REVIEWS. 
589 
purpose than to illustrate, in the end, the immutability of the 
laws which from all time have ruled the universe, and are 
destined to work out the one purpose subservient to which 
are all events, however inexplicable to the limited human un- 
derstanding. 
If the national calamities which have befallen us of late, 
can be said as yet to have tended to inculcate any Moral in 
particular, it is that the old aphorism, knowledge is pov:er, 
has been too little reverenced — not sufficiently held as the 
great rule of practice, from which individuals, societies, and 
nations cannot deviate without incurring the greatest of 
risks. Gold, arms, strategy, diplomacy are not power ; they 
are but instruments, and like all other instruments quite as 
suited to destroy as to form, to annihilate as to save, unless 
those who employ them do so with the full light of know- 
ledge. 
Anybody who will take the trouble to examine attentively 
the present state of things, will perceive that however much 
parties differ in other points, they agree on this grand one — 
knowledge is the want of the day — of the hour ; and that in 
every walk of life. Each man to his own business, — one 
duty for each, and that well discharged. Plain truths: now 
is the time for practice. 
So far from there being any danger that the arts of w r ar 
will long divert the popular attention, it is certain that, so 
soon as the storm lulls, crews and single hands will be called 
to account, and then will those who, in their respective de- 
partments, have most sedulously nursed and multiplied the 
fruits of the human understanding, have fresh cause for being- 
steadfast to the belief that the original conception of the. 
Creator must be fulfilled. 
Never was an academic year entered upon with greater 
responsibility than the present — never with greater hope. The 
seed of learning cannot be sown too generally or too rapidly 
to fulfil the public want. Hence we hail with peculiar satis- 
faction every sign of progress, and such a sign undoubtedly 
is the second edition of Mr. Erichsen’s Science and Art of 
Surgery/ fresh from the press. In four short sessions has the 
xxx. 78 
