoubtedly the only proper objects of quarantine regulation. The errors and prejudices of many of our own citizens have done much to suggest these chimerical notions to the rulers and people of foreign nations; and as long as such errors continue to be cherished among ourselves, it must be expected that foreigners will take advantage of them to restrict and oppress our trade. To exhibit the truth on this subject at home, and to impress it with sufficient force on the minds of our countrymen, is one of the best modes of carrying conviction to the na tions with which we hold these commercial relations. But it is only to the prevalence of just principles in Medicine that our country can look for this important reform in doctrine and practice. While Europe continues to be agitated by the miseries of war and revolution, the repose, the freedom, and the security which every citizen enjoys in the United States, cannot fail to attract to our shores much of the wealth, talents, and overflowing population of the old continent. The rumour of pestilential diseases, exaggerated as well by the distance as the ignorance of those who propagate the story, has been wrought up in the minds of Europeans into a formidable objec tion against removal from thence, and participation in the blessings of this country. The diffusion of more enlightened opinions in Medicine through the United States and Europe will form the best corrective of this mistake. We embrace with pleasure this opportunity of renewing our assurances of respect and esteem for our correspondents, and of acknowledging the obligations they impose on us by the continuance of their communications, and their indulgent reception of the work. While so great a portion of public confidence and patronage continues to ani mate our endeavours, we pledge ourselves to the community not to relax in any exertions we are able to make, towards promoting and assisting the scientific progress of our country. To this grand object all our past and future labours, in relation to this work, have been, and will hereafter continue to be consecrated. TITLES OF THE ESSAYS AND REVIEWS CONTAINED IN THE FIRST VOLUME OF THE SECOND HEXADE, No. I. 1. A CASE of very singular Nervous Affection, supposed to have been occasioned by the Bite of a Spider. By Dr. Joseph Comstock, of South-Kingston (R.1.) p. 1 II. Observations on the Plant called Bone-set, and on other Species of Eupatorium, tending to evince their anti-venomous Qualities. By John Stevens, Esq. of Hoboken (N. J.) HI. History of the Species, Hybrids and Varieties of the Vine of North-America. By William Bartram, Esq. of Pennsylvania 12 19 24 26 28 IV. A Case of Aneurism of the Aorta. By Dr. Joshua E. White, of Waynesborough (Georgia) V. Additional Observations on the Subterranean Wall in North-Carolina, and on its Basaltic Nature. By James Woodhouse, M. D. and Professor of Chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania VI. Account of a Case of Fistula Lachrymalis, with Reflections on the different Modes of operating in that Disease. By Dr. Chatard, of Baltimore (Maryland) VII. A Case of Suppression of Urine, in which a Catheter of Elastic-Gum, with a Bougie-Point, was used with success: together with Experiments on the Solution of Gum-Elastic in Spirit of Turpentine and in Ether. By Philip Syng Physick, M. D. of Philadelphia. (With a Plate) Reviews of Papers on Agriculture, published by the Massachusetts Agricultural Society, p. 39; of Professor Barton's Elements of Botany, or Qutlines of the Natural History of Vegetables, p. 48; of the Town and Country Friend and Physician, p. 64. 35 Eighteen Articles of Medical and Philosophical Intelligence, No. II. I. Examination of the Body of a Boy who died of Hy- drophobia, intended to show the probable Success of Dr. Physick's Proposal for preventing Death by Trache- otomy. By Benjamin Rush, M. D. and Professor of Medicine in the University of Pennsylvania II. Observations on several Methods of obtaining Oxy- genous Gas in a very pure State. By James Wood- house, M. D. Professor of Chemistry in the Uni- III. Remarks on Faccination. By John Redman Coxe, IV. A Case of fractured Humerus, wherein the Ends of the Bones not uniting in the usual Manner, a Cure was effected by Means of a Seton. By Philip Syng V. History of the Measles and some other Diseases which appeared in some Parts of the District of Maine VI. Remarks on the Connection between Catarrh and Malignant Fevers; together with Conjectures on the Theory of Fever. By Noah Webster, Esq. VII. History of the Malignant Fever which prevailed in the City of Philadelphia in the Autumn of 1803. By Charles Caldwell, M. D. and Member of the Reviews of Barton's Elements of Botany (concluded), p. 156; of Binns's Treatise on Practical Farming, p. 166; of Coxe's Estimate of the Commercial Advantages of the Mobile and Mississippi Navigation, p. 172; of Grainger's List of Post-Offices in the United States, p. 174. Twenty-four Pieces of Intelligence, Scientific, Economical, and Biographical, from p. 177 to 214. Appendix, containing the Directions of the Secretary of State |