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with, perhaps, in many cases bought testimonials in favour of the "lectures." We say, "perhaps in many cases bought;" for the editors of a respectable and independent journal in a neighboring city have affirmed, that they were offered a sum of money for a favourable notice,-that they spurned the offer,— and noticed the paltry production in terms that it richly merited.

One word more. Certain physicians have furnished testimonials to the author of these "Lectures," and as they have courtedwhat we, however, consider unenviable-notoriety, it is proper that they should enjoy it. Dr. Luther Brigham, of Lowell, introduces him as "justly celebrated for his researches in the uses of the Lungs, and the nature and treatment of Pulmonary Consumption. I think his opinion and advice on these subjects of great value. His patients in this place speak of him in the highest terms." Dr. Benjamin West, of Nantucket, speaks of him as "one who is acquainted, to a surprising extent, with the subject (consumption) in its most important bearings; and who by his disinterested actions has shown himself entitled to the respect and confidence of all with whom he may be brought in contact." Next we have a letter from Dr. Hubbard Graves, of Nashville, N. H., introducing him to a professional brother as his "friend" Dr. Fitch, who had recently delivered some lectures on consumption, its causes and cure, in that place. "On my announcing his subject," he says, "the idea of quackery may possibly strik eyou, but there you will be most agreeably disappointed. Dr. Fitch regularly studied his profession, both in this country and in Europe; and you will find him a man of strictly philosophical mind, who has thoroughly examined the theory which he advances. His ideas are not crude and confused as those of quack-lecturers invariably are; you will find that they are clearly arranged, and that all his conclusions have been logically deduced. In fact, from what I have seen of Dr. Fitch, I am satisfied you will deem his acquaintance in the highest degree agreeable."

Messrs. Brigham, West, and Graves, have acted as gentlemen ushers and prolegomena to their "friend," and they will doubtless pride themselves-for "nulla vestigia retrorsum❞—in having manfully aided to diffuse the new light-the "discovery;"

and to obtain some of the effulgence reflected from the luminary to which they have consented to act as satellites; and in the language of Pope, it may be asked

"Why Jove's satellites are less than Jove?”

They cannot therefore complain, that they are all placed by us in the same category, or that the maxim noscitur a sociis should apply to each of them.

Lectures on the Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the Vertebrate Animals, delivered at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, in 1844 and 1846. By RICHARD OWEN, F. R. S., Hunterian Professor, and Conservator of the Museum of the College. Part I. Fishes. Illustrated by numerous

Wood cuts. 8vo. pp. 30s. London, 1847.

We turn with pleasure from the ungracious task of impaling ignorance and unblushing empiricism, to notice the labours of one who has attained a well earned and well merited preeminence in certain departments of medical science more especially. Perhaps at this day, indeed, no name stands higher in the roll of living comparative anatomists than that of Richard Owen,-a successor of the amiable and excellent Cliff, who filled so ably the office of Conservator of the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons, of London,-from its first establishment, if we mistake

not.

The volume before us is the second of the series,-the first having investigated the comparative anatomy and physiology of invertebrate animals; and a third is to follow, devoted to the consideration of the mammalia in the same relations.

We cannot do more than say, that after an "introductory lecture" on the characters of the classes of vertebrate animals, the work examines, in succession, the osteology, myology, neurology, digestive system, vascular system, pneumatic and renal organs, and generative system of fishes, in a manner so able and perspicuous as to make us the more anxious to possess the third and remaining volume. When completed, it will form a thesaurus on the subjects embraced by it, which every scientific inquirer into the animal economy ought to hasten to possess.

New Elements of Operative Surgery. By ALF. A. L M. VELPEAU, Professor of Surgical Clinique of the Faculty of Medicine of Paris, etc. etc. etc. Carefully revised, entirely remodelled, and augmented with a treatise on Minor Surgery. Illustrated by over 200 engravings, incorporated with the text; accompanied with an atlas in Quarto of twenty-two plates, representing the principal operative processes, surgical instruments, &c. First American, from the last Paris edition. Translated by P. S. TOWNSEND, M. D., Late Physician to the Seaman's Retreat, Staten Island, New York. Augmented by the addition of several hundred pages of entirely new matter, comprising all the latest improvements and discoveries in Surgery, in America and Europe, up to the present time. Under the supervision of, and with notes and observations by, VALENTINE MOTT, M. D. Professor of Surgery with Surgical and Pathological Anatomy in the University of New York; etc. etc. etc. In three volumes. New York: Samuel S. and William Wood, 1847.

