with which the discoveries of Sir C. Bell has made us acquainted-that there is not a part of the human body that is not supplied with two or three sets of nerves, according to the simplicity or the intricacy of its functions: the excitors for sensibility, the motors for movement, and the respiratory system for the complicated purposes of respiration. When we see, by the discoveries of Dr. M. Hall, that we have a presiding and regulating power over all the sphincters and muscles of the body through the medulla oblongata and the medulla spinalis, and, in fact, that there is scarcely an organ in the human body that is not now known to have a moving and directing power; is it then probable, or even possible, that so important a system as the arterial should be without such a controlling and directing power? Acknowledging that it is not, as every one must necessarily do, and coupling this with the fact that there is a large and evidently important system of nerves exclusively surrounding, embracing, and running into the coats of the arterial system, of which we know little or nothing; and when we see the remarkable way in which anatomy bears out this opinion, I would venture to predict that so surely as anatomy led Sir C. Bell on step by step to his admirable, lucid, and conclusive arrangement of the other nervous systems, so surely does anatomy point out to us most distinctly the functions of this nervous system; and doubtless the time will arrive when it will be capable of demonstration: difficult as I confess it now appears to be, from its peculiar situation in the body, and from its apparent total want of functional connection with the other systems. It is singular that up to this period no author has sufficiently pointed out the remarkable difference in appearance and structure between the ganglia of the sympathetic and those of the spinal nerves. A single glance will be sufficient to show this very marked difference. It is seen in the sympathetic ganglion that the nerves appear to be more like elongations of the ganglion, each coming out clear and distinct, like so many tails, the ganglion itself being of an oblong shape and smooth. In the spinal ganglia the nerves are seen entering the globe-like body of a ganglion in bundles, leaving it in the same divided or

fascicular form."

After alluding to the proofs derived from the experiments of Philip, Flourens, and others, of the non-dependence of the circulation upon the cerebro-spinal system, the author, in another part of his work, thus expresses himself.

"It is self-evident, then, that it is to the sympathetic (and that alone) that we must look for regulating the arterial system. And it will be observed that in all parts of the animal body where large and sudden supplies of blood are required, such as the heart, stomach, bowels, and organs of generation, we have the ganglionic or sympathetic system very fully developed, and, as far as I can judge, in ratio to the amount of blood supplied to the several organs: on the contrary, in some parts of the body, and in the extremities where the flow of blood is more regular and not subjected to those sudden calls for large supplies of blood at irregular periods, we find this nerve manifestly decreasing in size: and, indeed, as far as we can judge with the naked eye, ceasing altogether in some parts. Still I perfectly agree with Sir Charles Bell that it is distributed all over the body: but whether its influence is confined to regulating the small arteries which supply the coats of the vessels, or whether the same influence is continued by it over the whole circulating medium of the extremities and other parts that it manifestly has over the abdominal viscera, must, I fear, be left to a more enlarged inquiry."

An experiment is related which consisted in exposing the branch of the sympathetic nerve joining the ischiatic, and one of the arteries of the leg in a horse that had been killed by division of the medulla spinalis, and then connecting the nerve with the positive and the artery with the negative

pole of a galvanic battery. Pulsation in the artery was not only induced, but circulation in the minuter vessels was also excited. Similar experiments afterwards repeated gave corresponding results.

For anticipatory replies to some of the objections which may be raised to this explanation of the function of the nerve, we must refer to the work itself; and can only briefly advert to the practical and therapeutical applications. These, upon the very threshold of the inquiry, are of course few and somewhat conjectural; but, the true physiology and pathology of the nerve once established, they will multiply rapidly in number and certitude.

"If debility of its fine threads be a sufficient cause to throw into dissonant action the heart and arteries in some cases, should we not be inclined to abandon the practice which rests on depletion, counter-irritation, and treatment of this kind, and substitute in their place remedies and a regimen which may fortify and soothe the nerve? If dropsy be often caused by obstruction in the flow of blood through the portal system, and this debility of action in the portal veins depend upon an exhausted state of the sympathetic, shall we torment the patient, and perhaps increase the debility in question, by the use of hydragogues and diuretic medicine, which can only be intended to act on the effect of the original malady, leaving the cause unacted upon (at least beneficially so;) or, finally, knowing the inevitable tendency of the disorder of this nerve to engender serious organic maladies, shall we not watch for the first symptoms of its decline to restore its tone, or at all events retard the period of its loss of energy? But it will be asked, where are the means of restoring to a nerve the power it has lost? It may be replied, that although the restoration of a function utterly lost by time or long stimulation may be impossible, yet there is abundant evidence to show that other nerves have their functions restored in a direct mode by medicine. Take, for example, the agency of strychnine on paralysis of the spinal nerves, of carbonate of iron on neuralgia, and what evidence have we that all the beneficial effects of stimulants and tonics are not through the influence of this nerve? "Nor can any one be ignorant that a regimen in which regularity and rest from mental emotions or exertions are insisted upon, has produced still more remarkable restorations. I do not doubt that many with myself will think that by similar means the impeded functions of the sympathetic have been restored. "A very curious fact confirmatory of the views which I have taken upon this subject, is, I think, afforded by the remarkable analogy which will be seen to exist between the action of strychnia and of electric or galvanic influence upon functional disorders in some of the organs over which the sympathetic, and that alone, has control; not only as regards the kind of power acting upon the nerves, but also its influence on this particular system of nerves."

