THE

NATIONAL QUARTERLY REVIEW.

No. XXVII.

DECEMBER, 1866.

ART. I.-1. Elements of Physiology. By J. MULLER, M.D., Professor of Anatomy and Physiology in the University of Berlin. Translated from the German, with Notes, by WILLIAM BALY, M.D. New edition. London: 1865.

2. Mémoire sur la Structure élémentaire des principaux Tissus organiques des Animaux. Par M. H. MILNE EDWARDS, M.D., Archives générales de Médecine. Paris.

3. Recherches microscopiques sur la Structure interne des Tissus organiques des Animaux. Par M. H. M. EDWARDS, M.D. Paris.

1. Leçons d'Anatomie comparée. Par M. CUVIER. Paris.

5. History of Animals. By ARISTOTLE. Bohn's edition. London. 6. De l'organization des Animaux, ou Principes de l'Anatomie comparée. Par M. DE BLAINVILLE,

Paris.

7. An Elementary Treatise on Human Physiology, on the Basis of the Précis élémentaire de Physiologie. Par F. MAGENDIE. Membre de l'Institute de France, &c., &c. New edition. Translated, enlarged, and illustrated with diagrams. By JOHN REVERE, M.D. New York.

MEN in general pay so little attention to their own. structure and organism that it is not strange they neglect those of the lower animals. It is not our intention, however, to obtrude on our readers facts which may be found in any elementary treatise on human physiology, further than to make some observations, in passing, on the benefits we should derive from, and the evils we should guard against by

devoting even a small portion of our study to ourselves. It is all the more remarkable that this is not done from the fact that no wonders are greater, no phenomena more interesting, than those of the human body; even the science of the heavens as elucidated by Copernicus, Kepler, Newton, and Galileo, is not better calculated to inspire us with admiration of the Divine wisdom.

Discarding all selfish motives and regarding the subject solely in a scientific point of view, what other study reveals so many marvels, or affords such convincing proofs of omniscient design and benificence? But it also appeals to our self-love; it teaches us to preserve our health and puts us on our guard against the most dangerous of imposters. The principal reason why quackery flourishes as it does in this country is, that we pay so little attention to physiology; for just in proportion as the latter is studied anywhere is the former shunned as worse than any of the innumerable maladies which it pretends to cure.

There is but little hope of a better state of things, however, as long as physiology is neglected as it is in our schools; it is by no means sufficient that it be taught to some extent at our leading colleges and high schools. It should form a prominent study at all schools worthy of the name. Instead of this being remembered, however, there are but few teachers who know anything about it; and this is much more to be deplored than the most intelligent might suppose at first view, for it is a source of incalculable evil. Even those who are honestly proud of the progress of their pupils often err grievously, while they have no other intention than to do good. If they only made themselves acquainted with the delicate structure of the brain and its extreme susceptibility to injury, they would understand that in causing a child to learn as much as possible, they often do mischief rather than good. If the brain be too much excited in youth, it will be sure to be permanently injured in one way or other, if, indeed, it does not cause premature death. The experience of the world shows that the mind of the child whose faculties are thus precociously taxed, either becomes exhausted in a short time, and reduced to mediocrity, or the brain is attacked with inflammation or dropsy, which either destroys life or produces insanity.

Thousands of parents are brought in sorrow to the grave by this means, though the real cause of it occurs only to a few of them; were it otherwise, we should regard the brain of the

adult as capable of enduring more than that of the child, although no one is so strong and mature but he will suffer from the overtaxing of his intellectual powers. Nor will any motive, however good, justify it. "If by gaining knowledge we destroy health," says Locke, "we labor for a thing that will be useless in our hands; and if, by harrassing our bodies (though with a design to render ourselves more useful) we deprive ourselves of the abilities and opportunities of doing that good we might have done with a meaner talent, which God thought sufficient for us by having denied us the strength to improve it to that pitch which men of stronger constitutions can attain to, we rob God of so much service and our neighbor of all that help which in a state of health, with moderate knowledge, we might have been able to perform. He that sinks his vessel by overloading it, though it be with gold and silver, and precious stones, will give its owner but an ill account of his voyage." Who that reasons for a moment will deny the truth of this? and can we expect weak children to bear without injury what renders strong men useless to themselves and others?

