ART. III. An Inaugural Dissertation on the Medical Virtues of the WHITE OXIDE OF BISMUTH, with some preliminary Observations on the Chemical Properties of that Metal. By SAMUEL W. MOORE, A. B. NewYork. T. & J. Swords. 8vo. 1810. pp. 39.

The object of Dr. Moore, in the present dissertation, is to make known the medical virtues of the white oxide of bismuth, and to recommend its use in gastrodynia, pyrosis, cardialgia, and other affections of the stomach connected with dyspepsia. For this purpose he has given a short account of the recent introduction of this medicine into practice, followed by an abstract of cases in which it has been successfully employed by several eminent practitioners in Europe in the diseases just mentioned, with a relation of several cases in which he himself had an opportunity of witnessing its effects.

It is well known that Dr. Odier of Geneva first introduced this medicine into practice in the year 1786. In 1800, Dr. Marcet, of London, published an account of its successful employment in affections of the stomach. Dr. Bardsley, of the Manchester infirmary, induced by the representations of its efficacy, published by Dr. Marcet, made trial of the same remedy in similar affections; and in 1807 gave to the public, in his Medical Reports, a detail of several cases in which he had prescribed it. The result of his experience was in confirmation of what had before been made known by doctors Odier and Marcet. In addition to this evidence, in support of the medical properties of the white oxide of bismuth, we are in

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formed by Dr. Moore, that it has been employed with great advantage in a number of cases of debility and spasmodic affection of the stomach by doctors Post, Osborn, and Stringham, of this city.

We insert the third case related by Dr. Moore, and shall only remark, that upon the whole we consider the evidence of the medical virtues of this new remedy to be such as to entitle it to the particular notice of physicians in the treatment of dyspepsia and other affections of the stomach in which Dr. Moore has recommended its use.

New-York, Sept. 24, 1810.

"Case 3d. Mr. B. the subject of the following case, has been for three or four years dyspeptic; during which time he has almost cortinually suffered from cardialgia and pyrosis, and very frequently severe colic pains. The fluid which he threw up from his stomach wasat times, he said, so extremely acid, that it felt as if it were cutting his throat while passing through it. He has been long in the habit of using alkaline solutions, absorbents, &c. but without effect.

"Mr. B. has, at my request, very obligingly drawn up a statement of his own case, the substance of which I shall give nearly in his own words.

"I have been for several years troubled with acidity on my stomach, a watery fluid running from my mouth, and an unpleasant sensation, or dull pain at my breast, frequent colic pains; sometimes a cough, which was always accompanied by an unpleasant taste: a great heaviness and inclination to sleep, with an aversion to motion. My appetite has always been good, and sometimes, indeed, voracious; but even at those times my stomach would be often disgusted by the first mouthful of food I swallowed. When the heaviness came over me, I felt a sensible diminution of my strength and spirits I have taken soda, magnesia, chalk, and rhubarb, but have found no relief from them. On the 16th of September I called on Dr. Moore, and obtain

ed from him a few powders, of which I have taken three a-day, and have not for the last five days felt any symptoms of the complaint.

September 24, 1810."

Mr. B. took fourteen doses of those powders, containing altogether, one drachm and ten grains of the oxide. He assures me that he has never felt better than he does at present, and says, that if the powders produce a permanent cure, it will be one of the most happy events of his life.

Sept. 29th. I saw our patient this day, when he informed me of his having continued thus far perfectly free from all indisposition.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

On Canal Navigation.

WHOEVER takes the trouble of turning to the first number of this volume, page 110, the second number, page 145, and the third number, pages 376 and 384, will discover that we have been solicitous to prevail upon our fellow citizens to attend to the subject of canal navigation. We attempted to show, in No. 2, page 145, by a moderate calculation, the immense advantage our citizens would obtain by transporting their produce in canals instead of using wagons as they do at present. Those papers were written before the ground, from lake Erie to Seneca lake, had been surveyed, and before the commissioners had. drawn up their report on the subject. They were written by a correspondent, who had been a careful observer of the means by which cities had acquired splendour, and nations had become affluent and prosperous. By the following report of the commissioners, the reader will discover that the measures we recommended for promoting the wealth and dignity of the state, are nearly the same that the commissioners, after mature deliberation, have submitted to public consideration.

REPORT.

The Commissioners appointed by joint resolutions of the honourable the Senate and Assembly of the state of New-York, of the 13th and 15th March, 1810, to explore the route of an inland navigation from Hudson's river to lake Ontario and lake Erie, beg leave to Report,

THAT they have examined the country as critically as time and circumstances would permit, and caused surveys to be made for their better information.

They beg leave to observe, on the present navigation of the Mohawk river, Wood creek, Oneida lake, and the Oswego river, which extend from Schenectady to lake Ontario, (saving only a portage at the falls within twelve miles of Oswego) that experience has long since exploded in Europe the idea of using the beds of rivers for internal navigation, where canals are practicable. The reasoning on that subject applies with greater force in America. For in the navigation of rivers, reliance must be had principally on the labour of men; whereas, along canals, the force employed is generally that of horses. But the labour of meu is dearer, and the subsistence of horses cheaper in America than in Europe. Experience, moreover has, in this country, declared against following the course of rivers more decidedly than in the old world; for there, notwithstanding the excellence of the highways, transportation is performed (between Rouen and Paris, for instance) in boats drawn up the river: but along the Mohawk, though the road from Schenectady to Utica is far from being good, it is frequently preferred to the river.

By the aid of canals, a good navigation (for boats) can unquestionably be made from Schenectady to the falls in the Oswego river, twelve miles south of lake Ontario. From Schenectady to the Hudson, and from the falls just mentioned to lake Ontario, a boat navigation is also practicable; but whether it be advisable, may deserve consideration.

A preliminary point to decide, is, whether by this route, vessels can be taken across, of size and form, to navigate with advantage, lake Ontario and Hudson's river; such, for instance, as sloops and schooners of fifty or sixty tons.

The commissioners believe this to be impracticable, for want of water at the summit level. Whether a sufficient supply even for boats can be obtained in a dry season, should the whole trade of the great lakes be turned that way, is a matter worthy of consideration.

Admitting, however, that the boat navigation were completed to the falls, in Oswego river, and a sufficient supply of water secured, it remains to inquire whether it would be prudent to expend what may be needful on the navigation between those falls and the lake.

It will be seen by the report of the surveyor hereunto annexed, that in this distance there is a descent of little less than one hundred feet, and that the circumstances are peculiarly unfavourable; so much so, that an intelligent practical man, (Mr. Weston) formerly pronounced it impossible. That word, however, when used on occasions of this sert, must be understood as standing in relation to the means which can prudently be applied to the end.