points out at full length the errors incident to those who have acted exclusively as empirics or dogmatists.

Of equal utility in directing the labours of the student are the subsequent lectures, "On the influence of physical causes in promoting the strength and activity of the intellectual faculties of man." Lect. 4.-"On the education proper to qualify a young man for the study of medicine." Lect. 7.-And "On the means of acquiring knowledge." Lect. 15.-These discourses are replete with excellent observations on the economy and culture of the human mind. It may not here seem our place to arraign the author for his disposition to depreciate classical literature, and for the preference which he gives to the French, German, and Italian languages over the Latin and Greek. In the character of physicians however we cannot refrain from expressing an unqualified opinion in favour of an early and thorough acquaintance with the ancient languages as a part of a medical education. Many of the most valuable and standard works in our profession must be inaccessible to those who are destitute of this acquaintance. Omitting a crowd of ancient authors, we would ask, what medical scholar would not be ashamed of an inability to consult the untranslated writings of Haller, of Lieutaud, of Stoll, De Haen, Gregory, and many others of recent date? But in addition to the advantage of access to valuable authors, there is another object still more indispensable. The Latin has been, and will continue to be, the language of scientific men, and the medium of technical phraseology. We know of no substitute for the facility afforded by a classic education in comprehending and retaining the peculiar names with which all sciences abound, and especially those connected with medicine. The number of technical terms in anatomy, chemistry, and medicine proper, which proceed from the Latin and Greek, is several thousand; in natural history it is almost infinite. How inconceivable must be the labour of committing to memory the import of such a collection of strange and novel sounds, did not their etymology convey to the mind some idea of their meaning and application. Besides, we know of no modern language whose precision will admit it to be substituted for the Latin, as the language of learned men.

We would ask if it be possible that the systems of

Linnæus could be preserved in any translation, were the original nomenclature of that great man to be lost. Would not incessant confusion and variance result from attempts at translation into any existing words in any modern language? We will give a single example in the instance of two species of plants belonging to the same genus, the Solanum tuberosum, and the Solanum mammosum. These two might naturally enough be rendered in English by the same name,* and we should thus confound a common article of food (the potatoe) with a virulent narcotic poison. But perhaps we are proceeding to improper lengths. Our author has the good fortune to coincide in opinion with the French emperor, whose innovating genius, it is said, has found it expedient that physicians' prescriptions should no longer be written in Latin. At the same time he disagrees with the authority and usage of nearly all the medical seminaries in which our language is spoken.

In the fourth lecture, on the influence of physical causes on the intellectual faculties, Dr. R. gives us an interesting detail, supported by facts and anecdotes, of the various external circumstances which tend to sharpen and invigorate the human intellect. We must however remark, that an indiscriminate collection of different facts, without a full and judicious application of them, seldom leads to useful conclusions. In the present instance we learn that abstinence in many persons increases mental activity; that in others a full and gross diet has had the same effect. That the noise and bustle of large cities promote strength and vigour of mind, and in the next section that silence and solitude are no less efficacious. We do not derive very definite instructions in the choice of a position for study, when we are told that Descartes, Mr. Brindley, and Rousseau, studied in bed; that Charles Townsend, Judge Wilson, and Sir Joshua Reynolds, had the best command of their faculties in a standing posture; that the Peripatetics studied and taught while walking, and that Mr. Edwards and others had their ideas wonderfully excited by

* The adjectives" tuberosum " and " mammosum" might each be rendered in English "tumid, rounded, or bunched." That they originally conveyed an idea of similar shape, we have the following authority from Apuleius. "Ubi uber, ibi tuber."-But enough of pedantry.

riding. We are here too a little surprised that the sitting pos ture, in which probably more mental achievements have been "effected than in all the rest put together, it being the common posture of literary men; is passed by altogether unnoticed. In one instance, we mean that respecting abstinence and repletion, Dr. Rush has applied his facts by intimating that those persons, whose minds were improved by indulgence in food, were men subject to great depression of spirits, whose minds required the pleasures of the table to raise them to the ordinary grade of vigour. We should have been gratified had explanations been more frequent. The habits and idiosyncracies of different individuals undoubtedly require different aliments, situations, and pursuits; and these are commonly adjusted by each from the dictates only of his own experience. It would be an attempt worthy the talents of Dr. Rush, to inform us in what circumstances an erect or recumbent posture, an active or quiescent state, is most favourable to mental exertion; to explain what peculiarities require or forbid certain medicinal agents; to state in what cases a glass of wine shall rouse and invigorate the mind of one man, while it bewilders and depresses that of another; or, in fine, to make each individual so far acquainted with his own mind and animal spirits, as that he may be able to adapt his habits to their greatest economy and improvement.

