The principal part of this lecture is devoted to the discussion of various points of the surgery and pathology of the thigh-bone. Necrosis, and the impropriety of amputating for it at the hip-joint, form one of these subjects. It should ever be borne in mind, that necrosis does not affect the head of the bone; and that, after amputation at any point of the diseased thigh, the sequestra, throughout its whole length, can be readily withdrawn.

The treatment of fractured thigh-bone, by placing the limb on the double inclined plane, is also described. We believe the plan to be good, and not unworthy of adoption; but, certainly, have ourselves been so uniformly successful with the long splints of Dessault, that we see no actual necessity for exchanging the one practice for the other.

These lectures, evidently the production of a thinking mind, are, we must say, somewhat defective in style and arrangement. They contain also remarks which are somewhat at variance with good taste, and sometimes not a little inconsistent with truth. "We are," says the author, "all anatomists and operators; and, from mere vacuity of ideas, and lack of something better, operations are invented; and we have eclat for them in proportion as they are protracted, deep, and bloody: I have often wished that men of science could be enticed to study anatomy; then all sorts of quackery would be put down." If the masterly operations of Sir Astley are quackery, where, we would ask, is science to be found?

Observations illustrative of the Nature and Treatment of the prevailing Disorders of the Stomach and Liver. By Thomas John Graham, M.D.-8vo. pp. 224. Callow and Wilson.

A TREATISE On fashionable disorders is always with us an object of suspicion. It is due, however, to Dr. Graham, to state that the work before us is not to be classed with the effusions of the Brodums, the Clarkes, and the Faithorns; but is qualified to impart useful information.

We remember the

That there is a fashion in physic, is too true. time when disorders were all considered as nervous. The nerves are now, comparatively, out of date; and we hear of nothing but complaints of the liver. To shew the absurdity of ascribing to the latter source certain prevailing maladies denominated bilious, is the avowed object of the present publication.

The author reprobates, and, we think with reason, the free use of calomel in the treatment of disorders of the digestive organs. From long experience of the efficacy of the vegetable alkaline pills, we cordially join with him in their recommendation; though, at the same time, we see no reason for having recourse to them, as this author advises, in the form of an empirical medicine, known by the name of Brandish's Solution. The sub-carbonate of potash, in the dose of a scruple, three times a day, will be found an inestimable medicine. The nitric acid is also recommended by Dr. Graham; the efficacy of which we have frequently witnessed.

EDUCATION.

A Practical German Grammar; or a new and easy Method of acquiring. a thorough Knowledge of the German Language. By John Rowbotham.-8vo. pp. 347. Baldwin and Co.

We have often been surprised that the German language has not been cultivated to a greater extent than it is in this country; and the more so, on account of the beautiful and classical arrangement of its construction, no less than of the mine of literary wealth which it contains, and of the pre-eminent rank which modern German authors occupy in the literary commonwealth of Europe. Mr. Rowbotham, in his preface, justly says,

"The Germans hold so high a rank in literature, science, and the arts, and their authors of eminence are so numerous in every department of human knowledge, that the study of their language has now become not merely desirable, as a matter of taste, but, in some degree, necessary to every person who has the slightest pretensions to an acquaintance with European literature. Ancillon, in his Melanges de Litterature et de Philosophie,' says of the German language, that it is rich, varied, and flexible,a language which owes to itself all its beauties,—which possesses in itself undeveloped treasures, and which is susceptible of an indefinite perfection.' Indeed, all competent judges readily admit that it possesses advantages not to be found in any of the mixed dialects of Europe; and that, in strength, copiousness, beauty, sublimity, and comprehensiveness of expression, it is surpassed by no language, ancient or modern."

