In the treatises before us the author ascends to higher ground; indeed, if that which the title-page indicates were actually realized, the discovery, namely, of the law of nutrition, Mr. Addison would have accomplished for the science of organic life, what the law of definite proportion has effected for chemistry, and that of gravitation for matter generally, and might therefore claim a place by the side of Newton and Dalton. But such is not the case. We say this in no unfriendly spirit, or as implying any censure beyond what must attach to an undue indulgence in hypothesis; for no physiologist, who knows the amount of exact information we possess, and who is unbiassed by partial views, will hesitate in giving expression to his opinion, that the time has not yet arrived for the enunciation of the principle of nutrition. And this being so, it is merely an encumbrance to have theories framed, which must be cleared away, lest they should, by misleading, impede, as in similar cases they always have done, the progress of science.

We may add that the present is rather an inauspicious time for the appearance of a first, second, and third series of "Researches" upon the recondite matters here treated of; for cautious observers have had their faith in such transcendental speculations, not a little shaken by a somewhat similar series respecting the metamorphoses of the red corpuscles and the hypothesis of the double spiral of Dr. M. Barry.

In making this assertion we in no degree participate in the somewhat ungenerous attempts which have been made to depreciate the high merits of the last-named eminent physiologist as an original and successful cultivator of embryology: we wish simply to express our conviction of the evils which must result from attempting to establish general laws upon such totally insufficient grounds as we find in these Researches." Many of our readers are doubtless acquainted with the leading views of Mr. Addison, as these have from time to time appeared in the weekly and other periodicals: this circumstance will render any lengthened notice in this place unnecessary.

The author contends that both the fibrin and the serum of the blood are contained, during the circulation, in the colourless, or lymph corpuscles; that when blood is drawn from its containing vessels, the colourless corpuscles, "from the sudden change of temperature to which they are exposed, or from some other causes, burst and discharge their contents, consisting of liquor sanguinis and molecules;" and that the fibrin then assuming a solid form, "very shortly fibrillates," and so effects the coagu. lation.

"What, then, it may be asked, is the nature of the liquid in which the corpuscles move when in the living vessels? It is impossible to determine: for it cannot be procured for experimental examination without being mingled with corpuscles, nor, according to these views, without some of them bursting and mingling with it their own contents." P. 8, Second Series.

That the colourless particles form an important part of the blood; that they are cells containing some particular matter; that they are greatly accumulated during the inflammatory condition, and consequently where the fibrin is augmented in quantity; and that they become frequently ruptured after their removal from the blood-vessels, is abundantly proved in these researches, and by those of other observers. But we do not conceive

that the position, namely-that the fibrin and serum are, during the circulation, contained in the above-named corpuscles, is in any degree proved as a fact. Such an opinion is opposed to the generally-received views, and especially to those of a most careful microscopist, Mr. Wharton Jones, who, it is well known, contends that fibrin is elaborated by the metamorphosing powers of the red, and not of the colourless particles.

Mr. Addison has discovered very interesting movements of the minute molecules contained in the colourless corpuscles of the blood, and also in corpuscles found in various other fluids-as that of inflamed pimples, of the vesicles of shingles, &c. The following is an account of these motions as seen in a drop of blood taken from the leg of a young woman suffering from Erythema Nodosum.

"I found in it nearly as many colourless-cells as red ones. The colourlesscells were uniformly molecular, smaller than the mucous-cells in saliva; but, like them, filled with a number of minute dark objects or molecules. I added a drop of water at the temperature of 90, having one drop of liquor potassæ to the ounce. The colourless-cells gradually increased in size; and in the course of from three to five minutes, by very careful attention, I could see, in the majority of them, very active motions among the contained molecules. I also saw some of them open and discharge myriads of minute active molecules, without any immediate alteration in their figure or appearance. The motions of the molecules remaining in the interior of the cells, however, gradually ceased after this event, and the cells slowly changed, showing large coarse granules, or discs." P. 3, Third Series.

