pressed himself, under a feigned name: "If intellect be a spark of the Divinity, what man approaches nearer to the Supreme Being than the author of the Henriade? A period of two thousand years is necessary to produce a genius such as thine."

The English reader will feel interested in the chapter which is dedicated to the controversy between Voltaire and Bishop Warburton; if that indeed can properly be denominated a controversy, which consisted of unfounded censures and malignant sneers heaped in abundance on our learned prelate.-In his Essay on Toleration, in his Melanges Philosophiques, in his Philosophy of History, and in his Philosophical Dictionary, Voltaire frequently referred to the pages of Warburton, and supported many of his most questionable positions by authorities from the Divine Legation of Moses. Unbiassed, however, by the praise with which these quotations were accompanied, or by the epithets of the learned, the ingenious, the judicious Warburton, the Bishop, in a second edition of his work, pointed out the instances in which the philosophical historian had misunderstood his meaning, had designedly misrepresented it, and not unfrequently had quoted him unfaithfully. He excul pated himself at the same time from the charge of favouring materialism, which he proved to be very distant from his mode of thinking. Henceforwards, Voltaire never treated him with civility, nor mentioned his name with respect; and all flattering epithets were discarded for those of scorn and reproach. "He understands not," says Voltaire," what he writes;-what is his object, I cannot conceive; he flatters government, and if he obtains a bishopric he will be a Christian: but if he fails, I know not what he will turn out."-Though Warburton deserved not this contemptuous treatment from Voltaire, he has debarred himself from all right to pity on the occasion, by the unmerited severity with which he and his allies treated his

opponents.

In an article in our 78th volume, p. 120, we gave an account of a confession of faith which Voltaire is reported to have made on his death-bed; and the work before us is terminated by a similar account of a confession made by him before witnesses and a notary public in the year 1769. On this much controverted point, we scarcely know how to give or to withhold our assent. At the close of this puzzling narrative, the author says; I have now presented a comedy to the reader, which is the best that the philosopher of Ferney ever composed, and which will amuse those to whom it is submitted." If it be true, however, it is calculated to excite serious reflections; and if it be false, our indignation and abhorrence must be justly called forth. At all events, it cannot be deemed

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an amusing comedy. The facts, in which the hostility of Voltaire to different individuals originated, rest on the assertion of an anonymous writer: but that such hostility existed has been evident for years to the literary world, and is proved in the volume before us by numerous quotations from his different works.

ART. IX. Médecine Legale, &c. ; i. e. Legal Medicine and Medical Police. By P. A. O. MAHON, Professor of Medicine, Chief Physician of the Venereal Hospital at Paris, &c. &c. With Notes, by M. Fautrel. 3 vols. 8vo. Paris. 1801. Imported by De Boffe. Price 183.

THE application of medical precepts to questions of law frequently involves some of the most important interests of society. As it is the great object of legislation to promote the happiness of man, both in public and private life, it is easy to conceive the connexion between jurisprudence and medicine; and, indeed, the relation is so intimate that a knowlege of both professions is, to a certain degree, necessary for those who are eminent in either of them. The importance of Medical Police may be sufficiently collected from the history of the plague, and of other epidemics.-These topics, which had engaged the attention of the older writers, have been too much neglected in modern times; and though some feeble attempts have been made to supply the requisite information, we have met with nothing so satisfactory as the work before us. The task of clearing away inveterate prejudices, and of bringing every question to the test of modern improvement, is so ardu ous, that we should have gladly contributed our applause to the driest examiner who should perform it: but Dr. MAHON, with much reading and reflection, writes with taste and discernment, and possesses the power of creating entertainment in the most unpromising regions of discussion.

We shall pass over the general history of Legal Medicine, and of the establishment of Experts, as they are termed in France, because it bears little relation to the state of know lege in this country: only quoting, as a word to the wise, the author's account of the prevalent surgical opinions in some remote parts of the Continent:

Without recurring to preceding times, (he says,) the barbarity of which is a monument of humiliation for humanity, we perceive still, in our day, that absurd credulity takes place among men who bid fairest for information; it is not long since a woman persuaded a physician of reputation, that her sister had been brought to bed of a fish. They still believe in sorcerers, in many parts of France, and

* Raderer, Prize Dissertation at Petersburg.

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S.R.

the best heads can scarcely preserve themselves from the influence of this persuasion; and a surgeon has not been ashamed to certify that a woman who was bewitched had been delivered of several frogs. These instances, which are now only ridiculous, would have produced bloody scenes when the tribunals were less enlightened. It is half. knowlege, always presumptuous, that gives to falsehood or uncertainty the appearance of truth and evidence.'

On the subject of Impotence, the author observes that the number of trials grounded on this allegation is now much smaller than it was in former ages; whence he concludes that men are now less anxious to secure a direct posterity. We think, however, that there are other causes which seem more probable. In this country, at least, the increase of trils for adultery may serve to explain the enigma: if such it be.-The delicate and difficult subject of this chapter is treated by the author with great knowlege and dexterity. It comprehends every thing useful to be known, and much entertainment in ad dition. For obvious reasons, however, we avoid enlarging on this point; and we shall also pass over some other articles of a similar nature, briefly to notice the chapter on Hermaphrodites. It has been doubted by some naturalists, whether any human being has existed, combining the parts of both sexes in a perfect degree. Dr. MAHON gives a particular account of the dissection of an hermaphrodite, which appeared to unite the sexes more completely than any other yet known: but, in this case, the different organs were far from perfect, and those which internally marked the distinction of sexes were placed on opposite sides. The intentions of nature were intirely defeated by this mixed organization.