Many persons have been deterred from the study of German, by its supposed difficulty; others by its presumed barbarous construction : for neither of which objections is there any just ground. The combination of the radical words in German is, in reality, of the most highly classical nature, and bears a strong resemblance to the combination of the Greek radicals. The pronunciation of the language, it is true, may be difficult; but a reading knowledge of it is easily attained. For it is the mother-tongue of the English; and out of three or four hundred roots, which, in combination, like the Greek, furnish all the words necessary for all the infinite shades of expression, we believe that one-third are either the same as aboriginal English, or are the origin of their English synonymes. Besides this, many words, doubtless, in German, in which the resemblance to English is now lost, had, probably, in ancient times, cognate words in the English tongue; and the further we trace back to their source the stream of ages, the more of this affinity we discover. The study of the German language, therefore, besides its general advantage, in a commercial, literary, and political, point of view, will be found useful as a glossary to the works of Gower, Chaucer, Lydgate, Drayton, Spenser, and the early English writers. For this and other equally cogent reasons, it has long been a subject of regret and complaint, that no good. printed German grammar existed; and this, doubtless, has been another impediment in the way of the German student. This desideratum Mr. Rowbotham has not only supplied, but supplied with ability and effect: and the literary world is highly indebted to him for the clear, precise, and comprehensive manner in which he has accomplished his task.

Crit. Gaz. Vol. 1. No. 2.

X

An Exposure of the Fallacy of the Hamiltonian System. By John Hooper Hartnell.—pp. 32.

To this attack on the Hamiltonian system of instruction, the author of that system has already replied, and with no small portion of contempt, for the Greenwich schoolmasters and their champion." Notwithstanding that a brother critic has been execrated by the indignant inventor of this system in terrorem, we shall gird up our loins for the encounter; and, as far as we are able, join the contest between the minacious parties, with the old Gothic war-cry of "Heaven defend the right!" Mr. Hamilton cannot feel a greater disdain than ourselves for that kind of learning, in which so much Greek and Latin is bound up with so much birch, and of which a wit has said, that "if you cannot hammer it into the head, you must jerk it in where you can." But does not Mr. Hamilton fall somewhat into the same generalizing system? It is in the prepared soil of the understanding that knowledge can alone thrive; and in which, infinite varieties of original capacity exist. To plant instruction in the memory only, is like hoarding seed in a granary, instead of committing it to the teeming furrow. The system of analytical translation is certainly a sound process of instruction; but the idea of this, beyond a doubt, is Locke's, and not Mr. Hamilton's; and the errors of translation to be found in Locke's Sketch, do not alter this fact. Nothing, to our view, is more fatal to any system than generalization. Perhaps, it may be admitted (and we think so), that all the European languages derived from the Latin, as French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, may be taught by an analogical process as to words, and by a systematical plan as to terminations. So also the Teutonic

family of languages, the German, the English, Danish, and Swedish; and the Oriental, whose mother tongue is the Hebrew. This is our opinion; and we ourselves have derived profit from its practice. But we should be sorry to found a universal system of education, applied to all capacities, sexes, and ages, on this hypothesis. We should as soon think of making, for all human feet, shoes of the same size. Mr. Hamilton is very angry at the imputation of quackery.

It is now too late in the great day of our social progress to act the Quixotte, or the secret vender. Those who do so must defy the peril of public ridicule.

A correct definition of words is the prime thing requisite in argument. What is quackery? Assuredly, the very reverse of the plain unpretending axiom, every day exemplified, That to attempt too many things at once, is the certain way to fail in all. The essence of quackery consists in its too general view of various complaints, like the measure proposed by Mr. Hamilton. It confounds genera with species, and species with individuals; it recognizes no shades of variety; no difference of remedy for the head, the stomach, or the foot; it pretends to embrace, in one system, a vast number of arduous and opposite enquiries; and to comprehend, by a single classification, the most anomalous and various distinctions.

Thoughts of a Parent on Education.-1 vol. small 8vo. pp. 94. Harvey and Darton.

We have perused this little work with considerable satisfaction. The seven short chapters of which it consists, are directed to the laudable object of recommending to parents the early infusion of liberal principles into the minds of their children. While the author advises that their tempers and inclinations should, in a degree, be consulted, he earnestly insists upon the necessity of aiding nature in expanding their minds, of amalgamating instruction with the gratification of their taste for pleasure, and imbuing their hearts with those sentiments which are most just, most noble, and most honourable to human

nature.