The outlines of several cases are given as confirmatory of the author's opinion of the modus operandi of strychnia; viz. that it influences the digestive, uterine, generative organs, &c. through the medium of the sympathetic, upon which it exerts a powerful direct action. Among these are examples of impotence, amenorrhea, and spasmodic asthma, combined with dyspepsia. In nearly all, the effects of the medicine were rapid and decided in restoring the tone of the defective organ. In two of the cases of amenorrhoea which are related, galvanism acted in an equally beneficial manner. "It is by no means an unfrequent occurrence for menstruation to take place while the patient is being operated upon by galvanism; the same thing also occurs while under the influence of a single dose of strychnia."

A friend, Dr. Price, writing to the author concerning his experience in the use of strychnia in habitual constipation, after detailing a case of its beneficial influence, observes

"I beg to add, that I have perceived the same effects in very many other instances, where the bowels have been induced to perform their functions daily, and these effects have continued for a longer or shorter period, requiring afterwards, in some instances, to take a little aperient medicine, as would be the case with persons not habitually costive. In a case, a few days ago, of a female whose bowels had been at all times constipated, I was compelled to repeat the strychnia. About four or five months before she had been very effectually relieved by this medicine: the necessity for this visit arose, by her own admission, from inattention to natural calls, and other circumstances. I should remark here that she has been married for several years, but she has never been pregnant; she never menstruated freely till after taking the strychnia. This is also a very frequent good effect of the administration of this medicine."

Even many of those who may not feel disposed to agree with the author as to the manner in which strychnia effects these beneficial changes in a class of affections often rebellious, will gladly avail themselves of the information he furnishes of its curative agency. Three plates illustrate some of the peculiarities of the distribution of the sympathetic.

ANATOMICAL SKETCHES AND DIAGRAMS, WITH DESCRIPTIONS AND REFERENCES. By Thomas Wormald and Andrew Melville M'Whinnie, Demonstrators of Anatomy at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. 4to. Highley, 1844.

THIS work is now complete, and is in every way calculated to fulfil its object-that of presenting a series of clear and simple Views of the more important parts of the Body-furnishing a useful guide to the Student in the dissecting-room, and, from its character as a Book on Regional Anatomy, will be equally acceptable to the Surgeon. The subjects have been judiciously chosen, and the lithographic drawings, which are mostly coloured, are executed with great fidelity.

Amongst the most useful of the Plates, we might select those containing views of the Orbit and of the 5th and 7th Cerebral Nerves-those of the Neck in the order convenient for dissection-of this region the plans will be found very complete and instructive.

The views of the Chest and Abdomen are new and original-in connexion with the Vena Cava and Vena Portæ, we have illustrations of the Fatal Circulation.

The Axilla, Bend of the Elbow-joint, and Groin-the Gluteal and Popliteal Regions are displayed, and recall to mind the relative anatomy of these parts.

We can most confidently recommend this Work, which, from its moderate expense, will be within reach of every Student.

A MANUAL OF ELEMENTARY CHEMISTRY, THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL. By George Fownes, PH. D. Chemical Lecturer in the Middlesex Hospital Medical School, and to the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Pp. 566. London, 1844.

NUMEROUS and useful as are the works extant on the science of chemistry, we are nevertheless prepared to admit that the author of this publication has made a valuable addition to them, by offering the student and those in general who desire to obtain information, an accurate compendium of the state of chemical science; which is, moreover, well illustrated by appropriate and neatly-executed wood-engravings.

At the commencement of his Preface the author has so clearly and appositely expressed the view which he entertained in compiling his work, that we cannot do better than give his own words.

"The design of the present volume is to offer to the student commencing the subject of Chemistry, in a compact and inexpensive, but, it is hoped, not unintelligible form, an outline of the general principles of that science, and a history of the more important among the very numerous bodies which Chemical investigations have made known to us. The work has no pretensions to be considered a complete treatise on the subject, but it is intended to serve as an introduction to the larger and more comprehensive works in our own language and in those of the Continent."