The appearance of the first and second volumes of this important work was duly chronicled as they successively came from the press; and now we have to announce the third volume, with the accompanying atlas, which completes the publication. We congratulate Dr. Townsend on the conclusion, of his arduous task, for such it unquestionably has been. To translate, collate, and prepare for the press three such huge volumes is no trifling matter; and to have carried the work through without interruption or delay is in the highest degree creditable to his zeal and industry. It must be confessed, however, that the haste with which this has been accomplished has not been without some disadvantages. All who have occasion to examine the volumes will find reasons enough to regret that a little more time was not given to arrangement of the subjects of which they treat, as well as condensation of the language in which the various topics are discussed. Of course we allude to the American portion. The volumes might in this way have been materially lessened, much useless detail avoided, and greater perspicuity of expression attained. The faults in style, although not an essential matter, are such, in many instances, as ought

certainly to have been avoided by so practised a writer as the Editor. What apology, for instance, can be offered for such Gallicisms as "M. S. Cooper" (Mr. Samuel Cooper), "M. Dudley," "M. Kirby," M. Bostock," "M. Fahnestock," &c. If it be allowable at all to render the names of Frenchmen thus, there surely can be no reason, in an English version, for translating English names into French. The habit of the Editor, of using the pronoun in the first person plural, as is the custom of journalists, instead of the first or third person singular, when uttering his own sentiments, is hardly consistent with good usage. But in the notes by Dr. Mott, the singular and plural form of the pronoun are used indiscriminately. Such sentences as the following, for instance, are common: "The means which I have resorted to, may possibly have been used by others before my time, but I am not aware of the fact. We are sure that many of the cases we have met with, had been abandoned," etc. Such jumbling of words is not only inelegant, but tends to confuse the reader, and the editor's privilege should have been exercised for their correction. But, notwithstanding these and many even greater imperfections, the publication is one of very great worth, and the profession is under lasting obligations to Dr. Townsend for the service he has rendered to Surgical Science in putting this work of Velpean in an En. glish dress; and to Dr. Mott for the many valuable contributions from his own extensive experience with which this edition is enriched.

A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of Children. By D. FRANCIS CONDIE, M. D., Secretary of the College of Physicians; Member of the American Philosophical Society; Honorary Member of the Philadelphia Medical Society, etc. Second Edition, revised and improved. 8vo. pp. 657. Lea & Blanchard. Philadelphia, 1847.

On the appearance of the first edition of this work, we pronounced it to be the best treatise on the diseases of children in the English language; and notwithstanding all that has been published since, we still regard it in that light.

"In the preparation of a new edition of the present treatise," says the author in his preface, "every part of the work has been subjected to a careful revision; several portions have been entirely re-written; while, throughout, numerous additions have been made, comprising all the more important facts, in reference to the nature, diagnosis, and treatment of the diseases of infancy and childhood, that have been developed since the appearance of the first edition."

The first part treats at length and with great clearness of the "management of children," of their "peculiarities of organization," the "pathology of infancy and childhood," semeiology," etc., and is alone worth the price of the book. The subjects which appear more particularly to have undergone revision, as far as a hasty examination has allowed us to discover, are, pleurisy, pneumonia, croup, and tubercular meningitis; and of the eruptive diseases, measles and scarlatina. On these, as well as the various other subjects embraced in the work, the author has evidently read much and observed well, and his remarks may be fairly admitted as containing the most approved doctrines of the day. His pathological views we regard as particularly sound; and, generally speaking, we find little to object to in his therapeutics, although we cannot always agree with him in the means he employs to give them effect. His attention to German medical literature is discoverable in his fondness for what may be called German prescriptions, or German remedies; thus the chlorohydrate of ammonia in visceral inflammations and cutaneous diseases; and hyoscyamus, variously combined, with ipecacuanha, mild chloride of mercury, prepared chalk, etc., for a wonderful variety of affections. To the formulæ throughout the book we have found more occasions for exception than any thing else. Occasionally, too, we have examples of medicines miscalled, such as "hydrochloride of ammonia," etc. In a work from a less competent author, or one of less general exceljence, we should not think of naming such imperfections, but in the present instance we feel jealous that any of the kind should exist. There is one point, however, in which our experience differs so greatly from that of the author, that we cannot refrain from noticing it-it is in the quantity of the watery extract of opium which may be safely given to children. At page 335,

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