8th DIVISION.-Display of the elementary management of Surgical operations.

Prefixed, we have a notice of all the prominent works relating to surgery which have appeared from the earliest period of its literature, including Journals and Periodicals, the value of which can hardly be estimated by any one who has not occasion for extensive reference; but what is of more importance to most readers is a most complete analytical index at the end of the work, occupying upwards of seventy pages closely printed, in double column. It is the most perfect performance of the kind we have ever seen. We are informed, that the work has gone through six editions in Germany, and been translated into seven different languages-an evidence of general appreciation which few authors live, like Chelius, to see bestowed upon their works, but which all who examine this production will admit to be fully merited.

To Mr. South, the profession is certainly under very great obligations, not only for a good translation of an excellent work, but for the extensive and valuable additions he has made to it, and without which, the author's short notices of many subjects would have been unsatisfactory to either the student or practitioner. With the exception of Diseases of the Eye and Ear, which are omitted in consequence of the author having comprised them in a separate volume, this edition of the Hand Book of Chelius, with the notes and comments of Mr. South, and the references of Dr. Norris, may be regarded as the most comprehensive work on Surgery ex

tant.

Lectures on the Principles and Practice of Physic; delivered at King's College, London. By THOMAS WATSON, M. D., Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians; late physician to the Middlesex Hospital; and formerly Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. Third American, from the last London edition. Revised, with additions. By D. FRANCIS CONDIE, M. D., Secretary of the College of Physicians; Author of a Treatise on Diseases of Children, &c. Svo. pp. 101. Philadelphia: 1847. Handbuch der Medicinischen Klinik; verfasst von Dr. CARL CANSTATT: königlich-bayerischem Gerichtsarzte und Mitgliede mehrerer gelehrter Gesellschaften. Zweite vermehrte Auflage. Svo. Erster Band, S. 370: Dritter Band, S. 911. Vierter Band, S. 798. Erlangen, 1843.

Lehrbuch der speciellen Nosologie und Therapie. Von CONRAD HEINRICH FUCHS, Professor zu Göttingen. Svo. Erster Band, S. 674. Göttingen, 1845: Zweiter Band, S. 1250: Göttingen, 1845-1847.

Handbuch der Pathologie und Therapie. Von Dr. C. A. WUNDER

LICH, Professor der Medicin; z. z. Vorstand der medicinischen Klinik zu Tübingen. Svo. Dritter Band, S. 616. Stuttgart, 1846-7.

There is no end to treatises on the Practice of Medicine. In our last number, we announced one from our own country and city; and we have heard of other indigenous productions, that are in course of preparation,-some positively at the full period of utero-gestation, and requiring but an enterprizing bibliopolical accoucheur to usher them into independent being,— either to die of atelectasis, or to attain full development amongst the prized varieties of the species.

To-day, we have to herald a few exotics-one of which has been transplanted into our own soil; and under the fostering cares that have been bestowed upon it, and still more, owing to its own intrinsic life-powers, has become naturalized, extensively known, and as extensively appreciated amongst us.

Of Dr. Watson's Lectures we have spoken more than once,as often indeed as a new edition has appeared. We have now to

announce a third. Of the original work we need not repeat the favourable sentiments to which we gave utterance when first we saw it. Without being complete, or equal in all its parts,-and where is the work that can exhibit entire oneness in its varied details?—it is generally excellent in its descriptions, didactic, and well expressed. There is something, too, attractive to the young more especially in the form and style of "Lectures." The reader seems to feel that he is listening to, rather than reading, the discourse; and more interest is felt, by the young more especially, and less fatigue experienced, than in more profound and serious essays on the same subjects, not conveyed in the like

manner.

The basis-Grundtext-of Watson is the same as in the last American edition. The notes of the American editor, contained in that edition, are equally in this; but in addition we notice others, which are good and appropriate. We know, indeed, of no one to whom the task of editing such a work could have been committed with more propriety than to Dr. Condie. Possessed of a knowledge of various languages-Teutonic and Romaniczealous in maintaining himself a ported with the existing condition of medical science every where; judicious and impartial; a supporter of no exclusive sect, system, school or clique; cosmopolitan in science, as every one ought to be,-it is a disgrace, indeed, to him that is not,-he is well adapted to be the exponent of the existing state of medical knowledge here and elsewhere. As the editor of a work like the one before us, he has not room enough to express his opinions fully and freely, but where he has done so, his additions have been of such a character as to cause us to regret that more paper-room had not been allowed him.

