Case 8. A large ossific tumor produced by disease in the maxillary antrum.' The disease commenced by a small soft swelling in the right nostril, and continued to increase for five years, when it had entirely distorted the countenance, and impaired many of the functions; it extended four inches beyond the general line of the bones of the face, and finally proved fatal by giving rise to hæmorrhage. On dissecting the tumour, it proved to be a large fleshy mass or excres→ cence surrounding, inclosing, and extending to all the bones attached to the upper jaw, in which the superior maxillary bone, the os malæ, os nasi, and bony palate, were all in volved.' We transcribe the author's pathological reasoning on the case: In the above case the soft parts were clearly involved in the disease, and were probably the primary seat of the affection, as well as in the case related in the Museum Anatomicum. This circumstance, as well as the tendency to bleeding, suggests the pro bability that the disease was of a cancerous nature, and that the bones, although very extensively affected, had most likely remained uninjured till the soft funguous vascular mass from within the cavity of the antrum began to operate, first by producing absorption of the membrane lining that cavity, and then by its peculiar and partially organized texture, not exciting regular absorption of the bone, but sufficiently loosening its general structure to admit of considerable distention in the first instance. In the progress of the disease, as might naturally be expected, the circulation in the periosteum made some effort towards repairing the mischief by the secretion of new bone, as happens in cases of necrosis, although this effort had, owing to the almost disorganised condition of that membrane, proved irregular and abortive. By viewing the disease in this light, we are enabled to explain not only the symptoms that attended during life, but the appearances found on dissection. It is clear there was no regular inflammation of bone, for in that event more than the natural proportion and weight of ossific matter would have been deposited, and the result would have been an unusually white and dense structure, which was not the case.* The ninth is a case of inflammation and tumor of the superior maxillary bones, arising from cold,' the progress and especially the termination of which were very peculiar. It * Since writing the above, I have read with much interest the particulars of two cases of a similar disease in Desault's Œuvres Chirurgicales. In both these cases it was clearly ascertained that the whole of the mischief was owing to a highly vascular fungous growth springing from the cavity of the antrum; and in one, by the exposure of this cavity, and the destruction of the fungus within it, he succeeded in curing the disease, and the patient recovered. com commenced with severe inflammation of the eyes, which ended in the loss of sight; at the same time, most excruciat ing pain was experienced below the orbits, which proceeded to produce tumours on both sides of the face, so as to close up both the eyes, and compress the nose into perhaps half of its former bulk. In this miserable condition, the patient regained a good state of general health. Mr. H. gives this description of the disease: On separating the palpebræ, the tunicæ conjunctivæ still retained strong marks of the severe inflammation they had long suffered. The tumors of the maxillary bones feeling as hard and firm as ivory could have been, and not in the least painful when pressed, appeared to occupy very nearly the whole space of each orbit, as well as the cavities of the nostrils, which were almost if not entirely obliterated. In the integuments covering the tumors, were several enlarged and varicose veins. From the slow and uniform growth of these swellings, and from the great pain that attended their production, as well as from other circumstances connected with the history, there is every reason to believe that the original affection was the means of exciting a copious secretion of ossific matter, forming a more dense and compact texture than is natural to these parts; a change which generally results from healthy ossific inflammation." The other four cases of this section relate to partial absorption of the parietal bone arising from a blow on the head, partial absorption of the cranium from a wound,' and lastly, two instances of malformation of the bones of the face.' 6 The next seven cases are contained in the second section; viz. effusion of blood upon the surface and into the substance of the brain;' large effusion of blood into the ventricles of the brain; two instances of sanguineous apoplexy;', large effusion of blood into the substance of the cerebrum; and effusion of blood into the medulla oblongata. Seventeen more cases occur in the first chapter, which are included under the title of pain in the head, but they are in fact a very miscellaneous collection, of which pain in the head was a symptom, although in several of the cases scarcely the most prominent. Some of the affections seem to have been induced by mental uneasiness; others by accidents, such as blows on the cranium; some ended in hydrocephalus, or the effusion of other fluids on the brain; in one, an absorption of brain took place from a tumour on the temple; in another, adhesion between the brain and its membranes; and afterward some affections of a constitutional nature, terminating in local diseases of the head. To most of the cases are appended a set of observations, either on the individual instance or on the subject subject generally, with the pathological remarks that are de duced from the examination after death in the cases which terminated