BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 173 



tend to obviate, and direct him in the proper path. Indeed, it is some- 

 what surprising, that the Senate of the University of London, many of 

 whom have distinguished themselves as Microscopic observers, and have 

 gained their laurels by the use of the instrument, have not made it requi- 

 site for students in human, vegetable, and comparative anatomy and 

 physiology, to attend at least one course, even were it to consist only 

 of twelve lectures on the Microscope. Such a proceeding in the Metro- 

 polis would materially lead to the most beneficial results, as it would 

 create a desire for investigation among students and professors, who 

 for the most part are ignorant of the actual appearance and nature of 

 the structures, of which in theory they may be so well versed. The 

 time is, we feel convinced, not far distant, when the Microscope will be 

 considered as essential as the scalpel in the hand of the anatomist. 



Dr. Bennett, in the pamphlet before us, has taken every pains to 

 detail the ignorance which prevails among those who are fully con- 

 versant with book-knowledge, and the inspection of plates of structure, 

 but who are entirely unacquainted with the objects themselves, and cites 

 examples in substantiation of his assertions. He then enters, in a very 

 general and popular manner, on the history and importance of micro- 

 scopic investigations in the study of anatomy, physiology, pathology, 

 and the practice of the profession; in which he gives an excellent 

 though very general summary of the existing state of Microscopic 

 Science in these departments. 



To those interested in such details, we strongly recommend the per- 

 usal of this pamphlet, and again express our wish, that the laudable 

 object Dr. Bennett has commenced, in the establishing of a Class for 

 Microscopic research in Edinburgh, may be attended with that success 

 it so richly deserves. 



The Principles of Botany, Structural, Functional, and Systematic. By 

 W.Hughes Willshire, M.D., Edinburgh, M.B.S., Lecturer on Botany 

 at the Charing Cross Hospital, #c. London : S. Highley, Fleet St. 

 12mo., woodcuts, pp. 233. 



THE work before us has been written with a view to supply a defi- 

 ciency existing in treatises of Botany, for the student in medicine, and 

 graduate of the University. Its title conveys its objects very precisely. 

 The structural portion is replete with the most recent important infor- 

 mation to the time of its publication, embracing the views of late pro- 

 mulgated by the German and French authors, given in a condensed and 

 abstract form. As a consequence of the manner in which the struc- 

 tural portion is treated, the author's views of the physiology of plants 

 deserve equal notice, and exhibit his intimate acquaintance with the sub- 

 ject. The systematic arrangement is essentially natural. 



An abstract account is given of all those orders, under which the 

 officinal plants are arranged, together with a list of those admitted in the 

 London Pharmacopeia ; the general properties of each order are given 

 in a very general though condensed form, sufficient, however, to convey 



