273 



has led to some warm discussions, as might have been expected from 

 its title. 



Two French Treatises have been translated in this country; that 

 of Magendie by Dr. Revere, and that of Edwards by Dr. Lane. The 

 first of these authors is renowned as a bold and ingenious experi- 

 menter, but his work cannot be taken as representing the present 

 state of science. The second is a very neat elementary treatise, well 

 adapted for popular use, as far as it goes. 



A great number of physiological works have been republished. 

 Early in this century (1803), Haller's First Lines, in an English 

 translation, were reprinted at Troy, and passed into long and exten- 

 sive use as a manual ; a few years later, a translation of the popular 

 work of Richerand was published at Philadelphia (1808). Twenty 

 years after this appeared the eloquent and daring Lectures of Law- 

 rence, rendered notorious by contemporaneous disputes, but entitled 

 to better celebrity for the spirit, elegance of style, and learning which 

 they exhibit, and which render them as valuable now as when they 

 were published. The Treatise of Bostock, a learned compend of 

 the history of the science, was reprinted at Boston in 1825. The 

 tame compilation of Roget, published some years since, is much less 

 attractive than his Bridgewater Treatise, which was also reprinted in 

 this country. Three works of more recent date than any of those 

 mentioned have been republished in whole or in part, each of which 

 has high and peculiar merit. The first is the great work of Muller, 

 which, somewhat abridged, has been edited by Dr. Bell; the second, 

 the Principles of Physiology, by Dr. Carpenter; the third, the Phy- 

 siological Anatomy of Drs. Todd and Bowman. Muller's work is a 

 rare union of erudition and experimental knowledge, a Cyclopedia in 

 itself of modern physiology; Carpenter's is a vigorous and lucid digest 

 of physiological knowledge, with much more originality in its views 

 than in its facts; Todd and Bowman's is more concise, deals more in 

 facts than doctrines, and is rich in fresh and accurate observations. 

 The illustrations of both these last mentioned works are admirable — 

 those of the latter especially — which are almost all original. Among 

 the publications of a popular character those of George and Andrew 

 Combe have enjoyed and deserved the highest reputation. 



A few works have appeared on special points of physiology. One 

 of them is an Essay towards the Correct Theory of the Nervous Sys- 

 tem, by Dr. Harrison of New Orleans. The " Experiments and 

 Observations" of Dr. Beaumont should be mentioned in this con- 

 nection as the most valuable contribution ximerica has yet pre- 



