134 



Art. X. ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC BOOKS. 



Lectures on Comparative Anatomy, in which arc explained the pre- 

 parations in the Hunterian Collection, illustrnted by Engravings ; 

 to which is subjoined " Synopsis Systematic Regui Animalis nunc 

 prirnumex Ovi Modificationibus propositu?n," by Sir Everard 

 Home Bart. V.P.R.S., F.S.A., F.L.S., ike. 



These lectures were read before the College of Surgeons, in the years 

 1810, 1813, and 1822, and they contain a connected view of those 

 discoveries and researches in physiology and comparative anatomy, 

 communicated by the author to the Royal Society, and which, 

 since the year 1784, have from time to time made their appearance 

 in the Philosophical Transactions. They now form four splendid 

 volumes in quarto, two of letter press, and two of illustrative en- 

 gravings, from the admirable drawings of Messrs. Bauer and Clitt. 



Although the first two volumes were published several years ago, 

 we are not aware of their having been noticed in any periodical 

 journal or review ; we shall therefore endeavour to give a succinct 

 account of the whole work, which is the more necessary, as many of 

 the inquiries, commenced in the first volume, are continued and 

 concluded in the third. The following is the order in which the 

 author has arranged his subjects. 



1. The structure of parts connected with motion. 



2. The structure of parts connected with digestion. 



3. The Blood. 



4. The Brain and Nerves. 



5. The organs of Seeing and Hearing. 



6. The Heart. 



7. Generation. 



8. Classification of Animals. 



Before we enter upon our analysis of the author's experiments and 

 observations on these very different topics, we must beg leave to 

 express our regret that he has not distinguished these inquiries, 

 which are entirely and peculiarly his own, from those which were 

 commenced, or suggested, by the late John Hunter, from whom he 

 drew his first sources of information, and to whom he evidently owes 

 much of that diligence in inquiry, and activity in research, which 

 stamps his philosophical investigations, no less than his eminent 

 professional career. We should also have been better pleased had 

 lie told us a little more of the discoveries of other anatomists and 

 physiologists ; such information, accompanied by proper references 

 to authorities, would have added to the value and interest of the 

 work before us, and we regret that our own time is too much 