Dr. Fownes has divided his work into four Parts-the first treats of Physics, including Density and Specific Gravity; The Physical Constitu tion of the Atmosphere, and of Gases in general, and Heat, Light, Electricity, and Magnetism; the second Part treats of Non-metallic Elements; the third, of Metals; and the fourth, of Organic Chemistry; this last appears to be the favourite portion of the author's subject, for of 540 pages of which his work consists, 200 are occupied by it alone; we indeed are of opinion that, considering the work as intended to be elementary, the author would have done better to have dedicated some portion of the space which he has bestowed upon organic chemistry to a more full consideration of chemical affinity, and the circumstances under which it is excited and exerted, and those by which it is accelerated, impeded, or prevented.

Unless we mistake, no mention is made of cohesion in general, or of the effect which it has of controlling the chemical action of bodies upon each other; the chemical agency of light and electricity, might also, we think, have been advantageously considered more at length.

When electricity, the last of the imponderable bodies, has been treated of, (and of this portion of the work we have no complaint to offer,) the author naturally proceeds to the enumeration of the elementary ponderable bodies, which he subdivides into the three classes of non-metallic, intermediate, and metals. It appears to us that there was no necessity for, nor any advantage gained by, introducing the second sub-division; it includes phosphorus, arsenic, and tellurium; why the first should not be considered as perfectly non-metallic as sulphur, or why, if antimony be a metal, arsenic is not, we cannot discover. With respect to tellurium, indeed, we observe that Dr. Fownes has adopted an antiquated term in

treating of it at p. 310-he calls it "this metal or semi-metal." We do not find that the author has stated any reasons for his arrangement, though we are far from asserting that he could not have assigned satisfactory

ones.

The substance first treated of in detail is Oxygen, and as we do not know that we can give a more fair specimen of Dr. Fownes's manner of treating of the subjects which he has to describe, than by quoting this part of his work, we shall give a considerable portion of his statements with respect to oxygen. We shall take the liberty of appending to it a few remarks, which we trust will be received with the same friendly spirit as that by which they are dictated.

"Oxygen was discovered in the year 1774, by Scheele, in Sweden, and Dr. Priestley, in England, independently of each other, and described under the terms empyreal air and vital air. The name oxygen was given to it by Lavoisier some time afterwards. Oxygen exists in a free and uncombined state in the atmosphere, mingled with another gaseous body, nitrogen; no direct means exist, however, for separating it from the latter, and accordingly, it is always obtained for purposes of experiment by decomposing certain of its compounds, which are very numerous.

"The red oxide of mercury, or red precipitate of the old writers, may be employed with this view. In this substance the attraction which holds together the mercury and the oxygen is so feeble that simple exposure to heat suffices to bring about decomposition. The red precipitate is placed in a short tube of hard glass, to which is fitted a perforated cork, furnished with a piece of narrow glass tube, bent as in the figure. The heat of a spirit-lamp being applied to the substance, decomposition speedily commences, globules of metallic mercury collect in the cool part of the wide tube, which answers the purpose of a retort, while gas issues in considerable quantity from the apparatus. This gas is collected and examined by the aid of the pneumatic trough, which consists of a vessel of water provided with a shelf, upon which stand the jars or bottles destined to receive the gas, filled with water and inverted. By keeping the level of the liquid above the mouth of the jar, the water is retained in the latter by the pressure of the atmosphere, and entrance of air prevented. When brought over the extremity of the gas-delivering tub, the bubbles of gas arising through the water collect in the upper part of the jar and displace the liquid. As soon as one jar is filled, it may be removed, still keeping its mouth below the water-level, and another substituted.

"The experiment described is more instructive as an excellent case of the resolution by simple means of a compound body into its constituents, than valuable as a source of oxygen gas. A better and more economical method is to expose to heat in a retort, or flask furnished with a bent tube, a portion of the salt called chlorate of potash. A common Florence flask serves perfectly well, the heat of a spirit lamp being sufficient. The salt melts and decomposes with ebullition, yielding a very large quantity of pure oxygen gas, which may be collected in the way above described. The white saline residue in the flask is chloride of potassium. This plan, which is very easy of execution, is always adopted when very pure gas is required for analytical purposes.

"A third method, very good when perfect purity is not demanded, is to heat to redness in an iron retort or gun-barrel, the black oxide of manganese of commerce, which under these circumstances suffers decomposition, although not to the extent manifest in the red precipitate.

"From ožus, acid, and yɛrvaw, I give rise to."