educated above their standard, he must bring himself down to their level; and the inevitable consequence is, that he forgets all, that he is not in the habit of daily using, and in a few years, is but little elevated above his neighbors." So highly does he value the precious pearls of erudition, that he is loth to throw them before the rude multitude, who would not value them, and would rather give them the plain oyster-he maintains that "young men of plain education, who have had their constitutions invigorated by labor from youth to manhood, are the best qualified for these situations." A physical education is of more importance to a country doctor than an intellectual one. Latin, Greek and Algebra are useless. The people of this free country, impatient of restraint, will not submit to too much education, and if we insist upon it, the consequence will be, that "thousands of practitioners of Medicine will spring up, whose only sources of information will be a little reading at their own homes, and thus, in a few years, we would have a host of doctors, entirely ignorant of Anatomy, Chemistry, Pathology and Surgery; and also of Therapeutics, until repeated and fatal experiments upon their fellow creatures should have enabled them to discriminate disease, and apply the proper treatment."

We are next informed that the students do not desire more Medical instruction than is at present imparted to them, and therefore, that it is not necessary that the courses should be lengthened. Their attendance on the shorter courses, now delivered, is described as very irregular. This we attributed to the looseness of the examinations; but Dr. A. considers it rather as a consequence of the state of the country.

Clinical lectures, whether delivered at the bedside of the patient or in an amphitheatre, before a class of students, he regards as of little utility, unless under peculiarly favorable circumstances, which are hardly to be found in our highly favored country. In our student days, we imagined we derived much benefit from them both, under one form and the other, even in this country; but we must have been mistaken, from the relative value Dr. Annan puts upon them-for he affirms that a student can learn more by closely watching one case of remittent fever, with the aid of his private preceptor, than by seeing fifty in an hospital.

While thus acknowledging our obligations to Dr. Annan for having corrected the erroneous opinions we had formed, we must confess we were, at first, at a loss to understand why this opposition to the measures adopted at Convention was not manifested during its sitting; but on reflection, we come to the conclusion, that the Professor's elo

quence would have been wasted on "the old gentlemen with grey hairs, bald heads, and venerable appearances" he so wittily holds up to ridicule, and, that its effect must be much greater when addressed to the fervent youth, the students and expected students of Trannsylvania University.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

I. An Analysis of Physiology, being a condensed view of its most important facts and doctrines, designed especially for the use of Students. By JOHN J. REESE, M.D., Lecturer on Materia in the Institute of Philadelphia, &c. &c. Philadelphia: G. Anner & Co. 1847.

EARNESTLY as we have at heart the hope of medical reform, and, firmly believing that this can only be effected by properly impressing the minds of the rising generation, we hail this little work with pleasure, as indicating a desire on the part of medical students for more thorough knowledge than they have as yet evinced. Hitherto a large mass, if not the majority of students, have been satisfied to prepare themselves for examination, by the use of one or more of the numerous manuals, which in a few hundred pages, contained, in the form of question and answer, a superficial glance at most of the subjects which are taught in the Colleges: anatomy, physiology, surgery, obstetrics, materia medica, practice of medicine, all taught in the small compass of a duodecimo volume. Can any conceive of any plan better adapted to enable a student to undergo the examination to which he is usually subjected and to turn him forth upon the world utterly unqualified for the high duties which he pretends to undertake, and this without any want of good faith on the part of the examiners, for they can only judge of the fitness of the candidate by the readiness of his replies, and these have been memorized. We have more than once, in the pages of this Journal, raised our voices against these short-cuts to knowledge; or more properly speaking, these short-cuts to the degree of M.D., for there are no short-cuts to knowledge; it can only be obtained by assiduous, diligent and patient labor, and he who is not prepared to bestow such labor had better seek some other avocation, for assuredly he will never rise to eminence in this or any other profession.

This little volume, as its name imports, is an analysis of physiology, not designed to take the place of larger and more complete works, not designed to give the student a superficial knowledge, which only useful at the period of his examination, is to be forgotten in a few months, but it is a careful digest of all that is now known of the principles and facts of physiology, by a mind evidently well acquainted with the subject which it is analyzing. Ample use has been made of the labors of Schwan, Muller, Carpenter, Simon and others, and the new and important points which they have elucidated, brought prominently to view. One of the peculiar values of the book, in our opinion is, that some previous acquaintance with physiology is necessary to render it well understood; it cannot be made to take the place of the more elaborate treatises of Muller, Carpenter, Wagner, &c., but requires that these works should be first studied and understood, in other words, it may serve as an excellent means of refreshing in the mind, principles and facts which have been acquired from other sources, but cannot serve the purpose of conveying that superficial knowledge which is obtained from the manuals of examinations. This is all at which the author aimed, and he has entirely effected his object.

