384 
EDITORIAL. 
The  Action  of  Medicines  in  the  System ;  or  "  On  the  mode  in  ivJiich  Therapeu- 
tic Agents  introduced  into  the  Stomach  produce  their  peculiar  effects  on  the 
Animal  Economy P  Being  the  Prize  Essay  toiohich  the  Medical  Society  of 
London  awarded  the  Fothergillian  Gold  Medal  for  1852.  By  Frederick 
William  Headland,  B.  A.,  M.  R.  C.  S.,  &c.  Philadelphia:  Lindsay  & 
Blakiston,  1853,  pp.  360. 
There  are  few  subjects  weighted  with  greater  difficulties  than  the  one  dis- 
cussed by  the  author  in  the  volume  before  us.  Tracing  the  effects  of  a 
single  medicine  after  its  introduction  into  the  system,  involves  so  many 
observations  under  obscure  circumstances,  that  the  most  favorable  results 
give  but  a  very  partial  insight  into  the  actual  happening  that  has  taken 
place.  At  best,  therefore,  the  therapeutist  can  but  approximate  to  the  real 
history  of  the  course  of  action  of  medicinal  agents  after  their  introduction 
into  the  stomach  ;  yet  so  numerous  have  been  the  observers,  so  interesting  is 
the  subject,  and  so  important  are  deemed  the  facts  to  the  progress  of  rational 
medicine,  that  the  accumulation  of  observations  justify  an  attempt  at 
generalizing.  The  work  of  Dr.  Headland  is  such  an  one,  and  that  it  has  been 
deemed  a  successful  one  the  award  of  the  London  Society  stands  in  evidence. 
The  author  has  arranged  his  views  in  ten  propositions,  (which  we  have 
not  space  to  present  to  the  reader,)  to  the  support  of  which  he  brings  nume- 
rous facts  and  arguments.  The  work  possesses  much  interest,  and  should  be 
studied  carefully  by  every  physician  who  would  keep  himself  posted  up  in 
the  literature  of  his  profession. 
A  Treatise  on  General  Pathology  by  Dr.  J.  IXenle,  Prof  of  A.natomy  and 
Physiology  in  Heidelburg,    Translated  from  the  German  by  H.  C.  Pres- 
ton, A.  M.,  M.  D.  Philada. :  Lindsay  &  Blakiston,  1853.  pp.390.  Octavo. 
The  translator  has  a  high  opinion  of  the  merits  of  the  author  "  as  a  dis- 
tinguished medical  teacher,  and  the  best  modern  pathological  author/'  The 
corroboration  of  the  latter  assertion  we  leave  to  the  physician  ;  yet  if  his 
translator  has  done  him  justice,  we  fear  Dr.  Ilenle's  style  of  writing  is  too 
vague  and  imperspicuous  to  render  his  learning  profitable  to  his  readers. 
Obituary. — Our  last  number  contained  an  account  of  an  act  of  munificence 
on  the  part  of  M.  Orfila,  by  which  several  scientific  bodies  of  France 
received  donations,  and  which  was  effected  on  the  1st  of  January.  It  now 
becomes  our  duty  to  record  the  death  of  this  great  Toxicological  Chemist 
and  Philosopher,  who  died  on  the  12th  of  March,  in  his  70th  year.  A  Spa- 
niard by  birth  and  education,  he  early  went  to  Paris,  in  which  city  his  great 
reputation  as  a  teacher  and  investigator  was  made.  Orfila  was  one  of  the 
Editors  of  the  "Journal  de  Chimie  Medicale,"  and  the  author  of  several 
works  ;  yet  that  on  Toxicology  is  perhaps  the  one  upon  which  his  reputa- 
tion most  depends.  As  a  lecturer  he  was  fluent,  witty  and  full  of  anecdote, 
using  a  great  variety  of  experimental  illustrations  ;  and  being,  in  the  words 
of  Mr.  Ince,  "the  beau  ideal  of  a  popular  man,"  his  lectures  were  well 
attended. 
