for the state, would find the means of and pride of opinion, have retained
usefulness greatly multiplied in their their systems; and instead of contri-
hands, if they would extend their stu- buting to the original stock of know-
dies, far more than they do, to those ledge, or to their own gradual renova-
departments of learning, which are re- tion, have remained, for the most part,
garded by the vulgar, both the bookish immoveably moored to the same sta-
and the illiterate, as proper only for tion, by the strength of their cables and
the doctor. They would then be en- the weight of their anchors, measuring
abled to urge obedience to the divine the rapidity of the current by which
command, and encourage the practice the rest of the world is borne along.'
of virtue by a thousand touching mo- Even at this day, the spirit which pre-
tives, with which they are either total- dominates in most ancient seats of
ly unacquainted, or which, from their learning, has emanated from systems of
very limited knowledge, they cannot education that were established ages
exhibit with skill. The more nearly ago, in the eclipse of science, and when
the teacher of truth can approach, and learning pursued her inquiries in the
the more completely he is enabled to pale glimmer of the cloister, more care-
comprehend the whole nature of the ful about words than things. The con-
subject of his exhortation, the more tinuance of such systems, at this period
convincing may he render his argument of the world, when the state of know-
and the more winning will be his per- ledge and the opinions out of which
suasion. The motives drawn from the they grew, have so long since passed
consideration of a future state, and the away, is like opening the prison doors
nature of ultimate retribution, sublime to a captive, and leading him forth to
and effectual as they are, when arrayed light, and air, and nature, but insisting
before the clear-sighted and wise eye that he shall still wear his iron collar,
of faith, are but too often unavailing, if and his chain and bail. Light began to
opposed to the temporary but tangible dawn on the nature of man as soon as
inducements which passion brings so philosophy quit conjecture for experi
near; when, if they were aided by a ment. This light has increased with
wider range of argument, drawn from the unfolding glories of the science of
an extensive and intimate acquaintance medicine, and though, for a long time, it
with the multiform character of man, was streaked with the hues of morning,
the passions themselves might be enlist the various rays appear to be blending
ed in their enforcement, and, producing into bright beams of steady effulgence.
their due results, they would be follow- A sublime improvement yet remains to
ed by a long and bright train of happy be made in the education of the minis-
consequences. Scholastic systems, and
the forms and genius of public educa-
tion, instead of keeping pace with the
general progress of society, and con-
stantly harmonizing with the character
of the times, have ever been among the
last subjects of reformation.

ters of religion, as well as the professors of medicine. It is the union of natural and moral science. Solomon, whose wisdom was the light of bis age, knew every plant, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop on the wall;' and it is not to be doubted, that the The improved condition of society profound, luminous views which he took in modern times, must be attributed of practical ethics, are to be explained chiefly to the advancement of physical by his extensive knowledge. Through science, and while its cultivators, by the medium of science and observation, their individual or combined exer- divine wisdom chose to convey that iltions, have contributed so largely to the lumination to the mind of the son of benefit of mankind, academic institu- David, which shed a ray of glory over tions, with an aristocratic haughtiness the age in which he lived, and added

splendour to the Jewish name. Tad- not the only good consequence of such mor has been for ages a heap of ruins; a system of education. The period of Jerusalem-the prophecy, not in this instruction was thereby necessarily city,' has long since been fulfilled-the lengthened, and boys were not sent forth gold of Ophir is exhausted, and the into society to fill the stations and perTemple has fallen; but the memory of form the functions of men. Not only the Preacher' has descended through was the individual benefited, in this all the reverses of the nation over which way, but the state also was a gainer; he ruled, gathering new honours with the resources of the one were augmentevery successive generation. ed, and the other was presented with

In medicine, too, the noblest tri- an efficient member. If the changes in umph is to be achieved. The day is the manners of modern times, and paryet to come, and it will come, when ticularly the revolution in the art of the skill of the physician will be em- war, have rendered the gymnasium less ployed, not so much in prescribing necessary in a political view than it remedies, as in furnishing antidotes- was, still these changes have not dirather in establishing the general regi- minished the force of the reasons in its men of life, than in restoring enjoyment favour, drawn from its moral and phyto any particular moment. In regard sical effects upon the individual. On to mere bodily health, the arrangement the contrary, these reasons have reof the academic life, in the literary in- ceived new strength from the more stitutions of the present day, has been complete and multiplied divisions of left to the wisdom of men, who, how society into classes, in this latter age of ever extensive may have been their the world, and the far greater number classical attainments, and however of individuals who are exempted from faithful may have been their endea- manual labour.

