REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
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of physical science." Experiment can be seldom satisfactorily .pursued in 
these researches, but there is a resource which, skilfully used, will gradually 
clear our way—-this is observation . By the observation of living beings we may 
arrive at almost as accurate a knowledge of their functions, as if we could experi¬ 
ment unrestrictedly; for, as Cuvier observes, the forms of animals may bo 
regarded as “so many kinds of experiments ready prepared by Nature, who adds 
to, or deducts from, each of their different parts, just as we might wish to do in 
our laboratories, showing us herself at the same time their various results.” 
In the study of the functions of living beings, Mr. Carpenter insists on the 
necessity of comprehending all organised structures, especially regarding the 
lowest forms, in which the functions of life are performed most free from those 
embarrassing influences which may be produced by the complication that takes 
place in the higher forms. We think that this is one of the most important 
features of Mr. Carpenter’s book, that in treating of the functions of living 
beings he recognises the importance of examining all organised structures, and 
makes the laws of vegetable structure and function subservient to the elucidation 
of those which exist in the animal kingdom. 
In pointing out the objects of study of the anatomist, physiologist, and 
naturalist, he observes, that the duties of the former consist in comparing “ the 
individual organs and functions through all the forms of animated beings in which 
they are manifestedwhilst the object of the naturalist “ is to ascertain the laws 
which regulate the combination of the separate organs into living fabrics, and 
govern their adaptation to different modes of existence: he therefore, viewing 
each organ in its totality , arranges similarly-formed beings into the same group, 
placing, as the character common to the whole, the points in which they agree, 
and leaving the subordinate differences to be added to this common character, in 
order to express the qualities of an individual.** This forms but a commence¬ 
ment for the higher occupation of the naturalist, the development of “ those laws 
by which the structure of the organised kingdoms of Nature is regulated.” For 
this purpose the naturalist must seek the aid of the physiologist, whilst the latter 
refers to the former for direction in his researches. As an illustration of the 
beneficial effects of this mode of research, our author justly refers to the 
natural system of Botany, as “ a beautiful example of this conjoint kind of 
investigation." 
We cannot follow Mr. Carpenter in his able and in many respects original 
views of organic structure. This subject is first treated generally; and after¬ 
wards the primary tissues in vegetables and animals ; and concludes with a brief 
but accurate survey of the vegetable and animal kingdoms. Were we disposed 
to be critical, we should feel inclined to question the propriety of some of the 
analogies the author has pointed out between the vegetable and animal kingdoms. 
