PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.
BOOKS.
The Why and the Wherefore; or the Philosophy of Life, Health, and Dis- ease: new and original views explanatory of their nature, causes, and connexion; and of the treatment of disease upon a few general principles, based upon the laws of nature and common serve: with Rules for the Pre- servation of Health and Renovation of the System. By Charles Searle, M.D., M.RC.S.E., and late of the E. L C. Madras Establishment. EThe main object of this book is to expound Dr. Searle's "new and original views" of disease: for the causes of disease being discovered, and disease conse- quently rendered more amenable to treatment, improved life and health follow as consequences. According to Dr. Searle, all disease consists in "a few abnormal conditions of the vessels of nutrition and of the blood's circulation." The seat of this primary disturbance is the capillaries; and disease originates in their con- gestion, irritation, or inflammation; although as the disturbance advances other parts may partake, or seem to partake, of the derangement. Having thus un- olded the pheenomena of disease, Dr. Searle proceeds to lay down the principle of treatment; which is chiefly blood-letting and calomel judiciously applied, accord- ingto the circumstances of the patient. This is, of course, only an indication of Dr. Searle's theory; which is enforced through a considerable part of the book, in conjunction with an exposition of life both animal and vegetable, and a view of the organs of the body and their func- tions. The remainder consists of the author's remarks upon certain classes of diseases and his mode of treating them, followed by some general hygienic directions. A good deal of the book is common knowledge, that has been often enforced before: the manner in which Dr. Searle unfolds his own views sometimes reminds one of the explanation of the cause of thunder in The Clouds of Aristopluines: his mode of practice seems safe enough, and in its results may be as good as another,— Nature having been too provident to allow the patient's life to depend upon the particular theory of the physician.] Early Magnetism in its Higher Relations to Humanity, as veiled in the Poets and the Prophets. By EITOE MA002.
f This is a rhapsody, of the most rapt description; and in more senses than one, for the author wraps up his drift and meaning. Put the book into anybody's hand without the title, striking out an occasional term in the text, and we doubt whether the writer's subject would be divined. As it is, we fancy be intends to advance that the obscurity of the ancient myths and allegories has arisen from their concealing some mesmeric meanings, and that the puzzling passages of anttiiqquity will become clear in mesmeric light. With his own winding periods, eigniTying nothing, he mixes up quotations from Scripture; applying the solemn passage • Not my will, 0 Lord, but thine be done," to tyros or experimentalists in mesmerism: but we believe the writer to have been unconscious of the irre- verence.] A Handbook for Bathers; or Hints on the various kinds of Baths, sea, cold-water, shower, douche, warm, vapour, medicinal, &c.; and the cases in which they are beneficial and in which they are injurious. By a Medical Member of her Majesty's Household. With Directions for Swimming.
EA brochure of the commonplaces of the subject, or rather subjects, for all sorts of Wild Sports and Natural History of the Highlands. From the Journals of Charles St. John, Esq. (Murray's Home and Colonial Library, Nos. XXXVL and XXXVIL)
A Pilgrimage to the Temples and Tombs of Egypt, Nubia, and Palestine, in 1845-6. By Mrs. Romer, Author of " The Rhone, the Darro, and the Guadalquiver," &c. In two volumes. Thoughts on some Important Points relating to the System of the World. By J. P. Nichol, LL.D., Professor of Astronomy in the University of Glasgow.
Observations in Natural History; with an Introduction on Habits of Ob- serving, as connected with the study of that science; also, a Calendar of Periodic Phenomena in Natural History, with remarks on the importance of such registers. By the Reverend Leonard Jenyns, MA., F.L.S., &c., Vicar of Swaffham Balbeck, Cambridgeshire. The Water Cure in Chronic Disease: an Exposition of the Causes, Progress, and Terminations of various Chronic Diseases of the Digestive Organs, Lungs, Nerves, Limbs, and Skin; and of their Treatment by Water, and other hygienic means. By James Mauby Gully, M.D., Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons, and Fellow of the Royal Physical Society, Edinburgh, &c. baths are handled; with some remarks on the cold-water cure, and directions fez swimming.] The First Three Books of Homer's Iliad. With a Glossary, and Engrish Notes. By Charles Anthon, LL.D., Professor of Greek and Latin in Columbia College, New York. Edited by J. R. Major, D.D. Head Master of King's College School, London.
