Criticisms and Controversies relating to the Nervous and Muscular Systems. By BENNET DOWLER, M. D., of New Orleans. Reprinted from the New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal, Sept., 1847.

This is a brochure of 69 pages, and racy enough for any palate-rather too spicy, indeed, for our taste.

On different occasions we have noticed Dr. Dowler's labours in terms of just praise. His experiments on the cadaver, in relation to caloricity and the influence of the nerves in causing muscular contraction, we regard as ingenious, and their results strange and inexplicable, according to present received physiological laws. These experiments, Dr. D. maintains, completely upset Dr. Marshall Hall's theory of reflex nervous action. This has drawn down upon his head the thunder of some of the admirers of the reflex doctrine, and the present publication is Dr. Dowler's rejoinder. It will not be denied, even by those who may not agree with the author in his reasonings, that his publication displays much learning and ability, but a sad want of the calmness of true philosophy. We admit that he has had great provocation. His experiments have been lightly spoken of, and his deductions have been put aside with a flippancy calculated to ruffle one unused to such encounters; but in losing his temper he sacrifices an important element in the controversy. We agree with him in thinking that he has not been fairly dealt with by his opponents. His experiments have been numerous, laborious, and seemingly accurately observed, and until others in an equally pains-taking manner have gone over the same ground, with different results, we are bound to regard them as true. No one,

as far as we know, has denied that they are true. That being the case, his opponents are bound to show either that their theory is consistent with the facts, or that the facts stated are inapplicable to the case-in other words, that Dr. Dowler's deductions from his own premises are wrong. Thus far, ridicule rather than argument has been the weapon mostly employed against him.

THE MEDICAL EXAMINER.

PHILADELPHIA, NOVEMBER, 1847.

MEDICAL APPOINTMENT.

In the notice of recent medical appointments contained in our last number, we neglected to mention the election of Jacob Randolph, M. D., as Professor of Clinical Surgery to the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Randolph has long been one of the Surgeons of the Pennsylvania Hospital, and his lectures will continue to be delivered as heretofore, in that institution, to all its pupils without distinction. We have not understood that he is to lecture at the University, or specially to the class of that school, so that all who choose to purchase a hospital ticket will have the benefit of his able instruction during the winter.

THE ANNALIST.

We have received the second number, (first missing,) of this spirited little cotemporary, from which we discover that it has entered upon its second year, which is encouraging in these days of mushroom growths. The editor wields a ready pen, and is enthusiastically devoted to the interests of the profession. Long may he grace the editorial tripod !

The New Jersey Medical Reporter and Transactions of the New Jersey Medical Society. Edited by JOSEPH PARRISH, M. D., Tenth month (Oct.) 1847. Burlington, N. J.

This is a new aspirant for professional favour, which has just appeared, and is to be published quarterly, in the city of Burlington, N. J. It "purports to be a medium for the publication of the transactions of the New Jersey Medical Society, while it will be devoted to the interests of Medical Science generally." The present number contains eighty-four pages, well printed, with good paper and a genteel cover-circumstances that speak well for the good taste and spirit of the publisher.

A considerable portion of the initial number is occupied with the proceedings of the New Jersey Medical Society, embracing reports

of Committees and papers read before it by members: the remainder is devoted to original articles, notices of new publications, and selected matter. A journal got up under the auspices of a large Medical Society, as in the present instance, with the auxiliary means at the command of the editor, ought to succeed, and we can see no reason why it shall not. In this we assure our young friend, the editor, "the wish," at least, "is father to the thought."

YELLOW FEVER.

According to the last accounts, the yellow fever continues to prevail in New Orleans, especially among the unacclimated. The influx of strangers has caused in fact quite an increase in the number of cases. "During the twenty-four hours ending on the morning of the 11th, (ultimo,) nine interments occurred in the city, and five deaths at the Charity Hospital." This, however, is a great decrease, compared with the month of August. In the latter part of that month, the disease pervaded all ranks of society, and the deaths from that cause alone, in the week preceding the 23d, amounted to three hundred and twenty-four.

SHIP FEVER.

This epidemic still prevails to a considerable extent among the emigrants at the port of New York, although very few cases we believe occur now at Philadelphia, owing, perhaps, to the smaller number of subjects. From the Canadian ports and places of landing, we continue to receive distressing accounts of destitution, disease and deaths among this unfortunate class. The number of sick emigrants at one hospital, (Montreal,) on the first of last month, was eight hundred and thirty-five!

MEDICAL HEROISM.

Under this caption, the Annalist copies the following from an article in the British and Foreign Review, with appropriate comments. It is a sublime but just picture of genuine medical character.

