Mr. Carpenter's Principles of Gen.and Comp. Physiology. 141

by the encouragement he has received from some who take an elevated station in physical science, and who have experienced the same deficiency.

"It is now generally acknowledged that physiology can only be properly studied by a constant reference to the comparative structure and functions of many different classes of animals; and in most of the recent works on this science, an outline of the development and actions of each system in the inferior tribes is prefixed to the details relating to its condition in man. This outline is filled up in the present volume, not only by amplifying the portion of it which relates to the animal kingdom, but also by the introduction of a similar view of the comparative structure and functions of vegetables, which is here shown to be governed by the same laws. It is this which constitutes the peculiar feature of the work; as the author believes it to be the first attempt, in this country at least, to form anything like a systematic comparative physiology of vegetables. The translation of the elaborate comparative physiology of Tiedemann would, indeed, have occupied this ground; but it is still incomplete, and is likely to remain so; and the mass of details which it embraces, unconnected by comprehensive principles, renders it most tedious and embarrassing to the student." From that most valuable storehouse of facts, the present volume differs essentially, therefore, in plan; this being devoted to the explanation and illustration of general laws.

"Although his work is especially intended as an introduction to the study of human physiology for the use of the medical student, the author has kept in view the wants of the general reader, to whom he hopes to make intelligible some of the highest doctrines in this most interesting science. For this purpose he has given explanations of most of the scientific terms employed, in the situations where they could be most appropriately introduced; and reference to them is facilitated by the copiousness of the index, which thus serves the purpose of a glossary.'

There are very few persons in Great Britain who could have undertaken, with any prospect of success, the execution of a plan requiring such varied, and at the same time such accurate knowledge, for the task required a thorough acquaintance with human and comparative anatomy and physiology in the most comprehensive sense of the terms, as well as an industrious and long-continued study of all the departments of zoology and botany. It is difficult to decide in which department Mr. Carpenter displays most research, for in each he appears as though that alone had engaged his exclusive attention. In fact, a work displaying so much erudition, and so much knowledge derived from actual observation, we have not yet met with in any young English writer of the present day, for it must be borne in mind that the author has but recently taken his degree. It is not easy, in a work where the subject matter is of such extent and variety, to bestow on

each topic only a proper degree of attention; for authors are generally tempted to dilate upon some favourite question, and are therefore obliged to curtail others, of at least equal importance. This error Mr. Carpenter has succeeded in avoiding, and consequently the volume contains just so much of each subject as it actually deserves, considered not by itself in an insulated manner, but as a part of a great and systematic whole. The volume contains 470 closely printed large octavo pages, and 219 well executed figures condensed into six plates, besides various plans and sketches to illustrate the text. The plate exhibiting the nervous system in the different classes of the animal kingdom is very beautiful and instructive.

Elements of Physiology. By J. MULLER, M.D. Translated by W. BALY, M.D.

THE fourth part of this celebrated work has appeared, and fully maintains the character given of it in a former number of this Journal. We have received the German original of the fifth part, on the Senses, and we promise the physiologists of Great Britain, that when its translation is published we shall have commenced a new era in the sciences of physiological optics and acoustics.

Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Physic. By the late DAVID HOSACK, M.D. Philadelphia, 1838.

DR. HOSACK's reputation is well established in England, and the publication of his lectures will contribute to render it still more permanent. We congratulate our American brethren on the rapid progress they are making in all the sciences connected with medicine. The new world is beginning to repay the debt contracted when she imported all her knowledge from the old; the dowry of the daughter now enriches the parent, and Great Britain may well be proud of her Transatlantic child; may she prove "ex matre pulchrâ filia pulchrior."

A Dictionary of Practical Medicine. By JAMES COPLAND, M. D.

The Cyclopædia of Anatomy and Physiology. By ROBERT B. TODD, M.D.

It is unnecessary to say more of these two great works than that they continue to support the high character their early numbers so deservedly acquired.

Human Physiology. By ROBERT DUNGLISON, M.D. Third Edition. Philadelphia. 2 Vols. Illustrated by En

gravings.

THIS work exhibits another admirable specimen of American industry and talent, and contains an account of every thing discovered in Europe up to the period of a few months prior to its publication. Many of the author's views are original and important.

Vital Statistics of Glasgow. By ROBERT COWAN, M. D., one of the Physicians to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, &c. Glasgow, Robertson, 1838.

THIS publication consists of two parts, the first of which having reference to the statistics of fever and small-pox in Glasgow, we have already noticed in a late number of this Journal. The well-known character of the author, for industry, accuracy, and judgment, must render the second part of his work as acceptable to the profession as it is important to the legislature.

