if the forms of the Lazzaroni of Naples be "active and finely proportioned ;"-ignorant, lazy and dissolute, are they not the "ulcers upon the fair face of nature?" Are not the moral honesty, and general virtues, and hardihood, of what have been termed the "timid" inhabitants of the higher latitudes, in every point of view preferable? The food of these is almost entirely animal; too exclusively so, it may be said, even for the severities they have to encounter; and yet, with far less advantages than those with whom they have been contrasted, we find, according to the accounts of Egede, and Saabye, and other Moravian missionaries, and of Hooker, that they are highly capable of mental cultivation, fearless in hardships, and far better fitted, from their physical vigor, for the endurance of continued exertion, and the dangerous enterprises enforced upon them. It would be an interesting investigation, to pursue this subject to its full extent ;-the result we can anticipate; and let us not be called visionaries, if we say that, with some few exceptions, all moral vigor, philosophical research, and the prevalence of science, would be found to be connected with indulgence in the use of solid and stimulating food, and the discriminating enjoyment of whatever may gratify the taste or appetite. The countries of Addison, Johnson and Sheridan; of Booerhave and De Witt; of Luther and Goethe, are proverbial for their substantial fare, and the liberal pleasures of the table; and in modern history, nearly all that is rich in the improvements and dissemination of religion, philosophy, arts and sciences, has emanated from Great Britain, Germany and Holland. France, more fastidious in her enjoyments, has indeed had her Bonaparte, La Place and Cuvier, but the general character of her population is incomparably inferior to that of the former countries, in the respects of which we have spoken. "In no country is the table loaded with such profusion as in ours," says Dr. Avery ;-and in what country has the progress of civil and religious liberty proceeded so far; or the moral and physical capacities of man been more fully developed; or his spirit of enterprise, ambition and valor, more forcibly exhibited? It is in these countries that the beauty and sublimity of mind predominate; it is here that man is ennobled with the full dignity of his nature, and can glory in his freedom from those civil and moral shackles, which are supinely borne by less favored nations.

This may be called a fanciful speculation, but we have a confidence in the truth of what we have adduced, and are, at least, assured that it must be convictive of the sophistry of the

argument which our author has so vauntingly adopted. The dietetic system-maker, and he, who in his enthusiasm would enforce abstinence on mankind, even to the adoption of the scanty and ungenerous repast of a troglodyte, may also find an argument in these facts, that any other rule of diet than simplicity in preparation, and moderation in eating, is contradictory to the absolute demands of our nature, and that in a deprivation of the invigorating stimulus of animal food, and the liberal indulgence of our taste, the calls of a well regulated appetite, and the occasional and restricted festivities of the table,-man becomes enervated, his generous spirit is debased, his ambition subdued, his resistance to oppression enfeebled or totally lost, his whole intellectual and physical energy is impaired, and even his morals become depraved. We should be taught, from these considerations, that the danger is no less in refusing the blessings of abundance that have been offered us, than in using them so as to abuse their intention. A happy medium will insure the accompaniment of those characteristics, which are so forcibly portrayed by Hufeland, as belonging to the man destined for longevity." His stomach is excellenthis appetite good, and digestion easy. The joys of the table, in moderation, are to him of importance; they increase the vigor of his system, and tune his mind to serenity, while his soul partakes in the pleasure which they communicate. He does not, however, eat merely for the sake of eating; but each meal is an hour of daily festivity-a kind of delight, attended with this advantage, among others, that it rather increases than diminishes his riches. He eats slowly, and has not too much thirst. An insatiable thirst is always a sign of rapid self-consumption. In general, he is serene, loquacious, active, susceptible of joy, love, and hope-but insensible to the impressions of hatred, anger, and avarice. His passions never become too violent. He is fond of employment, particularly calm meditation and agreeable speculation-is an optimist, a friend to nature and domestic felicity-has no unbounded thirst after the honors or riches of the world-and banishes all unnecessary thoughts of to-morrow."

Original capacities we would by no means overlook, but we

that as the forcible evidences of mind, and its progressive improvement, are dependant upon physical energy, any circumstances calculated to enfeeble the latter, by a deprivation of the peculiar nutriment and stimulus already mentioned, must, in proportion to that deprivation, inevitably prevent the perfectness of intellectual development. Solid acquirements, pro

foundness in any science, or even strong sense, we sincerely believe, are rarely found, in connexion with the practical observance of the reverse of our doctrine. Is this fanciful speculation? It certainly has all the affinities of cause and consequence.