Aware as we are of the extent to which the writer of this volume is indebted to the ideas and opinions expressed in another and a larger publication on the same subject, we still feel that much praise is due to him for the new and useful suggestions which he has intermixed with what he has judiciously borrowed and ably arranged; and we only do justice to our own judgment, when we say that it would be well, were all parents to make the directions here laid down the guiding rules of their conduct towards their rising progeny.

Emblems for Children, from Scripture, Nature, and Art. By a Clergyman.

THIS publication consists of a selection of different emblems, accompanied with brief remarks. To each emblem the reverend author has subjoined a variety of scripture texts, intended for, and serving the purpose of, illustration. The choice of the latter is judiciously made, and the emblems themselves are generally in good taste, though, perhaps, the Calvinism is occasionally too highly seasoned; and, indeed, we have our doubts, whether many of the allusions to doctrinals are not much above the comprehension of children. In the preface, our early feelings and prejudices were sadly wounded at a most outré proposal for excluding the study of the Classics from the education of youth. "Oh! that some excellent, some learned, man would open a school, in which nothing should be taught our infant boys but the Bible," exclaims the fair reformist, whose authority is deemed, by the writer of the preface, as of mighty weight. For our parts, we acknowledge, that so sweeping a clause, levelled against our old favourites, is too much for our utmost gallantry. And though he may, for aught we know to the contrary, be an excellent man who would realize the lady's project, we should marvel not a little at any learned man who would undertake its execution. By the way, a perusal of the preface will give the reader a tolerably correct idea of the nature of the book. That it is the production of an enthusiast, is sufficiently evident; but, at the same time, it is only justice to declare, that it displays, throughout, the work of an elegant scholar and a sincere Christian.

PHYSIOLOGY.

Physiological Fragments: to which are added Supplementary Observations to shew that Vital and Chemical Energies are of the same Nature, and both derived from Solar Light. By John Bywater. pp. 158. Hunter.

THE author of this work is one of the theorists who believes in the vitality of atoms; which vitality he professes to have discovered, not only in atoms of organized bodies, but also in those of inorganic substances (as sand, stone, and coal,) both in their fresh and calcined state. But, as to this latter fact, we would ask, whether these linear bodies, which he considers as the vitalized portion of these substances, are not as often found in the mere water with which the atoms was moistened, as in that water, when the atoms of the calcined bodies were added to it? He further observes, that the atoms of these latter bodies do not become animated till they are exposed to the influence of the atmosphere. He illustrates these observations from accounts of the polypes and other animals; but he appears to be (as unfortunately are many of the physiological reasoners of the present day,) wholly unacquainted with the recent observations of his fellow-labourers in the vineyard of natural history. By consequence, he argues to prove things long allowed; and from this want of knowledge, makes much of his reasoning very obscure. However, we recommend the work, as containing several curious observations and theories to the notice of such of our readers as are partial to physiological investigations.

An Elementary System of Physiology. By John Bostock, M.D. F.R.S. &c. &c.-1 vol. pp. 518. Baldwin.

As the author of this excellent work observes, when we reflect upon the distinguished share which our countrymen have borne in improving the knowledge of the animal economy, it is very remarkable, that we should have had no original work in our language, presenting a systematic or connected view of modern physiology.

We congratulate the author on the perfect and luminous manner in which he has filled up this vacuum, by not only furnishing the student with a concise view of the present state of the science, and, at the same time, placing before him an account of all the most important facts and observations, as well as theories and hypotheses, which, from time to time, have been sanctioned by the authorities of eminent names.

The work is written in that pleasant style which, while it is not what is strictly called popular, contains so little that is technical, as to be generally intelligible, even to those not conversant with the medical sciences.

To the subject-matter of this volume, we find an introduction, consisting of a sketch of the history of the science, and of the plan of the work; and six chapters, the first of which treats of Membrane, as the basis of the animal fabric; the second of Bone, as the support of the body; the third of Muscle, as the moving power; and