be expected, only a small part of the shores and a few of the islands were visited; but, after making all the deduction that strict criticism would require, every reader of judgment will confess the work is amusing and instructive, with ample evidence of higher ability and more extensive acquirements than it is usual to find in the records of modern travel.

ART. V.-1. The Power of the Soul over the Body considered in Relation to Health and Morals. MOORE, M.D. Third Edition. 1846.

By GEORGE

2. The Use of the Body in Relation to the Mind. By GEORGE MOORE, M.D. Second Edition. London: Longman and Co. 1851.

THE vast importance of the subject is our apology for calling the attention of our readers to books which have already taken so firm a hold of public attention as to place them beyond the reach of ordinary criticism. We are, however, only fulfilling a self-made private engagement of long standing, confident that the subject is not one of that ephemeral class which cannot wait the reviewer's leisure or other occupations. The topics of these books, moreover, stand in need of being still further filtered for popular service. It is one of those vital themes which must be still further removed from the dignified seats of learning and brought to the homes of the mechanic, and such as can meet the demands which even the most important knowledge makes upon them by a limited portion of time only, and an attention not trained to bear the strain of close and continued thinking. We shall wholly avoid a scientific treatment of the topics we have selected for illustration from these volumes.

We have often been struck with the satisfied ignorance of really educated people about the properties of what they themselves have, probably, secretly regarded as the most important object of creation-their own microcosm. We can only thus account for the power of the empirical doctor over the public purse. The popularity of Dr. George Moore's eloquent and philosophical works, considerable as it is, is far inferior to the popularity of certain pills made up by absolute quacks, to whom the scientific knowledge of the corporeal instrument on which they propose to produce such wonderful effects lies in a terra incognita. The original discoverer (so-called) of a medicine

which chiefly contributed to make the handsome fortune with which he retired from business to a country-seat, and which must be still enriching its present proprietors, prematurely died, close by our own home not long since, through sheer ignorance (as his medical adviser declared) of the common laws of his own stomach, though he professed to have invented an all-but-universal medicinal agent for other people's. Another medical practitioner told us of one of his patients who, in a dissatisfied mood, took matters into his own hands; and, having purchased a supply of wonder-working pills, swallowed seventy in one day-a prescription, added our informant, that would have lost him his entire practice. Such ignorance of a particular subject, we think, is not in harmony with the advanced state of general knowledge. The curiosity which is now so easily gratified about the general structure of the steamengine, or a watch, might be almost as easily gratified if it asked questions about the mechanical structure of the human organs on which life and health depend. If, too, as the titlepage of one of Dr. Moore's volumes insinuates, this subject involves both "health and morals," ignorance of it is still less to be justified. For advice which is not met by corresponding information in the listener loses half its power; and further, though we do not take the view advocated by a learned commentator that, in the solemn sentiment of the royal psalmist, "the days of our years are three score years and ten," is implied a physical law which is only interfered with by man's imprudence; yet we do believe that, in a great majority of cases, the long distance between the date of their death and the date on that scriptural land-mark is to be traced up to want of attention to the unchanged laws of health and disease, of life and death.

If we turn our attention to the human blood, "which is the life thereof," nothing is easier than to write much really elementary matter about it, of which even educated people are quite content to remain in ignorance; and yet "science seems to have demonstrated that a large amount of our maladies, both of mind and body, is due to changes in the constitution of the blood, which contains at least forty elements; and any considerable deviation from their normal proportions must be, of course, so far productive of morbid change." Again, in the second-named of the volumes at the head of this article, Dr. Moore says:

"The health or enjoyment of every individual must depend on the quantity, quality, and regular distribution of his blood, because this fluid is the source both of the substance and the life of every

organ of the body; and, therefore, the medium through which the soul is kept in proper relation to adjacent material existence. In exact proportion to the deviation from the standard of its ingredients, and in the force of the circulation, provided the arrangement of the organs be perfect, will be the deterioration of health and intellectual capacity; for the blood is designed to preserve the machinery of life in such a state as may best conduce to the happiness of the soul in its earthly associations" (p. 20).

To this Dr. Moore adds, in a tone of that deep piety which gives such a value to his writings, that, though the soul of a disciplined Christian will not be mastered by disease, yet does it make the struggle still more agonising against a wily and mighty foe who takes advantage of disease as of breaches in the citadel, so as constantly to distress, though he may not conquer. "For the thorn in his flesh, disease, and even death, are but occasions of consummating his triumph." Still it must be borne in mind that our working power depends on the state of the current that keeps its course in our veins. It is, therefore, the Christian's duty to avoid every influence which may disturb this pabulum of life-the blood; and, therefore, he should know something of its formation and maintenance. It would aid him, we may surely conclude, in his endeavours and prayers, to preserve intact, amidst life's daily struggles, Christ's costly legacy to his faithful followers, "the peace of God that passeth all understanding," to get firmly fixed in the understanding the truth that mental perturbations as effectually deteriorate the blood as those more palpable agents which surround us, and lead so many on, by their unresisted solicitations, to disease and premature death.