We must now conclude our remarks on the work before us, and only regret, that we cannot bestow that praise upon it which our personal feelings toward the author would incline us to do. With the exception of some remarks on what he considers our peculiarities of climate and mode of living, the book is a compilation, chiefly adopted from Philip, Paris and Johnson, written in a garrulous, popular style, and intended, as we have said already, for general readers. Dr. Avery has anticipated our objections to this character of his work, and asks," Shall we forego the countless benefits of a general diffusion of knowledge, for fear that some few individuals will be rendered less happy by it?" We scarcely need repeat, that it is not a few who are made miserable by the diffusion of knowledge of this kind; it is the many, it is the majority of all who peruse even his work. We have no fondness for mysteries in medicine, but we emphatically say, that the diffusion of medical knowledge among general readers is a positive evil; it is a knowledge, the possession of which is wo. Like the patient of Doctor Gruel-ominous name-in the Spectator, the hypochondriac is made so, because he has names for all his complaints, reasons for all his pains, and prescriptions for every fancy; he ruins a good constitution, by endeavoring to mend it; and, finally, takes the grand restorative commended in some popular work, or by some popular physician, which indeed cures him of all earthly uneasiness.

Our social intercourse with Dr. A. has given us a respect for his talents and industry, and we trust that he will view our remarks only as the performance of a duty, that we owe to our readers, and to our profession. When our author next appears before the public, we shall congratulate him, if it be the medical public only.

G.

ART. VI. Transactions of the AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, held at Philadelphia, for promoting useful knowledge. Vol. III.-Part II.-New Series. Published by the Society. Philadelphia: James Kay, jr. & Co., 1830. 4to. Plates.

ALTHOUGH the study of the natural sciences has scarcely received that attention in our country, which its importance so truly deserves, still there have ever been a few persevering individuals and select associations, who have prosecuted these interesting labors with the most untiring ardor; and, notwithstanding the absence of liberal or even just encouragement, have gone on steadily in enlightening the scientific world, by the promulgation of their inquiries, through occasional publications. When we look, however, at all the circumstances under which these periodicals have appeared in the United States, we must confess, that we are not so much astonished that many of the inost deserving of them are now inquired for in vain, as that, in spite of what would seem the most disheartening prospect of success, a few associations of our savans should ever engage in an enterprise, from which the community could never expect to derive a single hint for pecuniary speculation, or easily acquired notoriety. But so it is; and from these discouragements, the pleasure is therefore the greater, in being enabled to introduce to our readers the publication that forms the title of this article. Before proceeding, however, with our analytical remarks, we cannot refrain from expressing our regret, that the sanguine expectations with which our valued friends of the Lyceum of Natural History, commenced and for some time continued the publication of their "Annals," should at length be disappointed, and that those who feel an interest in the subjects to which it was devoted, should be deprived of the gratification of perusing the results of their scientific efforts. We are aware of the want of that generous countenance from the public, by which their honorable exertions could alone be sustained; but, from some indications, we will not despair of an early resuscitation of their former undertaking, to which we think their pride, talents and zeal in the pursuit of knowledge, will be stimulated by this recent publication of the American Philosophical Society.

It will not be expected from us, that we should separately notice the articles composing the work before us; the most of

them are unconnected both with our own studies, and the objects to which our Journal is specially appropriated;

"Quod medicorum est, Promittant medici."

From the following table of contents, therefore, we shall select only two or three articles for particular attention, as pertaining to some of the departments of medicine.

No. X.-Observations on the Birds of the Genus Tetrao. By C. L. Bonaparte.

No. XI.-Observations on Lamarck's Family of Naiades. By P. H. Nicklin.

No. XII.-Experiments on the Poison of the Rattlesnake. By R. Harlan, M. D.

No. XIII.-New Genus of the Family of Naiades; also, eleven new species of the Genus Unio. By Isaac Lea.

No. XIV. On the use of the Maxillæ in Coleopterous Insects, &c. By N. M. Hentz.

No. XV.-Description of a new species of the Genus Astacus. By R. Harlan, M. D.

No. XVI.-Notice of an anatomical peculiarity in the Condor of the Andes. By R. Harlan, M. D.

No. XVII.-On the Constructions of Eclipses of the Sun. By John Gummere.

No. XVIII.-Description of a Fragment of a new Fossil Animal. By J. Hays, M. D.

No. XIX.-Description of a new genus and species of Extinct Mammiferous Quadruped. By John D. Godman, M. D. We shall first notice Dr. Harlan's paper on the peculiarity observed in the structure of the stomach of the condor.

The digestive system in animals, forms one of the most curious and important branches of comparative anatomy. In the sixteenth article, Dr. Harlan has described a modification of the structure of the stomach, different, we believe, from any of the variations of this organ heretofore known.

"The stomach, which was nearly empty, is oblong in form; the cardiac portion being marked with longitudinal folds; the middle portion displays two oval protuberances, composed of gastric glands, which is again succeeded by a membranous or sacular portion, on the interior surface of which are nearly contiguous, longitudinal bands or ridges, of a cartilaginous structure, serrated or spiny on the surface towards the stomach, covering the pyloric or lowermost two thirds of the stomach. This cartilaginous production, like the inner