more or less vigorous antiphlogistic treatment should necessarily be put into force. Now, a man is brought to you in a state of furious delirium, and you bleed him until he becomes calm, and the result will frequently be an incurable dementia. Many monomaniacs are much injured by bleeding; and many others recover from their hallucinations by moral treatment alone; and even M. Moreau, the founder of this variety of the irritation of Broussais, states they are frequently relieved by the datura stramonium.

"M. Leuret has not sought the cause of the disease in cerebral changes, but states that it may exhibit itself unconnected with any physical symptom, and that it is but an error of the mind, a purely moral disease calling only for moral remedies-our object being to substitute one impression or passion for another. Attributing insanity to a disease of the mind may appear revolting to spiritualists and excite the smiles of the materialist; but we must admit that the question is not so simple as it seems. Elsewhere I have endeavoured to suggest another theory, by establishing that man's ideas spring from two sources. He lives in the midst of an atmosphere of false ideas proceeding from his senses, from education and the social condition in which he exists, and it is there we must seek for the origin of manias, monomanias, &c. In this way we can understand how certain ideas may become diseased, without the divine breath which animates him being implicated. In this point of view, the beautiful results which have attended moral treatment are intelligible enough. We are, however, far from denying the existence of cerebral change, although this as yet has not become appreciable; but it is but a secondary fact in the doctrine of mental diseases, important though it often is in its therapeutical relations."

M. De Boismont next refers to M. Turck's theory which indicates the skin as the generating organ of insanity (!), by reason of the disturbance in the product of the electricity of the body its disordered condition induces. We need not waste time in following the exposure of the fallacies of such a doctrine; but may proceed to state the author's mode of treatment, which, indeed, in a modified manner, and without any knowledge of M. Turck or his fancies, M. Brierre de Boismont has been in the habit of employing with success for some years, and an account of which he furnished to the Academy of Medicine in 1842 and 1846. M. Turck's treatment consists in the prolonged use of tepid baths. The bath must be prolonged "during a whole or several days," and, if required, repeated during a period of several months. One girl was cured by a 'single bath of ten days' duration." By such treatment M. T. declares he has cured four-fifths of the cases which have come before him.

M. De Boismont, while regarding this statement as exaggerated, yet attaches much importance to the curative agency of prolonged baths and irrigations. His former conclusions upon the subject are here reprinted. 1. All the acute forms of insanity, and especially of mania, may be so cured in a space of time varying from 1 to 2 weeks. 2. The treatment consists in the employment of prolonged baths and irrigations. 3. The duration of the baths should be in general from 10 to 12 hours, but it may be extended to 15 or 18. 4. The irrigations of the head by a gentle stream of water should be continued during the entire continuance of the bath, unless the patient becomes composed, when they may be suspended. 5. When the patient has taken from 8 to 10 baths without marked amelioration they must be suspended, to be resumed at a future period. 6. The temperature of the baths should be from 82° to 86° F., and that of the irrigations 60°. 7. Of all the forms of insanity, acute mania best yields to this treatment, then simple acute delirium, delirium tremens, puerperal mania, and melancholy monomania with acute symptoms; but, in several of these forms of disease, the cures are neither so rapid or so permanent as in acute mania 8. Chronic mania with acute symptoms, and chronic mania with agitation, may be ameliorated, but not (as stated by M. Turck) cured by this treatment.-Revue Medicale, Nov.

Bibliographical Record.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

24. Principles of Human Physiology, with their chief Applications to Pathology, Hygiene, and Forensic Medicine. By William B. Carpenter, M.D. Third Edition. Svо, pp. 800. London.

25. A Manual of Materia Medica and Therapeutics, including the Preparations of the Pharmacopoeias of London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, with many new Medicines. By T. Forbes Royle, M.D. 8vo, pp. 729. London.

26. Observations on Hydropathy, with an Account of the Principal Cold Water Establishments of Germany. By J. Stevenson Bushnan, M.D. 12mo, pp. 182. London.

27. Liebig's Question to Mulder, tested by Morality and Science. By Dr. G. T. Mulder. Translated by Dr. P. F. H. Fromberg. 8vo, pp. 22. London.

28. Lectures on Subjects connected with Clinical Medicine, comprising Diseases of the Heart. By P. M. Latham, M.D. Vol. II. 8vo, pp. 428.

29. A System of Surgery. By J. M. Chelius. Translated from the German, and accompanied with additional Notes and Observations. By John F. South. Part 14. 8vo. London.

30. Synopsis of the Physical Signs of the Diseases of the Lungs. By James Turnbull, M.D.

31. Medico-Chirurgical Transactions Vol. XI. of the New Series.

32. The Potato-Plant; its Uses and Properties, together with the Cause of the Present Malady. The Extension of that Disease to other Plants, the Question of Famine arising therefrom, and the best Means of averting that Calamity. By Alfred Smee, F.R.S. Illustrated with Ten Lithographs. 8vo, pp. 168. Longman, 1846.

33. Life of George Cheyne, M.D., with Extracts from his Works and Correspondence. 18mo, pp. 141. London, 1846.

34. On Diseases of the Skin. By Erasmus Wilson, F.R.S. Second Edition. 8vo, pp. 526. Eight coloured Plates. London, 1847.

35. A Treatise on the Plague, more especially on the Police Management of that Disease. Illustrated by the Plan of Operations successfully carried into Effect in the late Plague of Corfu. With Hints on Quarantine. By A. White; M.D: 8vo, pp. 355. London, 1846.

In our next.

36. The Medical Examiner, and Record of Medical Science. Edited by Rob. M. Huston, M.D, For June, 1846. Philadelphia.

37. Revue Medicale, from May to August, 1846. In exchange. 38. Dublin Medical Review, No. 4. In exchange.

39. Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal, for October. In exchange.