Motions similar to those here described have been noticed by other, and some of them earlier, observers. Thus Schwann saw them among the granules contained in the cells of the germinal membrane of the hen's egg; and Dr. Todd and Mr. Bowman state, in their "Physiological Anatomy," (p. 60,) that a molecular motion of the same kind may be seen in the very minute granules, which occupy the cells of the membrana pigmenti of the choroid coat. We have ourselves seen very active motions of the same kind in cells taken from a malignant growth of the penis, where they were first noticed by an intelligent friend, and by him pointed out to the writer. It is difficult to assign the true cause of these remarkable movements, which offer a most interesting microscopic phenomenon. Brown's molecular motion occurring equally, as it does, in extremely minute particles of matter, whether organic or inorganic, is evidently not of a vital character; in fact, it is known to depend upon the evaporation of the fluid, in which it is requisite, in order to produce the movements, the particles should be immersed. In the case before us the corpuscles in which the phenomenon takes place, are exposed in the manipulation necessary to prepare the object for the microscope to the influence of causes, such as evaporation, and, in some cases, to endosmose, which are in themselves efficient to produce the movements under consideration; and it is to these physical causes, which, in the case of molecules varying from the to the 5000 and 20 of an inch, are all powerful, we are inclined to attribute these motions rather than to any vital influence. The notion of Dr. Houston, apparently adopted by the author, that the molecules are self-active, and perform "voluntary evolutions," we hold to be totally fallacious.

A large part of these researches consists of experiments to prove the identity of mucous and pus globules with the colourless corpuscles of blood; or rather, we might say, to shew that these said corpuscles, called by the author "nutritive particles," are the common source of all parts of the body-fibrous tissue, mucus, saliva and "other secretions," and epithelia ; and, as these wonder-working corpuscles, also, elaborate and contain all the fibrin and albumen of the blood, also of muscle, nerve and so forth. This is one of those sweeping generalizations, springing from a favourite hypothesis, which have become rife in late years owing to the novelty and interest attaching to the use of the powerful and excellent microscopes now constructed. All we can say is, that, after going through these two treatises, we hold most of the positions to be "non proven;" many of them rest only upon hypothesis; and of a few only can it be predicated, that they are supported by sufficient facts to give them some reasonable ground of probability. Mr. Addison finds that, if equal parts of pus and liquor potassæ be well mingled together, they form "a transparent and exceedingly plastic compound-mucus or tissue." (3rd Series, p. 17.) Further, that in this way is produced "a most delicate, thin, transparent and highly elastic fibrous membrane, exactly resembling some of the thin transparent membranes of the embryo, except in the presence of blood-vessels, or the structureless basement membrane of Mr. Bowman." That a film may thus be formed we doubt not, but it is by no means thence proved that it is an organized membrane; at all events, such an inference seems to be opposed to the observations of one whom we must hold to be a better authority in a question like this, Mr. J. Goodsir, who affirms that the basement membrane is the result of the aggregation and condensation of nucleated cells.

Some of Mr. Addison's experiments on inflammation have given interesting results, though the value of these, as elsewhere, is lessened by the intermixture of speculations which are not proved, and which we hold to be most improbable; such, for example, that the red corpuscles of the blood are not only detained in the inflamed vessels, but that, passing through the friable walls of the capillaries, they enter into the composition of the surrounding tissue. (Second Series, p. 59). A change is described as occurring in the blood in consequence of irritation, which is important, as showing a condition not before noticed, so far as we are aware, and which may be one of the causes of the obstruction that follows the application of a stimulus to the capillary vessels: we allude to a thickening and stickiness which occur in the blood under these circumstances, and which the author attributes to the accumulation of colourless cells and numerous molecules. (3rd Series, p. 83).

The main result which Mr. Addison aims at obtaining by all these multitudinous and somewhat laboured researches, is the establishment of a theory of nutrition. Our limits will not allow us to follow the author through all these details, and we must therefore rest satisfied with stating that he conceives the colourless corpuscles of the blood more or less modified to be the grand source of all nutritious matter; that the colourless blood-corpuscles adhere to the tissue forming the boundary of the blood-channels; that they pass into, and contribute to form the tissue (that is, the parietes of the capillaries), and are afterwards evolved or thrown off from the nearest

free surface-a follicle, crypt, or duct; the epithelial scales and the mucus, or the secretions flowing from the follicles or ducts, being the result of the dissolution of the cells and tissues. We must express distinctly our conviction, that no such passage of colourless corpuscles through the walls of the capillaries ever does in reality take place. Those who have carefully studied the appearance which these vessels present when examined by the microscope will, we think, agree with us in this conviction. In whatever part of the body the capillaries are thus inspected, they present limiting walls as definitely marked as the neurilemma of the primary nervous tubules; and through walls thus disposed, it is difficult to conceive of the transmission of bodies having the size and character of the colourless corpuscles. It is likewise necessary to point out that the theory of nutrition here advocated is opposed to the views flowing from Schwann's researches into the genesis of the nucleated cell; at least it seems to us difficult to reconcile the exact and satisfactory investigations upon this latter process, with Mr. Addison's account of the production of the epithelium and other tissues.