Many of the lectures contained in this volume are calculated to be of singular utility in illustrating the connection which exists between the medical profession and the rest of society; in establishing their mutual duties, and fixing on both sides the standard of a correct and discriminating conduct. Such are the lectures "On the vices and virtues of physicians," "On the means of acquiring business, and the causes which prevent the acquisition and occasion the loss of it in the profession of medicine," "On the pains and pleasures of a medical life," "On the duties of patients to their physicians," &c. They seem to be the productions of a man, whose vigilant attention has not been eluded by any of the incidents and contingencies of a medical life. They are copiously illustrated by facts and examples, collected not only from the fruits of extensive reading, but also from a careful preservation of noticeable occurrences during long and extensive practice.

The manner of Dr. Rush is clear and methodical. His practice of arranging the various particulars which compose his subject under numbered heads, covers the occasional abruptness of his transitions, and assists the recollection of the reader. In the exordium and conclusion of his lectures his language is generally elevated, and in some instances highly captivating and pathetic. Were we solicitous to discover faults, we should say that the transitions from one part to another of the subject, are too frequent, and occasionally produce an abrupt and unpleasant change of manner.—As a fair specimen of the author's style, we give the following extract from the conclusion of the lecture on hospitals. "In recounting the public advantages of our hospital, let us not pass over in silence the individual comfort and happiness it has created and prolonged. There oil and wine have been poured into many bleeding hearts. There deposed human reason has often been brought back again by the power of medicine to resume her empire over all the faculties of the mind. Receive, illustrious founders of this excellent institution, in this humble detail of its various and multiplied blessings, the rewards of your beneficence! But great as those blessings appear, they are small, compared with the benefits which have been ascribed to hospitals in other countries. Dr. Tillotson has pronounced them to be the bulwarks of Great Britain, and ascribes to their influence her frequent and signal preservations from the power of her enemies. Higher motives remain yet to be mentioned, to recommend these public asylums of sickness and distress to our affections and care. The Saviour of the world owns the miserable outcasts of society, who occupy the wards of hospitals, as his relations, and has declared he will reward acts of kindness done to them as if they had been done to himself. His memorable words shall conclude our lecture. I was sick, and ye visited me; and again, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

We believe that few popular works connected with medicine can produce greater interest, or promote more liberal and enlightened views of the profession, than this volume of introductory lectures. Our duty as reviewers, and our selfishness as physicians, obliges us to express the warmest wishes for its general circulation and perusal.

ARTICLE II.

A Dissertation on the proximate cause of Inflammation, with an attempt to establish a rational plan of cure. Submitted to the examination of John Andrews, D. D. Provost, the Trustees, and Medical Professors of the University of Pennsylvania, on the twenty fifth of April, 1811. For the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. By Alexander H. Stevens, A. M. of New York. Honorary member of the Medical Society of Philadelphia, and member of the Philomedical Society of New York. Medicus et Philosophus in omnibus quæ circa corpus humanum eveniunt mutationibus, ex claris principiis veras conclusiones et connectiones conficere et elicere debet....FRED. HOFFM. Principles in medicine are the only safe and certain guide to successful practice.... RUSH. Philadelphia; J. Maxwell. pp. 37. 1811.

An inaugural dissertation should not, perhaps, be reviewed on the same footing as other works. It is for the most part the production of a young man who has just completed his pupilage. Proofs of industry, and of a judgment ordinarily good, are all that we have a right to look for. Should the work evince unusual labour or ingenuity, it is entitled to special praise. Claims to such special praise are to be found in the work before us. The author has certainly taken considerable pains in the investigation of his subject. He has ventured to look into the massy volumes of antiquity, as well as into the writings of modern times; and he has also gone through some interesting experiments.

This perhaps is as much as it can generally be necessary for us to say respecting works of this kind. It cannot be requisite for us to state in every instance in what respect and how much we differ in sentiment from the author. But, in truth, some new doctrines have been springing up on this subject of inflammation; and these are embraced by Dr. Stevens. Now we are tempted to make use of this occasion to go into an examination of these doctrines. If we should not agree with Dr. S. in as