derivation of Isidorus---Caseus dicitur quasi carens sero.--We hence see how little foundation there is for the conclusion, that cheese was unknown to the ancient Germans, because they called it by a foreign name. Admitting even that it were proved that caseus was originally a Latin word, how many foreign words have in all languages driven out the natives? But who can say positively that the word käsen, which signifies in German to coagulate or thicken, may not be originally German, and the root of käse (cheese.) In the Wallachian language, cheese is called Kassu. Whence this reresemblance to Latin caseus? The true derivation of this word appears therefore to be as obscure as that of the word butter. Those who would the latter to be originally Greek, may derive it from suppose Bourages thick, which we find in Hesychius ; and this derivation would at least be more plausible than that from Boss and Tugós Were the latter the true one, the first and middle syllable in butyrum ought always to be long. But Macer (de Herbis) makes the two first syllables short; as Homer, likewise, has the first syllable of mugs short; at which Borrichius (de Prosodia) expresses great surprize. This uncertainty in the pronunciation may, perhaps, be a proof that it is a foreign word. If the first syllable were derived from Bois it must necessarily be long; but Baptista Fiera uses it short in the following verse, Lac dabit aeri sibi condimenta butyri. We cannot here refer to the authority of ancient writers, because they were unacquainted both with the name and the thing. The old etymologist in Junius (4 Glossario) has po sibly omitted butyrum, because he considered it as a German word. 3. Lastly, it appears to be equally erroneous to say that the Germans and English have no common words to signify cream and whey. Besides the usual word rahm, the Germans have the words sahne, schmand, flott, probably several other provincial names for cream. Rahm has a considerable resemblance to the English word cream, and the French creme, from which the English perhaps added to their word the palatial letter C. With respect to the German word for whey (molken) it is not to be found in the Anglo-saxon, nor in the modern English. The latter has, in fact, a greater resemblance to the dialect of Lower Saxony, in which we find the word waddike, watke, the English whey. In comparing the two languages we shall be frequently liable to mistakes, if we refer only to the High-German, and not to other German dialects, especially those of Lower Saxony and Holland. In In some of these dialects we find for whey, the words schotten, sirpen, strotten; and as Adelung observes, heu or hei, which nearly approaches to the English whey; as does also the Dutch weye or ye. It is well known, besides, that the English language has lost many of its old words ever since the Norman French was introduced by William the Conqueror. Before I conclude, I cannot refrain from animadverting on another very extraordinary position of M. Meyner. He tells us: "It may be doubted whether (the ancient Germans) did not make their beer from wheat, and not from barley, as they do not appear to have been acquainted with the latter kind of grain." Is it possible that this author can so soon have forgotten the passage from Tacitus, which he had just before cited, concerning their potus exhordes! Where then do we find the least foundation for the opinion that the ancient Germans were unacquainted with barley? But he tells us further: "The Egyptians, at least we know nothing to the contrary, brewed their drink from wheat and not from barley.” But do we not learn something to the contrary from Herodotus and Aretaeus. In the former we find, οἶνοςέκ κριδίων πεποιμένος, and in the latter, ἀπὸτῶν κριδίων πόμα. There is not a word of wheat, but beer brewed from barley is certainly to be understood in both passages. Kedy in Greek, signifies barley, and eros wheat. What must we now think of Mr. Meyner's skill in languages? ART. III. Beschreibung einer im Sommer 1799 von Hamburg nach und durch England geschehenen Reise von. P. A. Nemnich B. R. Licentiat. An account of a journey from Hamburg through England in 1799. By P. A. NEMNICH. page 522. Tübingen. Cotta. 1800. The high reputation which our attentive traveller so deservedly enjoys from his Polygloten Lexicon, 4 vols. 4to. and from his commercial Dictionary in twelve languages, 2 vols. 8vo. is not lessened by the work before us. The author declares in his preface that he had no time to read other travels in order to prepare his own; that he found by experience every traveller ought to make his own observations and not to be guided by those of others. In perusing this work every reader will perceive that he has fully justified this assertion: it abounds with informations which in other travels of the same description would be looked for in vain. The English as well as the German reader will be gratified with amusing, useful and interesting communications and accounts, particularly of the principal country towns towns and their commerce, in which respect though all classes of life will find it entertaining, we more particularly recommend it to the attention of the mercantile world. ART. IV Grundriss der chemie, &c. &c. Principles of Modern Chemistry, systematically arranged for the use of accademical lectures; By DR. FR. A. O. GREN (late) Prof. of medicine at Halle. vol I. second edition, carefully revised. p. p. 376. crown Svo. Halle 1800. This extract of the larger manual of chemistry of the learned author, whose death was a severe loss to the science, is sufficiently known in this country through an excellent translation, for which, as we are informed, the public is indebted to Dr. GRUBER, chaplain to the imperial Ambassador, and which renders any recommendation on our part superfluous. We, therefore, have only to observe, that the latest discoveries in chemistry have been added, and various alterations made by the learned editor, Mr. KARSTEN Of Berlin, which greatly enhance the value of this edition, the second volume of which is now publishing. ART. V. Erfahrungen über den Runkel rübenzucker &c. &c. Experimental observations, relative to the production of sugar from beet-root, together with several ideas and proposals concerning the manufacturing of this article in large quantities, &c. &c. by Prof. W. A. LAMPADIUS, pp. 100. 