In looking over the book we were much struck with the full and complete details in the chapters on the development of tissues from simple elementary particles and from cells. In these chapters, the development of tissues and cells is traced more completely, though still as concisely as possible, than in any single work that we are acquainted with. Much that has to be sought for, from a variety of other sources is here brought together, and a clear view of the whole thus obtained, The labors of Wagner, Muller, Schwan and especially Todd and Bowman, have been freely drawn upon. We recommend this part of the book to attentive perusal, as it contains much which the investigation of these latter writers have brought to light, and which is yet but little known.

The functions of "digestion and absorption from the digestive cavity," are not as fully treated as some others, but this was perhaps unnecessary, as the omissions are supplied under other heads.

The chapters on the blood and its circulation contain a full account of the constituents of the blood, their chemical and microscopic characters, and the forces which are mainly instrumental in its circulation, especially in its circulation through the capillaries, as far as these are yet known.

In the chapter on respiration we notice much accurate information

in regard to the exhalation and absorption of carbonic acid and oxygen and the probable mode in which these gases exist in the blood.

We are particularly pleased with the constant reference to the facts of comparative anatomy, which elucidate the different points of physiology, by exhibiting the gradual change and evolution of organs from the lowest to the highest classes of animals. The aid which such comparisons afford in the study of the functions and uses of the different organs and tissues of man, has been scarcely properly appreciated in this country, at least by but few, and we are glad to per ceive that Dr. Reese has here drawn full attention to it by practically exhibiting the light which is thrown upon the functions of each organ, while tracing it from its embryo state in the lowest animals, up to its highest degree of development in man. Such knowledge put into the hands of students becomes very useful by directing their attention to the proper sources from which they are to expect a more full solution of the many still doubtful points in physiology. In fine, we recommend the book to all students as a means of recalling to their minds, the facts and principles of which it treats, infinitely superior to the superficial knowledge which they acquire from their manuals of examinations.

II. The Virginia Springs with their Analysis; and some Remarks on their Character; together with a Directory for the use of the White Sulphur Water, and an Account of the Diseases to which it is applicable. By JOHN J. MOOR MAN, Resident Physician at the White Sulphur Springs. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston. 1847.

It was with pleasure we saw this little volume lying on our table, as we hoped that it would supply a great desideratum in our medical literature; that it would furnish to the profession generally such information in regard to the effects of the different mineral waters of the great "spring region" of Virginia, as would enable them to give more special directions to such patients as they desire to have the benefit of these waters, than they are at present able to do from their limited knowledge of the therapeutic virtues of the different springs. It is not enough to know that one spring contains saline ingredients in the form of carbonates, that another contains the same ingredients in the form of sulphates, that in the former free carbonic acid exists in solution in the water, in the latter sulphuretted hydrogen; that one

spring contains iron, another none; these are points on which every physician may acquire all the necessary information, with ease and in abundance from various and easily accessible sources. The knowledge which the profession desire in regard to these waters, is their therapeutic action. On which organs do the different waters act? Are they alteratives per se, alteratives by absorption, or alteratives by their action upon the glands and follicles of the extensive tract of mucous membrane to which they are applied? Do they act by eliminating morbid matters from the blood, by promoting the secretions and excretions from the skin, the mucous membrane or the kidneys? To what particular classes of disease are each applicable? What states of the constitution render the waters peculiarly fitted, in one set of cases, to bring back a return of healthy functions, while in cases of apparently similar disease, the use of the same waters are nugatory or perhaps hurtful? What are the juvantia and lodentia, during a course of water drinking? What diet, what regimen, what hygienic precautions are necessary in the use of each of the different springs? These are the questions which the profession in general, those away from the springs, who have no practical knowledge of the physiological action of the different waters, desire to have answered, for it is upon these points that our patients desire information from us, when advised to seek health among the springs of Virginia At present all the information which we can afford is of a very general character, and such only as can be obtained by reasoning from the known constituents of the different waters, and our patients are thereby deprived of the advantages which they might otherwise derive from the use of the waters, if their attending physician, who thoroughly comprehending all the features of the individual case, had sufficient knowledge of the therapeutic value of each water to advise the use of a particular spring, accompanied by such farther directions as to the best mode of using the waters, the quantity to be taken, and the periods at which it should be drank, together with such recommendations as to diet, exercise, &c., as might best suit the individual in question.

It is well known that in many cases, the first use of the waters is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, and this to such an extent, as to induce the patient to give up the use of the waters in disgust, and either to seek some other spring not so well adapted to the case, or else to return home in despair-whereas had he properly understood before he left home, the best mode of using the waters, either these unpleasant effects might altogether have been avoided, or being under