Retrospect of French JJterature. 

 ietanus, a formidable accident, and re- 



651 



cognized ever since die liine of Hippo- 

 crates, as generally irremediable. 



The liydrocele, a disorder as common 

 asnt is without danger, has nevertheless 

 its inconvenience, as well as deformity. 

 It is only where the patient is determined 

 to be radically cured, that Art has occa- 

 sion to make the best choice, and the 

 best use of the means proposed to attain 

 it. These means vary greatly: injec- 

 tions had hitherto appeared the best; 

 but M. Larrey has discovered, that, leav- 

 ing in the puncture a tube of Indian 

 rubber, always open, to draw off conti- 

 nually Itie water of the hydrocele, there 

 is obtained, by the continual approxi- 

 mation of the parts, an adhesive mtiain- 

 nisttion, like that which results from the 

 injection, but with less pain. M. Larrey 

 cites a great number of successtul 

 cases. 



One of the last objects claimed by 

 M. Larrey as his own, is the fistula in 

 tmu; tor the treatment of which he ap- 

 plies to the true principles of the art, 

 adding some improvements of his own. 



Tins work of M. Larrey, in three voli. 

 contains, besides, many other uselul ob- 

 jects, and all of the greatest interest, 

 even W'hen they refer only indirectly to 

 the art of healing. The work proves the 

 science, the experience, and indefati- 

 gable zeal of this celebrated practi- 

 tioner, vthose fame has been long esta- 

 blished. 



Dksertation sur les Odeurs, S^c. 

 Dissertation on Smells, on the Semes, and 

 the Organs of Ulf'uction ; by Dr. Clo. 

 ^uet, SfC. 4to, Pans, 1816. 

 Dn'. Cloqui;t is a youn;; man, who by 

 the union ot ;;enius and study has ac- 

 quired a brilliant reputation at an age 

 when many with ditticuliy pass an exu- 

 niination. Since the a])pearance of the 

 present work he has published a Treatise 

 of Descriptive Ana t()niy,1ii{;tily esteemed; 

 and we regret that we cannot, in the pre- 

 sent number, offer an analysis of it to 

 our readers. Never, assuredly, was so 

 much learning displayed on odours. The 

 author's general knowledge has made him 

 cull authorities and quotations of all 

 kinds and from all sources; and his 

 work is not only distinguished by its 

 learning but its method. Whatever con- 

 cerns (he olfactory functions, or impres- 

 aiQnsonthen), is traced with marked skill 

 and ability, which will amply repay the 

 perusal of the medical and non-mcdicill 

 leader. 



GREEK CLASSICS'i 



CEuvres Completes de Xenophon, tra- 

 duites en Francois, et accompugnies dit 

 Texte Grcc, de la Version Lutine de 

 Notes Critiques, ^-c. 

 Thewliole Works of Xenophon, translated 

 into French, and accompanied wtth the 

 Greek Text, the Latin Version, Criti. 

 cat Notes, the various Readings of alt 

 the Manuscripts in the Royal Lih-ury, 

 Plans of BallUs, Geographical Charts, 

 Fac-similies of curious tireek MSS, 

 and engraved Frontispieces to the dif^ 

 fererit Treaises cf Xenophon, 4-c. ^c. 

 % /. B. Gail, Member of' the Lisli. 

 tule, Royal Greek Professor, one of 

 the Conservators of the Greek MSS. at 

 the Royal Library, Knight of the Le* 

 gwn of Honor and of the Order of St. 

 Wiadomir of Russia, ,^c. ^c. 10 vols, 

 in 4to. Pans, 1816. — Price, in boards^ 

 160 Jrancs ; on vellum paper, 320 

 francs. 



The art of criticism, like the science of 

 matiiematics, is divided into pure and 

 mixed. Tlie pure regards the work inde« 

 pendent of the author; the mixed enters 

 into personal considerations relative oe. 

 foreign to the work, according to the 

 judgment or caprice of the critic. Both 

 these metnods have their advantages s 

 the first, indeed, is the more legitimate; 

 but the second is tiie more interesting. 

 The former is a record which will bear 

 the te=t of ages; the latter a document 

 subject to be confirmed, modified, or 

 abandoned with the generation that gavd 

 it birth, because the passions of the critic* 

 enter into his decision. Yet perhaps, 

 for this very reason, the latter mode will 

 always have the most admirers. The 

 reader wishes to know, independent of 

 the work, wliac is the character of tha 

 author, and lie demands the critic's aid to 

 intorm him whether it is some charlatan. 

 Covered with the mantle of false learning, 

 or modest merit, seeking truth rather thau 

 fame, who claims lus attention ; and,di(i 

 not fritntlship, envy, and ignorance, 

 alike present itdse mirrors, mixed criti- 

 cism would he even more valuable than 

 the pure, as including an important por- 

 tion ol biograpiiy. — Uophig to steer clear 

 of the shoals we have pointed out, we 

 propose to adopt the latter lorm, as with 

 us the passions can have but little influ- 

 ence: we only know M. Gail and hi» 

 adversaries from their works; and bj 

 their works, therefore, we will judge 

 them. 

 TJ»« name of Gail has lone been fami- 

 1^ ijv 