8vo. Freyberg, Craz. 18co. This pamphlet contains a circumstantial and clear account of the author's proceedings in producing sugar from beet-root. The sample, of the sugar obtained by the author, which is added to each copy of the pamphlet, affords a satisfactory proof of the goodness of the author's method, in a chemical respect. As for hardness, the sample surpasses the West Indian sugar, to which it is equal in every other quality. The computation of the expences and produce of 10,000 pounds of beet-root manufactured into sugar, which is added, is extremely interesting and instructive. According to the experiments made by Prof. L 10000lb weight of beet-root yield 180lb of loaf sugar, 105lb of rum and 90lb of syrup. ART. VI. Ekonomisch technische Flora der Wetterau, &c. &c. Economico technical Flora of Wetteravia, edidet by G. For For the information of those of our readers who are not yet acquainted with the nature of this useful work, we beg leave briefly to state the manner in which the authors treat of the individual. plants. The genera of each class are briefly described according to their principal characteristics, and the current German name is added; then follow the species after their peculiar marks of distinction, a description of their native soil, together with historical annotations relative to the method of cultivating them; these are succeeded by particular observations, and finally, the authors point out their economical, technical and medicinal use. They do not however, confine themselves to merely stating the use which is made of the individual plants in their own country; but also mention the use made of them in distant countries. This work is thereby rendered generally useful, and may serve as an excellent practical Flora. The authors in denominating the genera and species, frequently deviate from the Linnean system; they having adopted several new names, introduced by Erhart, Reichart, Mediens, Mönch and others, and substituted several denominations of their own. Sorbus aucuparia and domestica have received a place among the genus of Pyrus. Galeopsis galeobdolon constitutes a separate genus under that name. Some species of Antirrhini have been placed under Linaria, as a particular genus, &c. Sc. The following new genera have been denominated after eminent botanists: Scribæa bivaricata (Cucubalus bacciferus &c.) after the Rev. Mr. Scriba of Arheilgen, near Darmstadt, a very assiduous botanist and entomologist, Senkenbergia ruderalis (Lepedium ruderale &c.) after Dr. Senkenberg of Frankfort on the Main, honorably known by his medical institutions and eminent merits of botany; Rodschiedia bursa pastoris (Thlaspi bursa pastoris,) after Dr. Radschied of Hanau; who died in 1796 as physician of Rio-Essequebo at Guiana, Beumerta nasturtium (si symbrium nasturtium, &c.) after Mr. Baumert, gardner of the Senkenbergian botanical garden, at Frankfort; Caroli Gmeliana lancifolia (Sysymbrium amphibium &c.) after Mr. C. GMELIN of Carlsruhe; Salzwedelia Sagittalis (Genista sagittalis, &c.) after Mr. SALZWEDEL, apothecary at Frankfort, whose botanical garden abounds with rare exotics; Voglera spinosa (Genista Germanica, &c.) after Dr. J. Ph. Vogler, of Darmstadt. ART. VII. F. B. VIETZ. Med. Dr. Icones Plantarum Medico. Economico Technologicarum, cum earum fructus ususque descriptione, vol. I. pp. 222, with 110 coloured plates, 4to. Vienna, Eder. 1800. The author proposes to give in this work" correct repre sentations sentations of plants, together with a brief account of their most essential utility and use, and to arrange it in such a manner that it be attainable for those who have not the means of purchasing voluminous and expensive works of this kind, and to represent in an intuitive manner, under the Linnean name, in alphabetic order the principal known plants which in economy, medicine, and technology are either useful or hurtful." He further proposes, to state the different denominations every plant has in the German, Latin, French, and English languages, to describe its botanical character in German and Latin, to expound those parts that are either useful or hurtful in economy, medicine and manufactures, to point out the best methods of using them with peculiar advantage, or of counteracting or correcting their hurtful qualities. Every volume is to have a German and Latin index of the names of all plants contained therein, and at the conclusion of the whole work a general index is to be added. The two first volumes will, however, deviate from the general rule, as they are to contain only those botanical objects that are found in the latest Austrian provincial dispensatory, published in 1794. Their economico-technological use is not mentioned, in order to avoid needless repetition, as they will recur under the head of economical and technological plants. Those that wish to possess only the medicinal part, may, therefore, buy it separately, without purchasing the whole work, which the author hopes to be able to conclude with the eighth volume. The descriptions of the plants are sufficiently clear and complete, though not too circumstantial. The enumeration of the medicinal purposes for which the different plants are used, is likewise very comprehensible and judicious. The work is printed on very good paper, the delineations are neat and correct, and the colouring is as beautiful as it is faithful. The Latin original is free from essential errors, and the German translation is correct. Readers, who already possess some botanical knowledge, will not find any difficulty in understanding this work; but if the third and the following volumes be intended to be comprehensible for the class of readers for which they are principally designed, the author will be obliged to avoid many expressions of which he has made use in the volume before us, and which are intelligible only to scientific men. ART. VIII. Botanisches Taschenbuch, &c. Botanical Pocket Book, for beginners in the study of Botany and Pharmacy, for 1800, edidet by D. H. HOPPE, pp. 256, 8vo. Ratisbon, Montag & Weiss 1800. The editor of this useful mineralogical and botanical mis cellany |