In treating on Defloration, the author justly allows little weight to medical opinions; on that of Rape, he perhaps carries his scepticism too far.-The chapter on the Signs of Preg nancy is full and correct, and may be consulted with great advantage. Dr. MAHON observes that the signs from which the occurrence of parturition is to be deduced, in criminal cases, are very uncertain after the lapse of a short time. The question of gestation beyond the usual period is carefully discussed; and the errors and prejudices, which had led to a belief in its occurrence, are cleared away.-Respecting abortion, and the marks of premature birth, the author's observations are copious and useful, without much novelty.

Laudable humanity is displayed in the chapter on Monsters ; an unhappy (though fortunately rare) species of beings, who are in general denied the protection of parental offices, and consigned to the butchering hands of an ignorant midwife or nurse. A miserable creature of this description cannot be

deprived

deprived of life, without a crime; and if his imperfect organi zation renders him incapable of those exertions by which men in general improve their situation, it ought not to debar him from sharing the means of subsistence.

We now come to a more interesting topic of discussion, that of Mental Derangement; the judicial relations of which have been too long neglected by medieal writers. The symptoms which characterize the approach of insanity are pointed out; and the alienations of mind which arise from the effect of poisons, or intoxicating liquors, taken into the system, are discriminated. With respect to the probable existence of a maniaca! paroxysm, during the actual commission of a crime, the author thinks that, when men have acted against those principles and feelings which naturally exist among all, humanity and justice require us to believe that the criminals were actuated by a fit of insanity.'

The chapter on Feigned and Concealed Diseases is curious and instructive; but, as only certain diseases can be imitated by impostors, the discussion does not take a very wide range. There is also a class of diseases falfely imputed, from hatred or interested motives, to persons really in health. The physician has need of great sagacity, as well as of all his caution, under such circumstances, to decide on the reality or imposture of the complaint. He will meet with many hints worthy of attention in these pages. Dr. MAHON his cited various curious facts on this subject, from different authors; and the following, which he relates from his own knowlege, shews to what an extent deceits of this nature may sometimes be carried :

A young man, put in requisition, came to the French army, while it was blockading Luxembourg. After having passed a night at the out-posts, he declared that he was blind; and he was sent to the hospital. As the pupils contracted well, he was suspected of imposture: but he bore the most painful applications, and was even ready to suggest the employment of them. He was then consigned to the principal army-surgeons, who also apprehended a trick. After different trials, they placed him onthe brink of a river, and told him to go on; two boatmen being ready to receive him if he fell into the water. He walked for wards, and allowed himself to fall into the river, whence he was immediately rescued. Convinced by this experiment that he was really blind, the surgeons offered him his discharge: but they warned him that it would be of no use to him if it should afterward appear that his infirmity was feigned; and if he confessed the truth, they promised him a complete dismission. He denied all knavery at first: but, on being assured that they would keep their word, he opened a book, and read to them. A large

A large part of the second volume is occupied with the con sideration of Wounds. The author enters at considerable length into the opinions of juridical writers, concerning the distinctions of the mortal tendency of wounds in the abstract, and the application of these distinctions to particular cases of homicide: but it is unnecessary for us to follow him in this career, because the criminal law of our country is founded on more simple principles than those of foreign codes. It can never become a plea in our courts of law, for example, in favour of a homicide, that he was not aware of the fatal effects of a wound in certain parts of the body: he is justly made responsible for the consequences of his attempt to injure another. The author's division, however, of wounds into those which are necessarily mortal, and those which only become so from the constitution of the individual, or from contingent circumstances, may be useful in ameliorating the rigour which seems to have pervaded the French law, respecting homicide.

Dr. M. next examines, with much accuracy and minuteness, the comparative danger of wounds in different parts of the body, and states the combinations of circumstances under which those that are not inevitably fatal may accidentally terminate in death. This part of the work well deserves to be consulted by students.

On the subject of Apparent Death, the author has given many humane and useful cautions against premature interment, which we hope will have due weight. It is really melancholy to learn, from so recent a publication, that our neighbours still. require instructions and cautions on so important a matter; and the interest of every thinking individual should lead him to concur in the abolition of this dreadful practice. The observations respecting precipitate dissections should also be carefully remembered by anatomists; the example of Vesalius ought, indeed, to have sufficed for preventing such tremendous mistakes but it appears that more than one victim has shewn symptoms of vitality under the dissecting knife of a French surgeon, even within a few years.

The principal signs of Violent Death are stated to be six; hæmorrhage, ecchymosis, inflammation, congestions of blood, every mark which denotes that the patient had suffered pain, and spasms which continue even after death. Several of these appearances, however, may be produced by diseases, as the author has remarked; and it is only by a careful comparison of them that a conclusion can be formed.

A long chapter, on the Method of Opening Dead Bodies, con.tains many useful directions, and pertinent remarks.-The next section treats of Poisons. The general description of the Signs of

Death