40. British and Foreign Medical Review, for October. In exchange.

41. Medical Gazette, October to January. In exchange.

42. Gazette Medicale, October to January. In exchange.

43. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Edited by Isaac Hays, M.D. In exchange.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS, &c.

The reference made in our last number, page 488, to a volume of Knight's Weekly Series, should have been to Dr. Lankester's Lectures.

The reader is requested to substitute the figures 20 for 30 at page 493, line 10 from bottom.

We have received a letter from Mr. Parkin, complaining of our notice of his pamphlet on Cholera. Any reader, who will take the trouble to refer to Dr. Johnson's review of the first edition of it in No. 50 of this Journal, may convince himself of the justice of our strictures.

The press of matter this quarter has unexpectedly prevented the insertion of a review of Vogel's Pathological Anatomy, which is in type. We are also compelled to defer notices of Humboldt's Kosmos, Henfrey's Structural and Physiological Botany, Lee's Observations on Mineral Waters, and Gui Patin's Letters, edited by M. Reveillé-Parise.

THE

MEDICO-CHIRURGICAL

REVIEW.

APRIL, 1847.

I. HISTOIRE de la MEDECINE DEPUIS SON ORIGINE JUSQU'AU XIX. SIECLE. Par le Dr. P. V. Renouard. Tom. II. pp. 980. 8vo. Paris, 1846.

The History of Medicine from its Origin until the Ninteeth Century. In two Volumes. By P. V. Renouard, M.D.

II. ESSAI SUR L'HISTOIRE ET LA PHILOSOPHIE DE LA CHIRURGIE. Par M. Malgaigne. [Bulletin de l'Academie Royale de Medecine, December, 1846.]

An Essay upon the History and Philosophy of Surgery. By M. Malgaigne.

MUCH as we admire the practical tendencies of the medical mind in this country, we feel by no means disposed to approve of that neglect of, or contempt for, the literature and history of the profession, which we have reason to believe are increasingly prevalent. It is true we cannot expect to derive the same amount of instruction which our forefathers believed themselves to have gained from these studies; but it would be a grievous error to suppose that none of this were obtainable. So omnipotent is genius, that even when struggling with the defective information of an early stage of civilization, and surrounded by every obstacle to ordinary progress, it will frequently realize truths whose stamp is universal, and send forth previsions of future improvements which an astonished posterity, aided by the lights furnished by the advanced state of every branch of the accessory sciences, only confirms and chronicles. A great mind cannot traverse any important branch of human knowledge without leaving impressions, the results of its innermost workings or acute spirit of observation, which our arrogance alone prevents our profiting by.

Again, what employment can more suitably fill the leisure time and period of relaxation of the medical man than an examination into the different opinions and practices which have prevailed respecting the diseases and disorders of our frames? than in tracing out the fate of doctrines, the vagaries of the imagination, and the rude efforts of common sense? No man should consider himself educated unless aware of what has been done in the profession he has adopted for his calling in life; and NEW SERIES, NO. X.--V.

X

certain it is that if such information were more generally diffused, we should be spared many reproductions of opinions and practices which history has already condemned as erroneous or mischievous; and we should be better able to properly estimate others which, although novel, have in their analogues and fundamental characters been already judged. From a study like this we may always rise with gratified feelings. We have seen intellects of a gigantic calibre, elaborate reseach, untiring perseverance, ingenious speculation, earnestly, gloriously, and often successfully engaged in the holiest of wars, that against the evils to which flesh is heir to, succouring poor humanity in its frailest moments. To this legion we may with pride say we too belong, and firmly resolve that never shall act or word of ours derogate from the dignity of so noble an art, and convert that which should nearest approach a divine calling, into a mere instrument for the acquisition of wealth.

At no period could such a study be so appropriate as at the present. An unjustifiable scepticism in the powers of our art has been attempted to be raised by some who had better have acquainted themselves with its achievements: but the reader of its history will soon discover that, in spite of the uncertainties which have obscured it, and the ignorance which has impeded it, its career has been progressive, irregularly so, it is true, but still progressive and will derive encouragement to assist it farther onward notwithstanding the existence of so much public ignorance, the prevalence of charlatanism, and the timid prognostications of pseudoprofessors.

For these reasons we have determined laying a copious analysis of Dr. Renouard's two volumes before our readers. It is true, an excellent article upon the History of Medicine, embracing the same period of time, appeared some years since (October, 1831) in the pages of this Review; yet, as the period elapsed since this is a long one, and M. Renouard views his subject in a somewhat different light, we feel certain that our readers will thank us for furnishing them with an account of his excellent work. The following is his account of the distribution of the subject:— "I divide into three books or ages the whole period of time which has passed away. The first age commences in the infancy of society, as far back as historical traditions extend, and terminates, towards the end of the second century of the Christian æra, at the death of Galen in the reign of Septimus Severus. This lapse of time constitutes for medicine the foundation period. The germs of the art of healing, concealed at first in the instinct of man, are insensibly developed, the bases of the science are laid, and great principles are discussed. The hunan intellect, always impatient, exceeds in its speculations the limits of the known and the possible. Many branches of the art, such as symptomatology and prognosis, are carried to a remarkable degree of perfection.

"The second age, which may be termed that of transition (extending from the death of Galen to the revival of letters at the end of the 14th century), offers few materials for the history of Medicine. We no longer observe the struggles or discussions between the partisans of different doctrines. The medical sects are confounded with each other. I cannot better depict this epoch than by comparing it to the chrysalis stage of insect life. While nothing appears changed externally, an admirable metamorphosis is operating within, the progress of which is no-wise revealed. The eye of man only perceives the marvel when it has become accomplished.

Thus, from the 15th century, when the third and last age of medicine, that