REVIEWS — DR. LAKKESTEr's LECTURES. 367 



are to be believed, who, combining the follies of teetotalism and vegetarianism 

 with the delusions of homceopathy, denounce the addition of these substances 

 to our diet." 



The lectures on tea and coffee are very interesting, as affording the 

 rational explanation of the fondness of mankind for these beverages, 

 and shewing that both as warm drinks, and on account of the theine 

 or caffeine contained in them, they are really beneficial — liable, in- 

 deed, in overdoses, to be injurious, especially to some constitutions ; 

 but, ou the whole, having so favourable an influence as to be justly 

 accounted among the real blessings of our state of civilization. Our 

 friends who only take a glass of cold water with their breakfast, think 

 themselves, no doubt, very philosophical in their simplicity. They 

 will find, however, both that the warm drink is of real advantage, and 

 that the action of tea and coffee on the nervous system, generally 

 harmless, and often beneficial, gives them a natural hold on the appe- 

 tites of humanity. The subject of narcotics occupies the last lecture. 

 Dr. Lankester does not think so badly of the use of tobacco as we do. 

 We think if he had seen as much as we have of American tobacco 

 consumers, he would not have doubted the evidence of the injurious 

 effect of the practice ; yet we are not much dissatisfied with what he 

 does say, when declining to commit himself to a statement that the 

 use of tobacco is decidedly injurious to health : — 



" If you will not, therefore, give up this habit of smoking, from motives of 

 economy, from a sense of its unseemliness, from its making your breath smell, 

 and your clothes filthy from its polluting your hands and your house, and driving 

 women and men from you who do not smoke, I dare not, as a physiologist or 

 a statist, tell you, that there exists any proof of its injurious influence when 

 used in moderation, i know how diflBcult it is to define that word moderation ; 

 and yet, in my heart I believe that every one of you has an internal monitor 

 that will guide you to the true explanation of it in your own case. The first 

 symptoms of giddiness, of sickness, of palpitation, of weariness, ^of indolence, 

 of uneasiness, whilst smoking, should induce you to lay it aside. These are 

 the physiological indications of its disagreement, which, if you neglect, you 

 may find increase upon you, and seriously embarrass your health." 



We must here close our notice of these attractive volumes, recom- 

 mending them for general perusal, as eminently fitted to inform, 



improve and entertain the reader. 



W.H. 



