Miscellany. [Volume: 2, Issue: 8, March, 1861, pp. 465-472]

PERISCOPE OF MEDICAL AND GENERAL SCIENCE.

471

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL.
The Institutes of Medicine. By MARTYN PAINE, A.M., M.D., LL.D.,
Professor of the Institutes of Medicine and Materia Medica in the University of the City of New York, etc. etc. Sixth Edition. Harper &
Brothers, 1860. (From the author.)
The Institutes of Medicine treat of those broad principles of science
concerned in the development, preservation, and perfection of the living
organism. It includes more especially those particular branches of medical science known as physiology, pathology, hygiene, and therapeutics,
and constitutes in fact the philosophy of medicine. Its immediate object
is to thus determine the laws of health and disease, and point out the
means of preserving the former and resolving as well as preventing the
latter. In the work before us an elaborate effort has been made to unfold these great principles of medical philosophy, and, although it may
be questioned whether the fundamental doctrines taught therein do not
more fully represent the knowledge of the past than of the present, yet
they are presented in such an original, learned, and philosophic manner
that they cannot fail to instruct even when they do not convince. Independently, however, of the opinions which may be entertained respecting
the particular views inculcated in this work, the extensive erudition and
profound philosophy which characterize it, as well as the immense amount
of information it affords upon the subject of which it treats, commend
it to all interested either in speculative or applied medicine, and make it
desirable for the library of the student of biological science. The value
of this treatise is greatly enhanced by a copious analytical index which
gives a general resume of its contents, with numerous references to the
more important parts. It is printed in excellent style and is handsomely
and substantially bound.
Lectures on the Physiology and Pathology of the Central lervous
System, delivered at the Royal College of Surgeons of England in May,
1858, by C. E. BROWN-SEQUARD, M.D., F.R.S., etc. etc. Philadelphia:
J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1860.
This work consists of a series of twelve lectures upon the important
subjects indicated by its title, and contains, according to its author, the
results of the principal part of his labors since he began the study of
medicine. Though so successful in the cultivation of this particular
department of study as to be generally regarded a leader therein, yet,
like a true student of science, he expresses a wish for more enlarged information thereupon, and desires any one who has any knowledge upon
the recondite subjects treated of to present such to the profession in order
to thus more speedily and positively settle the many important questions
still sub judice. With regard to the merit of these prelections it is scarcely
necessary to say more than that they are of such high scientific and practical value as to render them of peculiar interest to the physiologist,
pathologist, and therapeutist. The typography is good, illustrations
superior, and binding neat and in keeping with the rest of the work.
Price $2 25.