1865. J Human Physiology. 155 



driven into the ranks of mere mercantile or professional pursuits, for 

 the purpose of obtaining the means of subsistence for themselves and 

 their families. 



The present edition differs considerably from the last, both in the 

 omission of old valuable matter, as well as in the addition of new. 

 Thus, the chapter " On the Functions of the Cerebrum," which appeared 

 in the two last editions, is omitted in this. To students of Psycho- 

 logy, this would be really a loss, much to be regretted, had we not the 

 expression of a hope on the part of Dr. Carpenter, that he may at some 

 future time be able to expand this outline into a Manual. We have 

 always regarded Dr. Carpenter's work as particularly valuable from the 

 masterly way in which he has developed the details of the structure 

 and functions of the nervous system, and we are sure that every stu- 

 dent of the powers and operations of the mind would rejoice to have 

 such a manual from his hands. 



The new matter in this work forms a very conspicuous feature, and 

 is very creditable to the industry and intelligence of Dr. Power. In 

 the chapter on Food, considerable additions have been made to the 

 section treating of the saliva ; and the recent experiments of Bernard, 

 Adrian, and Eckard on the influence of the nervous system on this 

 secretion have been given. The experiments of Brucke and Meisner 

 on the gastric acid, and the results of the action of this fluid on fibrin 

 and albumen, are introduced. New matter has also been given with 

 regard to the action of the bile and the pancreatic juice. A considerable 

 addition has been made to the section on absorption, and an account of 

 the researches of Graham and others on Osmosis is given. In that 

 portion of the work devoted to the consideration of the blood, much of 

 the old chemical matter has been omitted, and a fuller account has 

 been given of the structure of the blood-corpuscles, and the forms of 

 blood -crystals as seen under the microscope. A considerable portion 

 of the chapters on circulation and respiration has been re-written. 

 There is a very interesting chapter by the editor, on the " Balance of 

 the Vital Economy," in which he has gone into considerable details 

 with regard to what may be called the debtor and creditor account of 

 the system. In this chapter the most recent researches of Bischoff, 

 Voit, and Banke, have been made use of, and no one can rise from its 

 perusal without feeling that such investigations are bringing us nearer 

 to an explanation of the phenomena of life, which cannot fail to be of 

 great practical value. 



There are also considerable additions to the chapters on the func- 

 tions of the liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The chapter on 

 muscular tissue has been considerably enlarged, whilst the subject of 

 generation and development has been more fully described and illus- 

 trated. In fact, everything has been done for this edition which con- 

 scientious editing could do. Nor has the publisher spared in his 

 part. Several new woodcuts have been added, and executed in a style 

 that enhances considerably the value of the volume to the student. 

 For the non-medical reader we regard Dr. Carpenter's ' Principles of 

 Physiology' as the most readable book on the subject in our language, 

 and we should be glad if any recommendation of ours would induce 