In the first part of his work, Dr. Cowan traced the statistics of fever in Glasgow for the forty-two years prior to 1837. In the second part, now for the first time before us, he examines the statistics of fever for 1837, and adds some remarks suggested by the mortality bills of Glasgow, a series of documents of which we have already expressed our unqualified admiration.

SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE.

Proceedings of the Pathological Society of Dublin.-The object of the following Reports is to give a very brief and condensed account of the proceedings of the Pathological Society. The Society have resolved on publishing, at the termination of each session, a volume containing full descriptions of the most important specimens presented at each meeting, accompanied by such details and observations as may be calculated to illustrate the diagnosis and pathology of the individual cases; to this volume will be appended such plates as the Society may deem requisite for the more complete elucidation of the rarer forms of disease. The following Reports are therefore to be considered as a brief abstract of the proceedings of each meeting, to be succeeded by a more complete work, in which the subjects of investigation will be fully described and classified.

First Meeting of the Society, Dec. 1, 1838.

DR. GRAVES in the Chair.

1. Aneurism of the Abdominal Aorta.-Dr. Green presented a specimen of this disease, extending from the last dorsal vertebra to the iliac fossa of the left side, at which it arrived by passing behind the peritoneum, which membrane was extensively detached from the lumbar muscles; death took place suddenly, in consequence of a rupture through the diaphragm into the left pleura. The tumour in the left hypochondrium presented for some time before death a strong diastolic pulsation, unaccompanied by any bruit de soufflet. (Museum, Richmond Hospital.)

2. Ulcerated Communication between the Gall Bladder and Stomach. Mr. Carmichael exhibited the liver, gall bladder, and stomach of an individual who had laboured under symptoms of hepatic disease for many years. The gall bladder was thickened, much diminished in capacity, and its cavity occupied by a calculus of the size of a pigeon's egg; it adhered to the stomach, and communicated with it by a small opening, the result of adhesion and recent ulceration. The symptoms immediately preceding death, were great irritability of the stomach, and constant vomiting

of yellow bile, which nothing could alleviate. (Museum, Richmond Hospital.)

3. Encephaloid Tumour of the Abdomen, with Obliteration of the Vena Cava-Dr. Graves exhibited an abdominal tumour, which lay upon the upper part of the aorta and vena cava; the front of the latter vessel was almost completely incorporated with the cyst of the tumour, and its interior was obliterated by a substance quite analogous to that of which the tumour was composed. In this case the tumour had a distinct, but not diastolic pulsation, accompanied by bruit de soufflet, while the patient lay on his back, which ceased when he assumed the erect position. The left epigastric, mammary and intercostal veins were in a varicose condition. (Museum, Park-street.)

case.

4. Extensive Development of Malignant Disease, (Fungus Hamatodes.) Mr. Crampton exhibited the recently removed parts in this The lungs contained a great number of encysted tumours, the contents of which consisted of two substances, the one a soft spongy structure, of a dark brown or black colour, and the other a dark coffee-coloured fluid, which spurted out when an incision was made into the tumour; the structure of the tumour exactly resembled that of the left testis, which had been removed by Mr. Crampton three months previous to the death of the patient. The bronchial glands were healthy: a small circular ulcer existed in the greater extremity of the stomach, and a number of malignant tumours were situated beneath the mucous membrane of the small intestines and colon, into the cavity of which they projected. The left testis, which had been removed, was also exhibited; its interior presented the usual appearances of fungus hæmatodes of that organ.

The history of this case will be given at length in the Transactions of the Society. We may remark that it has an important bearing upon the question, as to whether the encephaloid or lardaceous tissues are to be considered as an early stage of what is usually termed fungus hæmatodes; here the disease was met with in every stage, and in all presented the same characters. (Museum, Park-street.)

5. Pulmonary Calculus.-Mr. Crampton exhibited a mass of cretaceous matter, of stony hardness, taken from the lung of a phthisical patient; it was somewhat larger than a tennis ball, and consisted of a series of spherical masses, which, when broken, presented the appearance of concentric lamina; its composition was ascertained to be almost entirely carbonate of lime. (Museum, Parkstreet.)

6. Fracture of the Tibia and Fibula; with Laceration of the anterior Tibial Nerve, producing severe Neuralgia of the Leg.-Mr. Smith presented to the Society a preparation, shewing an oblique fracture of both bones of the leg, united with considerable deformity. The anterior tibial nerve had been torn across. The extremity of the upper portion of the nerve had become adherent to the upper fragment of the tibia, while the lower portion, along with the tenVOL. XV. NO. 43.

U