To know something of the laws, therefore, which regulate the changes in the blood, is most important; for it will prove the necessity of preserving it in a pure and healthy state, if we wish to continue in the possession of our intellectual faculties and in the proper enjoyment of our affections. To accomplish this, a strict regard to the choice of food and drink is most important. The most direct means conducing to purity of blood are involved in the management of our daily meals. "Hence (adds Dr. Moore), the regulation of the appetite is among the chief of our daily duties, and the due management of the stomach a large part of morality." For, says Abernethy in his strong vernacular, "I tell you honestly what is the cause of the complicated madness of the human race: it is their gormandising and stuffing, and stimulating the digestive organs to excess, and thereby producing nervous disorders and irritation."

That other agents are employed in producing an effective condition of the blood seems to be proved by an experiment which, though it cannot be often repeated for verification, yet seems complete enough for conviction. It is related that Caspar Hauser was confined in a dark narrow cell from his birth to his eighteenth year, and that when he was first brought out his faculties seemed scarcely more developed than those of an infant. Daylight was intolerable to his eyes and excited universal spasms; and substances that to others were inodorous produced by their smell violent effects upon his frame. In passing by a church-yard the effluvia which wholly escaped the organs of others produced a shuddering upon him, which terminated in a violent fever and perspiration, like an ague. For a long time, in consequence of the delicacy of his taste and smell, he refused all aliment but bread and water. this Dr. G. Moore concludes that his blood was in a peculiar state; and that, in consequence of this, his nervous susceptibility was great and remarkably evinced in connection with magnetism :

From

"Thus, when the north pole of a magnet was held near him, he felt a drawing sensation, as if a current of air went from him; while the south pole seemed to blow upon him. Professors Daumer and Hermann tried all manner of experiments on him to determine how far his fancy might influence his feelings; but they always found that his sensations correctly indicated which pole of the magnet was directed towards him, even at considerable distances. He detected metals placed under oil-cloth, &c., as they produced the sensation of drawing, and a feeling of chill, which affected the arm directed towards them, and caused the veins of the exposed hand visibly to swell. These experiments always produced indisposition. Another incident in the psychological history of this individual is indicative of the influence of the blood on the mind. After he had by frequent endeavours surmounted the difficulty of eating animal food, and when he began to take it regularly, his mental activity began to diminish, the expressive brilliancy of his eyes departed, he became absent and indifferent, and an intellectual obtuseness took the place of excessive sensibility; but this, perhaps, the more readily from the preceding delicacy of his perceptions, and the excitement to which he was thence incessantly exposed."

Passing over many most interesting and instructive chapters, we pause at that which discusses the important subject of food. This chapter opens with the pregnant remark-" The study of the stomach is the study of morality." And Dr. Cheyne, another medical writer, who added to consummate professional knowledge and skill the profoundest piety, thus states the same judgment:

"The physical nature of man depends upon the food with which he is supplied; and it is not generally ascertained how much man's moral nature depends upon his physical nature.”

Dr. Moore illustrates his striking thesis, that "the study of the stomach is the study of morality," by the following course of thought.

By an investigation into the influence of food and drink on our minds, we soon discover the strongest motives for selfdenial, and learn many a forcible lesson concerning the nature and extent of our moral responsibility. The results of mismanaging the stomach typify all the effects of abandonment to any propensity. For it follows usually that, if we do not keep appetite under control, the right use of our reason is abolished, and we become more completely enslaved to our lusts than the most grovelling beast.

The comfort and efficiency of the intellect-and more, the moral perceptions, manliness, and virtue-depend greatly on the use of aliment; and in the very means by which we sustain the strength of the body, or most directly disorder its functions, we at the same time either strengthen or disable the brain ; and hence, from the use or abuse of food, we shall be qualified to employ our faculties with advantage; or else, amidst the confusion of our sensations, be rendered incapable of rational attention.

How many a deep thinker has seen the bright dreams of his morning's philosophy clouded by the fumes of a luxurious table, and the best resolves of calm thoughtfulness lost amidst the sparklings of wine! For self-confidence is our grand enemy. Man will not believe that he cannot conquer appetite when he pleases to make the effort, until he finds that indulgence has corrupted his will and that all his humanity is helpless and undone.

It has been said that food has a higher bearing on the mind than on the physical frame of man; and, it is so, because the moral and intellectual being is dependent for its manifestation on the health and development of the body. The difference between the fullest vigour and the utmost feebleness is made by diet and regimen. And as the enjoyment and capacity of the intellect demand a competent power of body and a state of comfort, which depend on a due supply of suitable blood and consequent nervous energy, hence, whatever disturbs the digestive process and thus vitiates nutrition, must correspondently disorder sensation, introducing pain where there should be only pleasure, and a tendency to fretfulness and discontent where cheerfulness and hilarity would be the natural consequence of