In conclusion we may remark, that although the grandiloquent and Baconian style adopted by the author, and his frequent indulgence in speculation and inference which the facts adduced in no degree support, greatly deteriorate the value of these researches, they are well worthy of the attention of all who are interested in the progress of minute anatomy.

A SYSTEM OF SURGERY. By J. M. Chelius, Doctor in Medicine and Surgery, Public Professor of General and Ophthalmic Surgery, Director of the Chirurgical and Ophthalmic Clinic in the University of Heidelberg, &c. &c. Translated from the German, and accompanied with additional Notes and Observations. By John F. South, Surgeon to St. Thomas's Hospital. 8vo. Parts I. & II., pp. 208. Renshaw, 1845.

THIS work has long been the chief text-book on surgery in the principal schools of Germany, and the publication of five editions of it in the original and of translations into no less than eight foreign languages, show the high estimation in which it is held. As a systematic work on surgery it has merits of a high order. It is methodical and concise-and on the whole clear and accurate. The most necessary information is conveyed in the shortest and simplest form. Minor details and fruitless speculations are avoided. It is, in fact essentially a practical book. This work was first published nearly twenty years ago, and its solid and permanent reputation has no doubt led Mr. South to undertake the present translation of the latest edition of it, which, we are informed, is still passing through the press in Germany. We should have felt at a loss to select any one better qualified for the task than the Translator of Otto's Compendium of

Human and Comparative Pathological Anatomy,-a surgeon to a large hospital, whose industry and opportunities have enabled him to keep pace with the improvements of his time. In a work like the one under review, which is intended chiefly as a class-book for students, however excellent the original may be, some additions and corrections are required in a translation. The principles of surgery must of course equally apply in all countries and climates; still, the character of the practice in Germany, Great Britain and France differs to such an extent, that the directions suited for the practitioners in one country would not altogether meet the views of those in another. The necessity for these corrections, if frequent, interferes, however, with the utility of the work, and to a certain extent renders the translation unsuited to be an elementary book for students, who should indeed be informed of the latest improvements in surgery, but whose attention ought not to be distracted by critical remarks and cautions against adopting the views recommended in the text. The length of Mr. South's notes will perhaps surprise our readers. In the first thirty pages, they bear a proportion to the text of about two-thirds to one-third, consisting chiefly of compilations from the works of the most recent writers on inflammation. Now, if so much additional matter were required to adapt the work for English readers, we think that the indefatigable translator might, without much increase of labour, have himself written a systematic book on surgery, which would be more useful and more acceptable to the rising generation of surgeons than the work he has translated and edited. We think too, that these very copious notes affect the character of the original. They clearly indicate its poverty and insufficiency, and if they render the translation more comprehensive than the original, they likewise render it less concise and didactic. It is time, however, that our readers should have an opportunity of forming their own opinion on the merits of this work, and of the translator's labours.

After a brief introduction, giving a definition of Surgery, and exhibiting its relation to the healing art in general, the author gives "the following division for the setting forth of surgical diseases which, if it be open to many objections, is, however, an arrangement of diseases according to their internal and actual agreement :—

"I. DIVISION.-Of inflammation.

1. Of inflammation in general.

2. Of some peculiar kinds of inflammation.

a. Of erysipelas; b. Of burns; c. Of frost-bite; d. Of boils; e. Of carbuncle.

3. Of inflammation in some special organs.

a. Of inflammation of the tonsils; b. Of the parotid gland; c. Of the breasts; d. Of the urethra; e. Of the testicle; f. Of the muscles of the loins; g. Of the nail-joints; h. of the joints, viz.

a. of the synovial membrane; b. of the cartilages; c. of the joint-ends of the bones, viz., aa. in the hip-joint; bb. in the shoulder-joint; cc. in the knee-joint; and so on.

II. DIVISION.-Diseases which consist in a disturbance of physical connexion. 1. Fresh solutions of continuity.

A. Wounds; B. Fractures.