EIt is singular. that America, of so bad repute for deep scholarship, should excel in school classics: the reason probably is, that she comes fresh to her subject. An European scholar is perhaps influenced in spite of himself by that traditionary mode which taught Greek by means of Latin, set a child that could scarcely read English to Seqtare the niceties of the old Roman tongue in barbarous Latin, and delighted in interposing abstruse and pedagogueish difficulties in the pupil's path. The young mind of America looked -to the shortest way, uninfluenced by old habits; and considered that all commentary should be given in the easiest language, so as not to have the explanation as troublesome as the text. But be the cause what it may, Professor Anthon's editions of the school classics have enjoyed a high reputation in this country as well as in America. Horace, Cicero, and other Latin authors for students, have been already given to the public by different booksellers; and Mr. Parker has now published Anthon's edition of the first three books of the Iliad. He has also procured the assistance of Dr. Major as editor; and that excellent scholar has omitted some of Anthon's diffuse- ness, (for, without doubt, the American is wordy,) and abridged and rearranged parts of the remainder. This Three First Books of Homers Iliad will be the school edition of the blind old bard.]
The Oration of Marcus T. Cicero for Cneus Plancius. Carefully revised from the Text of Wunder. To which are appended, Examination Papers proposed in the University of Cambridge. Cicero de Senectute. From the Text of Ernesti, carefully revised. Cicero de Airiieitia. From the Text of Ernesti, carefully revised. Cali Cornelii Taciti Agricola. From the Text of Brener, carefully revised. Cali Cornelii Taciti Germania. From the Text of Brinier, carefully revised.
The Phredo of Plato. From the Text of Inunanuel Bekker, easefully revised. [A series of very elegantly-printed brochures of " classical teats," adapted either for the desk or the pocket. As yet, the selections, it will be perceived,embrace books whose size is little beyond that of a modern pamphlet; but they will be fol- lowed by rather faller works—as the " Georgics" and the " Fasti."] Abbotsford Edition of the Waverley Novels. Volume XI. [The illustrations of this work have continued increasing in richness and excel: lence ; and those of the present volume, which contains The Fair Maid of Perth and Anne of Geierstein, are numerous and varied. The frontispiece consists of a group of tour portraits of Scott—as a boy, Allan's whole-length figure, Chan- trey's bast, and Watson Gordon's head. R. S. Lander has supplied the figure de- signs for The Fair Maid of Perth,. and the popular French artist Tony Johannot contributes those for Anne of Gmerstein : the Frenchman's are dramatic in ex- pression, animated in action, and boldly and effectively drawn. Stanfield's land- scapes are in his brightest and best manner; and the vignettes of Scottish and Swiss landscapes and street scenes—acme and costumes—are characteristically picturesque.] The Works of Frederick Schiller—Historical. History of the Thirty Years War, complete. History of the Revolt of the Netherlands to the Con- federacy of the Gueux. Translated from the German by the Reverend A. J. W. Morrison, M.A. (Bohn's Standard Library.)
EA translation of the complete works of Schiller is a desideratum in English hteratnre, which Mr. Bohn is about to supply in four volumes of his Standard Library. The first volume, before us, contains the celebrated " History of the Thirty Years War," and part of" The Revolt of the Netherlands." This latter subject will be completed in the next volume; which will also embrace the Historical Tragedies. We gather that the poetical translations will not be entirely newt and it would be desirable that they should always be reprints where any repute- ble version exists—we have no opinion of poetical translations done to order.]
Tales by the O'Hara Family. Part IL, containing " The Nowlans." (The Parlour Novelist, Volume VII.) [A cheap enough copy of The Nowlans; a tale which exhibits the force and effects of Haulm better than most of his other works, but is a not very pleasant picture of vice and misery, and surely a piece of monstrous exaggeration even in Irish villany and crime.]
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