Fathers and mothers, as well as teachers, would prefer physiological knowledge to any other kind, if they could only realize its value; it would save the former much more in doctors' bills than would requite them for the trouble of learning it, and no bills could contribute more to the intellectual and physical well-being of their children. The mother who understands the importance of a free action of the chest to a proper performance of the functions of the heart and lungs will not be disposed to bind down the ribs of her daughters as if they were the hoops of an overloaded cask, which might burst if it were not properly taken care of; in other words, if she knew that such a course, if persevered in, would sooner or later render them consumptive, she would set fashion at defiance rather than encourage the evil.

But without interfering with the dictates of fashion in this respect, which we fear would be hopeless, there is still sufficient to render physiology a valuable study. The adage "Prevention is better than cure" is justly regarded by all nations as a truism; then, let us remember that prevention represents physiology and cure the healing art. ~ Hence, if the adage is true, it follows that, good as the healing art is— and none value it more highly than we-physiology is better.

At first view many would refuse to concur in this; but

the most thoughtful and intelligent would do so on reflection. They would remember that the doctors themselves are good, bad, or indifferent in proportion as they have combined the study of physiology with that of physic; on a little further reflection they would admit that the best doctors are those who give their patients least drugs; that is, those who rely most on the universal medicines of nature-medicines which require neither druggist nor chemist to prepare them. Comparing the present with the past, it would occur to them that the Greeks and Romans spent centuries of their palmiest days without any other physicians than those who took charge of their baths and of their gymnasia; and that it was only when they became degenerated that the apothecary's shop and the patent specific were numbered among their institutions and commodities. When they finally had doctors, the best of them, including Hypocrates and Celsius, held that the best medicines were water, pure air, and exercise. And is not the same true at the present day?

Before we condemn the ancients as ignorant and barbarous because they had as much confidence in the efficacy of the bath as we have in the strongest drug, let us see whether there is anything in our nature or composition which bears them out in their views. On examination we shall find that there is a good deal. To prove this it would be almost sufficient to remark that water composes more than two-thirds of the animal body, more than three-fourths of the whole mass of our blood, more than seven-eighths of that of the brain, and more than nine-tenths of the various colorless fluids and secretions.*

From these undeniable facts it is easy to understand that if we were deprived of even one-third of the water of which we are composed we could not exist for a moment. Still less could we exist without air; and there are none so ignorant but they have some idea of the importance of exercise in a hygienic point of view. Is it, then, any serious imputation on the intelligence or civilization of the ancients that they relied so much on water and air, and so little on doctors and apothecaries? Nay, must we not admit the contrary? Do not the facts show that if they had no faith in drugs, whether, animal, vegetable, or mineral, they had a knowledge of their own nature and the laws by which it is governed which we cannot equal at the present day, however much

* Mann's Physiology, p. 347.

we may boast of the progress we have made? For both Hippocrates and Celsius bear testimony that the leading principles by which they were guided in eschewing drugs and confining themselves to the universal medicines were no idle notions, but truths demonstrated by science and confirmed by experience. Accordingly, those illustrious physicians have recommended the same principles to their disciples. Hippocrates has declared, in his great work, which is still received as an authority by the most learned of the faculty in all parts of the world, that in cases of pneumonia "the bath soothes the pain in the side, chest, and back, concocts the sputa, promotes expectoration, improves the respiration, and allays lassitude." Celsius recommends the use of the bath as the best cure for various diseases, including fevers, hysterical and hypocondriacal affections, weak vision, indigestion, &c., prescribing the cold, tepid, or warm bath according to the nature of the malady and the character of the symptoms. Galen, an authority scarcely less illustrious, has left on record the following confirmation of the enlightened intelligence of those who, unlike most people of the present day, had more faith in nature than in quack doctors: "Cold water," he says, "quickens the actions of the bowels, provided there be no constrictions from spasms, when warm water is to be used. Cold drink stops hemorrhages and sometimes brings back heat. Cold drinks are good in continued and ardent fevers. They discharge the peccant and redundant humors by stool, or by vomiting, or by sweat.'

If we inquire which of the celebrated physicians of modern times were best acquainted with the human frame and the chief functions of its organs, we shall find that it was they who had most respect for the ancient system Thus, Boerhaave excelled as a physician, chemist, and physiologist. His whole life was devoted to the study of nature and of her laws; and the emphatic testimony he has left on record is that "No remedy can more effectually secure health and prevent disease than pure water."

The Arabian physicians of greatest celebrity depended more on the bath than on all other remedies; and when Mahomet enjoined on his followers daily ablutions, he was influenced much more by their known effects on the body

"Thirst is nature's indication," says Mann, "that a fresh supply of water is needed in the blood."—Ib.