REVIEWS. 
221 
views of Richardson, Lister, Nasse, Brucke, Polli, and the more recent 
ones of Schmidt, are well detailed. Dr. Kirkes does not appear to favour 
any one of the opinions put forward by various authors, in respect to the 
cause of the first sound of the heart ; but while he admits the plausibility 
of Dr. Halford’s theory, he conceives that, — 
“ The safest theory to be at present adopted, with regard to the first sound 
of the heart, is that which admits the co-operation of several coincident 
agencies in its production.” 
Professor Savory’s recent observations on the influence of certain kinds 
of food are alluded to. We cannot, however, concur in the author’s 
opinion, that they disprove Liebig’s theory ; as we believe, that while it 
is possible to prepare pure non-azotized food, purely nitrogenous materials 
are not so easy of production. In regard to the glycogenic function of the 
li er, we must say that we still look upon the matter as unsettled : Dr. 
Pavy’s experiments were carried out with such precision, that we admit 
being unable now' to accept either doctrine. The student will be pleased 
to find that the beautiful researches of Dr. B. Sequard are described 
by Dr. Kirkes, and are accompanied by an explanatory diagram, from the 
treatise of the former. In cases like the present, a comparisons are 
odorous ; ” but, even at the risk of being accused of partiality, w*e 
contend that there is no better work for students and practitioners than 
that of Dr. Kirkes. It possesses a copious index, and a list of refer- 
ences to the various English and Continental books and periodicals in 
which may be found the original memoirs on which the views expressed 
in the “Handbook of Physiology” are supported. 
A MANUAL OF ZOOLOGY.* 
A SECOND edition of the English translation of M. Milne-Edwards’s 
book has lately coine out. It is in part a posthumous work, for 
the original translator, Dr. Knox, died before the proofs had all passed 
through the press ; and the labour of editor then devolved on Mr. C. 
Carter Blake. There have been so many persons engaged in bringing out 
this work, that we might naturally have anticipated a valuable result. We 
are sorry to say that we have been disappointed. Dr. Knox, though him- 
self a first-class comparative anatomist, was but a poor zoologist ; and, 
to judge from Mr. Carter Blake’s revision of the volume, we should 
I not say he w 7 as remarkably conversant with the progress which zoology 
has made during the past eight or ten years. When a new edition of a 
scientific book makes its appearance, we generally dip into its pages with 
the assurance that we shall find considerable alterations in the text, and 
old views abandoned, and more philosophic and firmly based ones substi- 
tuted for them. We cannot say this of Mr. Renshaw’s new publication. 
With the exception of about half-a-dozen new sketches and a few harum- 
* “A Manual of Zoology.” By M. Milne-Edwards. Translated from 
the last French edition by R. Knox, M.D. Second edition. Edited by 
C. Carter Blake, F.G.S., &c. London ; Renshaw. 1863. 
VOL. III. — NO. X. Q 
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