257 



or a dozen times a quarter for an indefinite period, is more than 

 mortal stamina can support. The natural inference is, that no jour- 

 nal should be established which has not a pretty wide intellectual 

 constituency to support it, unless it wishes to live upon the common 

 stock without contributing a fair proportion in its turn. 



In connection with the subject of periodical literature, it is proper 

 to introduce the reports of societies and of public institutions. The 

 Summary of the Transactions of the College of Physicians of Phila- 

 delphia, has been made familiar to most medical readers, either 

 directly or through the large extracts from its pages to be found in 

 the journals. Its reports are often of much value; as instances, that 

 of Dr. Condie upon the protective powers of vaccination, and of Dr. 

 Parrish upon varioloid, both contained in the same number, (Sept. 

 to Nov. 1846,) and that of Efts. Bell and Condie on cholera, maybe 

 referred to. The transactions of the State Medical Society of New 

 York contain many important papers, especially in the department 

 of statistics, and local medical history. The Massachusetts Medical 

 Society has continued to publish its communications from time to 

 time for the last forty years. Among them are contained the Report 

 on Spotted Fevers, so frequently cited by medical historians ; Dr. 

 Warren's cases of Diseased Heart, presenting the first distinct notice 

 of that class of affections which was taken in this country after the 

 epoch of Corvisart's remarkable treatise ; Dr. Prescott's paper upon 

 Ergot ; Dr. Jackson's report on Typhoid Fever, in the words of Dr. 

 Bartlett "altogether the most important contribution which has been 

 made to the history of the continued fever of New England;" Dr. 

 Hale's remarks on the Pathology of the same disease, "particularly 

 valuable for its minute and careful description of some of the more 

 characteristic physical signs, and of the intestinal lesions;" the Re- 

 port on epidemic cholera; Dr. Ware's elaborate Essay on Delirium 

 Tremens, and Dr. Bigelow's Address upon Self-limited Diseases. 



Here also may be mentioned the numerous reports from thie 

 Insane Asylums, which of late years have been growing up in many 

 States of the Union. The character of the men who have been 

 selected to manage these institutions, reflects the highest honour on 

 the medical profession which furnished them. It would be difficult 

 to find any body of public servants, combining a greater amount of 

 benevolent spirit and intellectual capacity than the superintendents 

 of these asylums. In the department of the Medical Jurisprudence 

 of Insanity, we find Dr. Ray generally recognized as a classical 

 authority; New York has placed over her State Institution one of 