The "Manual of Clinical Medicine" of Dr. Canstatt is anything but a "Manual" (Handbuch:) as well might we term a blunderbuss a pocket pistol. It is not yet complete; and as the able author is dead, doubts may be entertained whether it ever will be. We have recently heard, however, from Germany, that another volume is about to appear. Both it and the "Handbuch" of M. Wunderlich are examples of what we took occasion to deplore, in noticing certain German works a short time ago.

Instead of issuing the volumes in proper order, we, at times-as in the case of that of M. Wunderlich-receive first the third volume. M. Canstatt's work-which is now in its second edition-is on a good plan. The first volume, which, in this case, did appear first, is on the elementary forms of disease, or what he terms "the morphological part of clinical medicine"Morphologischer Theil der Klinik; and embraces Hypertrophy, Atrophy, Plethora, Anæmia, Chlorosis, Hyperæmia, Inflammation, Hemorrhage, Blood Disease, Anomaly of Secretions, Dropsy, Bright's Disease, Pneumatosis, Adiposis, Homologous Transformations of Tissue, (Homvöplasie,) Carcinoma, Tuberculosis and Scrophulosis, Lithiasis, Invermination, Softening, Induration, Fever, Neuroses, Nervous Erethism, (Algien,) Spasm, Anæsthesia, Acinesia, and Psychoses,-all subjects which he deemed it advisable to treat in a general manner, before passing to Special Pathology and Therapeutics, which occupy the remaining volumes. The division, which he adopts in them, is the anatomical: the third volume, for instance, which was issued after the first-the second not having appeared-embraces diseases of the head, spinal marrow, nerves and air-passages. In the detail of each of these, there is much system, and an ample bibliography, with numerous references to authorities, in the practical portions more especially. In this respect it differs greatly from the work next in order.

Of the work of Professor Fuchs of Göttingen we have received the first and second volumes,-the whole being intended to be comprised in that number; but it certainly is not complete. There are many topics that ought still to be treated of.

We confess we are not-as utilitarians-so well pleased with this production as with the others. It has not the same practical air about it as they have. We say "practical”—not in the cant language of the day, which is too apt to regard everything not practical that does not treat of dosing, but it seems to us too much attention is given by M. Fuchs to nosology, and to endless divisions and subdivisions, so that in the absence of an Index, which the parts issued do not possess, it is a task of no little labour to find out any special topic on which we may desire to see the sentiments of the author. The first volume, which

is addressed to his "beloved preceptor"-seinem geliebten Lehrer, Dr. J. L. Schönlein-a highly esteemed name in his Vaterlandtreats of the Classes and Families of Disease, to each of which he gives learned appellations derived from the Greek, and for which he will have, of course, the blessings of the "harmless drudge" the lexicographer; for we doubt whether they will ever be extensively disseminated except by him. We shall only refer here to his classes, the arrangement of which he follows in his second volume, in inquiring into the genera and species"Gattungen und Arten." These are: First. "Diseases of blood-life"-Hæmatonosen. Second. "Diseases of nerve-life"Neuronosen; and Third. "Diseases of Form and Formation”— Morphonosen. Of each of these he has several orders, families, genera and species, leading-as we have said-to learned confusion; and exhibiting much and useless metaphysical subtlety. The author is, however, a man of decided learning, and eminently instructed in his profession. His book will doubtless be properly appreciated among his countrymen, and may find, with advantage, a place in the library of every one acquainted with German Medical Literature.

The last of the books whose titles are at the head of this article, is the most adapted to our taste, both by its arrangement, and the fulfilment of details. It adopts the best of all divisions— that according to organs or apparatuses. The third volume, which is the first to appear-and the only one, by the way, that has appeared-embraces the diseases of the circulatory and respiratory organs, test subjects for an author, and one on which he cannot write a respectable treatise without being instructed in all modern diagnostic methods. The Prospectus states, that the third volume will embrace the diseases mentioned, as well as those of the digestive and urinary organs; but the volume really concludes with those of the respiratory organs. The whole work is promised by Easter, 1848. Its author is certainly a well read, learned and sensible physician; and his work is an excellent dissertation on the subjects comprised in it. We have consulted it on numerous occasions with much pleasure and profit.