the part morbidly affected; so that from the symptoms and indications he can judge of the locality, the kind, and degree of abnormal action. All medicine is therefore founded on an accurate knowledge of anatomy and physiology, and on these alone. All else is empirical.

In the ensuing treatise, Dr. Broussais developes the elements of the physiological doctrines of stimulation, irritation, inflammation, and innervation. This is comprised in chapters 1, 3, 4.

He gives a history of medical theories, until the establishment of the Physiological Doctrine of Irritation in France, chap. 2. He then proceeds to examine the ontological and psychological notions, which clerical metaphysics have introduced into physiology: and he shews, that we have no right to assume the existence of any hypothetical entity to account for those intellectual phenomena, which so far as our senses are to be trusted, are no other than the natural, normal functions of the encephalon. That we have no right to assume or to believe any thing which our senses external or internal-the only sources and inlets of knowledge. that we possess-are unable to furnish us with the proof of, that we know, and can know nothing that our senses are incompetent to shew us, for we have no other means of information and of knowledge, than our external and internal senses: that all terms used in medicine, and all words and expressions of abstraction, are words only, and not things or actual phenomena: that there is no such entity as disease, either general, or particular, distinct and separate from the tissue actually affected: that there is no remedy other than the alteration actually produced in the affected tissue by the modifier employed for the purpose: that whether any man living can or cannot explain satisfactorily the rationale of organic functions intellectual or instinctive, is of no consequence to the matter of fact, which remains true whether we or any one else can explain it or not: that the phenomena termed intellectual, are

Counter Stimulants: as bark, arsenic, and copper in the apyrexia of periodical irritations; such as intermittent and remittent fevers, and neuralgias. The Southern climate of the United States, seems to require more bold and decisive practice, than the Northern climate of Paris or London: hence, to us, the therapeutics of Broussais, Begin, Coster, &c. appear feeble; but the principles, founded on the physiology and pathology of the tissues, are undeniable and universally applicable.

quite as difficult of explanation by the aid and intervention of a seperate soul, as without it: and he deems it sufficient to shew. that these phenomena are really, and in fact, the regular normal properties and functions of the encephalon, without pretending to explain how and why, and in what manner these properties and functions belong to that organ and are developed in it: an explanation to which he readily confesses himself as unequal, as his opponents are: that the whole difference between them is, that the phenomena-the facts, being the same, he acknowledges his inability to explain them,* while his opponents introduce an assumed, hypothetical entity, (the human soul) that explains nothing, and burthens the system with an additional and needless difficulty. All this occupies chapter 5; and the supplement also in reply to the metaphysical notions of M. Cousin.

In chapter six and seven, he developes the connection between the nervous system of the human body, and the phenomena of intellect and of instinct.

He then applies the physiological doctrine of irritation to the disorder called INSANITY under its various modifications; this occupies the whole of the second part of the work. Insanity had long been deemed a mental affection, or disorder of the soul; it became his business therefore to discard this gratuitously assumed entity, and to shew that insanity was an affection of the encephalon, and of that alone.

In the latter part of chap. 6 of the second part of the work, and in part of chap. 7, (pages 228 et seq. and 247 et seq. of this translalation) he takes occasion to animadvert on the craniological doctrines of Dr. Gall; and produces what will be considered as the most formidable objections hitherto advanced against the system of that very able man; without however affecting the great and leading principles of Gall's theory, or the truth of his observations so far as they rest on observed facts. The puny sciolists who think themselves entitled to laugh at Dr. Gall, would do well to peruse the very honorable testimony to his knowledge and talents, which Broussais so readily concedes, while he controverts the imperfections of Gall's theory in its present state.

* Who can explain why gold is yellow and siver white? or why the ame soil should feed the potatoe and the poison-vine?

In this volume then, the reader will possess, the most recent exposition of the physiological doctrines of medicine of the modern French school, applied fully and distinctly to a specific disease, and illustrated by the known causes, symptoms, progress and cure of that disease. He will also possess in this work the most complete refutation of the metaphysical doctrines of psychology, any where extant. In 1787, following the path opened by Dr. Priestly, I published in England what I thought to be a satisfactory refutation of those doctrines: circumstances elsewhere noticed, have since induced me to shew, first that the obnoxious doctrine of Materialism, is the doctrine actually held and maintained in the christain gospels by the founder of christianity; and also that it is true in itself, both metaphysically and physiologi-. cally. These tracts were drawn up in 1823 and published in Philadelphia; I have seen no reply to them yet. I regret, that in this country and among a people who boast of their being so enlightened, and in the middle of the 19th century, I find it expedient to fortify myself by Mr. Jefferson's coinciding opinions; but so it is: the value of free discussion is not yet appreciated as it ought to be in these United States; and the powerful enmity of the clergy and their ignorant adherents, is sure to pursue every man who exercises the right of discussing clerical doctrines and clerical claims. But I think the indications are manifest that their day is gradually drawing to its close. For the peace and happiness of mankind, I sincerely hope it is so.

The book of Hartley "On Man" is so little read among the medical profession here, and the doctrine of "Association of Ideas," so little known or attended to, that I have been tempted to give an outline of that doctrine, connected as it is with all physiological questions.

The volume now offered to the public, will be found to contain the Elements of PHYSIOLOGICAL METAPHYSICS, the only metaphysics in my opinion worth the attention of a man of common sense. Those who have studied Hartley, Priestley, Cabanis, Destut Tracy, and Broussais, will know how to estimate the vague and wordy discussions of the Scotch school.

COLUMBIA, March 1, 1831.

THOMAS COOPER, M. D.