fatally. We quote the ensuing paragraph, that it may serve as an example of the pathological reasoning which Mr. Howship employs on the effects of the effusion on the brain : • Effusion of blood either into, or upon, some part of the brain, is, I think, in about nine cases out of ten, the exciting cause of apoplexy. Effusion of lymph, or serous fluid upon the surface of the brain in adults, is, generally speaking, more apt to connect itself with violent headach, or in its more advanced stages, convulsion. Where extreme severity of pain in the head has preceded an attack of paralysis, the case is more hopeless, than where the palsy has come on unaccompanied with that symptom. For where no pain has been felt in the head, or only a temporary sense of giddiness, the probability is that the paralytic affection may be the result of a mere effusion of blood upon the brain, an accident to which we occasionally find the brain able to accommodate itself, so that with the assistance of proper treatment, the functions of the nervous system are restored, and the patient more or less perfectly recovers. When however violent pains in the head have been the precursors of the attack, there is great reason to dread the existence of inflammation of the membranes of the brain, connecting itself with effusion either of the serum, or pus, neither of which events, when dependant upon an internal cause, have ever yet been proved by subsequent dissection, to be compatible with the recovery of the patient.' From this specimen of Mr. Howship's Observations,' which is as long as our limits will permit, the reader may form a good idea of what he is to expect in the volume. It contains much matter that deserves attention, some of which is valuable from its practical utility, and some from its novelty: but the work has two defects, of a serious nature, and peculiarly unfortunate in a miscellaneous collection: the first is, the want of a good arrangement, to which we have already alluded; the second, and the more important, is the absence of all compression. The author is indeed totally unacquainted with the art of condensation, and rather seems disposed to expand what he has to say into as large a compass as he can. From his diligence in the improvement of his profession, it is probable that his pen will not be idle, and therefore we strongly advise him to pay attention to this circumstance. REV. JULY, 1818. Y MONTHLY MONTHLY CATALOGUE, FOR JULY, 1818. POETRY, Art. 12. Ramirez; a Poem. By Alexander R. C. Dallas, Esq. 8vo. pp. 77. sewed. Cawthorn. 1817. The hint of this tale was taken from the horrors of the war in the Peninsula, and the notes seem to evince the knowlege of Spanish literature possessed by the author. We are not sure that it will not be kinder advice to exhort him to pursue these honorable studies, rather than to launch into the precarious ocean of poetry; whose waters are so constantly found to be waters of strife and of bitterness. We are far from thinking that no poetical promise appears in the work: but so much remains to be performed, that perhaps the young writer (for such we understand he is) had better take the gentle hint which we have felt it our duty to suggest above. We select, however, a passage from his poem; and a very curious although repulsive fact, as it is related in his notes. Sweet are thy gardens, Seville! sweet the breath Of fragrant fruit that from the branches bends; It was a soft, a solemn night: The stars scarce dared to shew their light, It was a calm, a pleasing sight, The twinkling of each ray. Were you to look at the bright blaze Its beams of mild repose to men. Full many a night the star of day To To chace all care, all thought away, Of which the labours could excite From the Guitar the soul that flows, A degree of spirit is manifested in the subjoined few lines: Broke from each warrior of the band We now give the promised note, and take our leave of the author. The Andalusian women in the time of Pliny were celebrated for their grace of person, their wantonness, and inconstancy; and during the late events in Spain they have given reason to suppose that they continue to merit that character. During the residence of the French at Seville, a period of nearly three years, more than four thousand of its female inhabitants deserted their homes, in company with the invaders and destroyers of their country, generally drest in men's clothes. Their number was ascertained by returns made to the Xefe Politico, or chief magistrate, after the expulsion of the French from Andalusia. The Xefe Politico would have found it difficult to procure returns of those with whom the French intrigued, but left behind. Art. 13. Religio Clerici, a Churchman's Epistle.. 8vo. pp. 35. 3s. sewed. Murray. 1818. This is a clever little poem, though neither very comprehensive in its design nor very powerful in its execution. We have been astonished, however, to hear the sort of praise that has been bestowed on it by some of its readers: but, on reflection, we are convinced that this excess arises from the unconscious delight which is naturally felt at the revival of the genuine style of English poetry, even in a short effort of satire.. Although the author is evidently not well acquainted with the peculiar merits of the writers whom he imitates, and has neither the pointed conciseness of Pope nor the free energy of Dryden, yet even an approximation to their species of merit is hailed with pleasure among us, after a long interval of wild and Gothic barbarism; after vain attempts to make of Elizabeth become the manner of George the Third; and after the satiety induced even by Genius itself labouring to fight its own battles without the co-operation the manner |