"There are few of our readers who do not remember the melancholy impression made on the public mind by the disastrous expedition to the Niger, when this was made known in England, through the newspapers. And none, who remember this, can forget that pathetic passage in the story, which represented the noble conduct of the surgeon and the geologist of the expedition, when left alone in the far recesses of the Niger, amid their heroic companions, all stricken to death, or to death-like helplessness, by the fatal fever of the country. In this trying conjuncture, when the salvation of all on

board depended upon the speedy removal of the ship from her actual position, Dr. M'William took the navigation on himself, steering with his own hands, and piloting the vessel through all the intricacies of the river, while his companion worked the engine below. There is something affecting, we had almost said, sublime, in the picture thus presented to the imagination, of these two solitary men of science, assuming offices so foreign to their past habits and knowledge, stripped of all exterior cognizance of their class, standing as humble workmen at the helm and furnace, toiling by day, watching by night, while the force of the stream and paddles were sweeping their illfated bark, freighted with their dying or dead companions, through the manifold dangers of their unknown course. The author of the volume before us, (the Report on the Boa Vista Fever,) was the clear-headed and stout-hearted pilot who did this, the undoubted preserver of the ship and her surviving crew; and the slight and simple way in which he speaks of his own exertions, strikingly illustrates the old truth, that the brave man is ever modest.'"

The following despatch and accompanying remarks, which we extract from the North American of a recent date, show that the same traits characterize the honorable members of our profession everywhere.

MARTYRS TO THEIR DUTY.-The crowded state of our columns has prevented us from commenting upon the following dispatch received at the Navy Department from Com. Perry :

U. S. FLAG SHIP GERMANTOWN,
VERA CRU4, 6th

SIR-I am again called upon to announce to the Department the death of another valuable officer of the Squadron-Passed Assistant Surgeon J. Howard Smith breathed his last yesterday evening at the Naval Hospital.

The death of this and the other Medical Officers, may in part be ascribed to the extraordinary anxiety and labour to which they were subjected in their attendance upon the sick; worn out in body, though not in zeal and courage, they had not sufficient strength to bear up against the effects of disease when it came upon them.

Doctor Smith was attached to the steamer "Spitfire," and volunteered with Doctor Hastings, of the Mississippi," to take charge of the sick at the Hospital, when Dr. Thornly was taken with the fever. Words cannot express my feelings on seeing these devoted men, stricken down as they have been by the epidemic, from the fatal malignancy of which their own incessant labours and watching by night and by day have saved so many.

As a proof of the noble self-devotion of Doctor Hastings—an example worthy also the character of his lamented companion, Doctor Smith-I subjoin an extract from the "Sick Report" of the 30th ult. I have the honour to be, with great respect, sir, your obedient servant, M. C. PERRY, Commanding Home Squadron.

(Signed)

To Hon. JOHN Y. MASON, Secretary of the Navy, Washington.

Both the gentlemen, who are the subject of the above feeling eulogy, are Phildelphians, and Mr. Smith leaves many to regret his loss-while that regret is solaced by the reflection that he fell when nobly and gallantly engaged in the performance of his duty. It is not alone amid the roar of cannon and the thick smoke of a deadly combat that true courage and manly devotedness can be found. The physician who faces the horrors of infectious disease, and hovers like a ministering angel around the couch of death, achieves a triumph equal to that of the victorious battle field. As soon as Dr. SMITH was taken down, Dr. JOHN HASTINGS made the following tender of his services in a report dated" U. S. Naval Hospital, Salmadina, August 30, 1847."

'Aware of the diminished number of medical officers in the squadron, and fearing you might be worried and perplexed on account of the sickness of Dr. Smith, I conceive it my duty to say that I feel myself able to take charge of the sick at present on the island, (number of sick in hospital 124,) and all who will be likely to come. Having been on a previous occasion, from similar misfortunes, called upon to discharge as heavy and important a duty as the present without succumbing, I hope I shall in the present instance again be equal to the task.'

While engaged in the duties which he had thus assumed, Passed Assistant Surgeon JOHN HASTINGS was himself attacked by fever and for a long time his recovery was doubtful. Providence, however, interposed, and he has been preserved for other duties and other missions of self-sacrifice and devotion. Well may we feel proud to enrol such gallant spirits among the sons which Philadelphia has sent forth to the war. Tears for the departed one, and the encomiums of the public upon the survivor, are but feeble evidences of the esti mation in which they are held. Dr. SMITH "sleeps the sleep that knows no waking, while Dr. HASTINGS will soon be restored to the friends whom he has made so proud of him, and we trust his return may be accompanied by some expressive token from his fellowcitizens."

The following notice of the late Dr. Kearney we also take from the North American. We had the pleasure of Dr. K.'s acquaintance and friendship, during several years that he was stationed at Philadelphia, and can bear witness that the eulogy of his brother officers is not strained. It will be seen that he met his death in the voluntary performance of a most hazardous duty. Dr. Kearney's age and long service exempted him from so arduous a task, but his sympathy for his brother soldiers prevailed over all considerations of domestic ease and comfort, and even his own health and life, and, like those whose names we have already chronicled, he fell a sacrifice to what he deemed his professional duty.

NAVAL.-The Officers of the Navy attached to this station, and