140 Notice of British Naturalists. 
The “ Scotia Illustrated,” although the labor of twenty years, 
manifests but a small acquaintance with the natural arrangement 
of the subject ; and it contains many of the errors of system of the 
older writers. Each general term is not only strictly defined, but 
each genus and order are traced back to their original cause. 
Thus we find one chapter, to introduce an account of the Scotch 
rivers and brooks, headed, “ De aqua dulci”— On Fresh Wa- 
ter,” and informing us that “the necessity for fresh water is very 
great, that both men and wild beasts, and even plants themselves, 
may drink thereof and be irrigated.” Another, the first chaptet 
on animals, is headed, “ De hominum dignitate et prestantia,” 
and includes an account of the creation of man, and his superior 
worth and dignity in comparison with the inferior orders. 
But Sibbald was not only a naturalist, he was a physician 
by profession ; and it was not to be expected that he would 
omit all mention of a subject to which he had dedicated his life. 
At that time there was scarcely any ,production of the earth, 
the air, or the water, which was not pressed into service. In this 
respect, and in this department, we are perhaps more deeply 
indebted to the new and enlightend laws of science, than in any 
others whatever. 
Absurd and ridiculous remedies were still in vogue in the time 
of Sibbald. Inone instance, he recommends the foam ofa horse, 
taken fresh from its mouth, and mixed with oil of roses, as 2 cur 
for.the ear ache. In another, the liver of a mad dog eaten cooked, 
as a preservative against the fear of water. Again he prescribes 
the skin of a mad dog in the same rabid state, prepared with ga¥s 
and alum, as a preventive against the gout. 
We do not think, that as a science, Natural History owes much 
to this work ; and it is not only an instance, how little can either 
be accomplished -without fixed principles ; but also of the many 
errors into which any one must fall, who for himself neglects 0 
reflect upon his own observations. It is interesting to observe 
the then medical condition of Scotland, when so few appeared 
to see for themselves whatever is either beautiful or excellent 
in the world around them, and to form conclusions from their = 
experiments and remarks. He who has succeeded in exciting 
a more general attention to any given subject, has opened the WaY 
; ; ; 6 
to improvement. When men are once induced to think, ee 
gre 
will both reason correctly, and strike out new ideas. The : 
