Dunglison^s Human Physiology. 169 



estimated by those only who have, for many years, watched the pro- 

 gress of this science. In addition to the physiology, he has also given 

 a brief anatomical description of the most important and interesting 

 parts of the human body, illustrated by numerous engravings, insert- 

 ed by the side of the letter press, sufficient to enable a person, slight- 

 ly versed in anatomy, to understand the remarks which are made 

 concerning their functions. 



Another characteristic of the work is, the perfect fairness and in- 

 tegrity which is manifest upon every page. In this respect, it de- 

 serves high commendation. It is perfectly obvious, that the author 

 intended to state every fact precisely as he found it, to place the ar- 

 guments and the course of reasoning of others in the same light which 

 they themselves would have done, and to give every fact, argument 

 and opinion its due weight. This course, so different from that of 

 the mere partizan author ; of the unscrupulous or perhaps merely 

 ardent advocate of a favorite opinion ; and at the same time, so ad- 

 vantageous to the reader, saving, as it does, the necessity of referring 

 to the original, in order to verify the statements which may be made, 

 confers upon this work a large part of its value. The reader feels 

 safe in relying upon it as authority, and the inquirer after truth refers 

 to it with pleasure, feeling in no danger of inadvertent or intentional 

 deception. 



The style of the work is plain, without much attempt at ornament; 

 perhaps somewhat diffuse, but always intelligible. The language 

 rarely differs from that in common use by the best English authors. 

 In both language and style, it is, at least, equal to the best class of 

 American medical works. It is especially free from that admixture 

 of foreign words and idiomatic expressions, which are unfortunately 

 becoming so frequent among the junior members of the medical pro- 

 fession. The literature of medicine and its auxiliary branches, ap- 

 pears to be in danger of being overwhelmed by the torrent of new 

 and unauthorized language let in upon it through the medium of im- 

 perfect translations from other languages, especially the French ; of 

 translations which, from the number of words turned into English 

 only in their terminations, and of idioms not Anglicized at all, re- 

 quire, in order to understand them, almost as much knowledge of 

 the language from which they are professedly translated, as the ori- 

 ginals themselves. It is a subject of congratulation, that all error of 

 this kind has been avoided by Dr. Dunglison, and that this, which 

 Vol. XXIV.— No. 1. 22 



