-&SCULAPIUS. 497 



matter, has also expanded his domain immensely, and the 

 microscope appears in triumph with its beautifully-exhausted 

 and subjugated cell, whose last phantastic phase it has dis- 

 covered, whose deepest secret of structure and combination 

 it has told. For the expansions in the department of organ- 

 ized bodies, consult the works of the physiologists and anat- 

 omists, vegetable and animal. For profound and rational 

 dissertations on the vital powers, see the extensive literature 

 of the medical profession, the philosophers, and physiophi- 

 losophers. Surely in the wake of all this light must follow 

 the exhaustive analysis, and true philosophy of the impon- 

 derables, and their connection with the ponderables, both in 

 the worlds of organic and inorganic matter 1 Then, also, 

 must come the greatest consummation, the true end of sci- 

 ence, the answer to the long and agonizing prayer of the 

 intellect, the philosophy and practical application of the 

 imponderables as protective and curative agents, or real 

 hygienic and therapeutic powers of the world. 



In the mean time there are not wanting systems full of 

 pretenses and impertinent affectations of philosophies of all 

 things, and, multitudinous as the world is in many things, it 

 is not least productive in dreams of vital poioers, theories 

 of imponderables, " philosophies of spiritual manifesta- 

 tions," "mesmerisms," and nothingisms, mushrooms of the 

 night, with medical theories built thereon, that affect to have 

 unlocked the secrets of Nature, and hold the keys to the 

 "realms of shade." And here, as ever, in the thick dark- 

 ness, " birds of evil omen are upon the wing ; the dead walk, 

 the living dream." The problem to solve for the genius of 

 the history of medical science of the present time, is the true 

 significance, the positively philosophical exposition of the 

 pompous pretenses that have assumed the names of new 

 medical systems or theories, and new philosophies of spirit 

 and matter. The regular profession, coming from antiquity, 

 hoary-headed with years, wise according to the ancients, and 

 having the intellect and conservative forces of the whole 

 past to indorse it, is now beset by legions of parasites, 



42* 