vours to enrich the minds of their But though the truth of these posipupils with the treasures amassed in tions must be admitted, yet it would books, were but little acquainted with doubtless be a fond expectation to look the discipline of the body, or the art for their adoption in practice, till the of preserving that health, without progress in physical science, which is which, their efforts must be fruitless, and annually extending its conquests and the destruction of which, is too often collating every part of nature, shall, in the direct consequence of indiscreet the flow of time, have aided the philoexertions to force the developement of sophy of mind in renovating partial the mind. That kind of hot-bed cul- theories, and views which include but tivation, which is so much the method half our nature. of many, is not only hazardous to the The foregoing are a few of the ideas health and perfect growth of the body, which have presented themselves to us but is pernicious also to the mind. The in perusing Doctor Reid's work. These mind should be allowed to follow na- Essays, we think, valuable; not that ture in its gradual approach to matu- the author has given any thing very rity. It will then long retain the ful- original or profound, but he has added ness of its powers and scarcely know the sanction of his name and practice, decay. Nourish it, but not pamper it. to the opinions of others who have Stall-feeding is as fatal to the mind as gone before him, and they abound in to the body. In this respect, at least, wise maxims and benevolent instructhe ancients were wiser than we. The tions, the fruit of long and multifarious exercises of the gymnasium were as experience, gathered by acute obseressential with them, and regulated with vation, and expressed with elegance as much care as the lessons of the and force. Physicians like Doctor school. A vigorous constitution was Reid, consider man as he is, a com

and is, in consequence, to be worked upon by remedies that apply themselves to his still more than by those that are directed imagination, his passions, or his judgment, immediately to the parts and functions of his material organization.

pounded being, of much good stamina, but of a fearful liability to disorder, both in his mental and corporeal faculties, and with the fidelity of one, who truly feels, in the very retirement of his heart, good will toward men, and Doctor Reid then proceeds to exemwith a noble disdain of empirical arts, plify the strong connexion between and that sordid and murderous self-in the mind and the body, first by adduterest which prolongs languishment for cing some of the very wonderful effects the sake of securing an income, they upon the body produced simply by the urge the observance of all those moral power of volition: and then, by taking and physical habits, which are so con notice of the operation of the passions formable with the dictates of nature and both upon the intellectual and physical the injunctions of religion, and directly health. From among the passions, he calculated to rende men independent has selected the fear of death, pride, of tinctures, powders, pills, and lan- and remorse, as furnishing some of the cets. Of the importance of moral and most signal illustrations. On the submetaphysical science to the physician, Doctor Reid thus speaks.

ject of the power of volition, though

our author blames, as both ineffectual He who, in the study or the treat- and cruel, the conduct of those who atment of the human frame, overlooks the in- tempt the cure of hypochondriasis by tellectual part of it, cannot but entertain very incorrect notions of its nature, and reproof or ridicule, yet he acknowfall into gross and scmetimes fatal blun- ledges and maintains the salutary inders in the means which he adopts for its fluence of an energetic and well reguregulation or repair. Whilst he is direct- lated will. To illustrate the power of ing his purblind skill to remove or relieve the will over the vital and animal funcsome more obvious and superficial symp- tions, he cites a case related by Doctor tom, the worm of mental malady may be gnawing inwardly and undetected at the Cheyne, which is so astonishing that we root of the constitution. He may be in a shall insert it for the amusement and situation like that of a surgeon, who at the instruction of our readers. The case time that he is occupied in tying up one is one of a man," who could to all apartery, is not aware that his patient is pearance die, at any time he chose, and bleeding to death at another.-Intellect is after having lain a considerable time not omnipotent; but its actual power over the organized matter to which it is exactly as a corpse, was able to restore attached, is much greater than is usually himself to the various functions of aniimagined. The anatomy of the MIND, mation and intellect." Doctor Cheyne, therefore, should be learnt, as well as that who together with Doctor Baynard and of the body; the study of its constitution Mr. Skrine, went to visit him, thus rein general, and its peculiarities, or what may be technically called its idiosyncra- lates the circumstances. sies, in any individual case, ought to be regarded as one of the most essential branches of a medical education.

He could die or expire when he pleased; and yet by an effort, or somehow, he could come to life again. He insisted so much upon our seeing the trial made, that we were at last forced to comply. We all

The savage, the rustic, the mechanical drudge, and the infant whose faculties have not had time to unfold themselves, three felt his pulse first. It was distinct, or which (to make use of physiological language) have not as yet been secreted, may, for the most part, be regarded as machines, regulated principally by physical agents. But man, matured, civilized, and by due culture raised to his proper level in the scale of being, partakes more of a moral than of an animal character,

though small and thready and his heart had its usual beating. He composed himself on his back; and lay in a still posture for some time. While I held his right hand, Dr. Baynard laid his hand on his heart; and Mr. Skrine held a clear looking-glass to his mouth. I found his pulse sink gradually, till at last I could not feel

any by the most exact and nice touch. Dr. nerves strung by the untiring energy of Baynard could not feel the least motion in their wills, have triumphed over bunhis heart; nor Mr. Skrine perceive the least sort of breath on the bright mirror ger and thirst, and heat and cold, and he held to his mouth. Then each of us, inhaled untainted the hot breath of pesby turns, examined his arm, heart, and tilence. Or if they have died of sickbreath, but could not, by the nicest scru- ness,it has been when, by some accident tiny, discover the least symptom of life in or evil habit, the proper character of him. We reasoned a long time about this their minds was either permanently or odd appearance as well as we could; and, for a time destroyed, or after exposure finding he still continued in that condition, we began to conclude that he had indeed and excitement had both been long past. carried the experiment too far; and at last It is not pretended that in any of the we were satisfied he was actually dead, instances alluded to, volition has been and were just ready to leave him. This exerted with the especial design of act continued about half an hour. By nine o'clock in the morning in autumn, as we ing upon the springs of life, as in the were going away, we observed some mo- case reported by Doctor Cheyne, but tion about the body; and upon examina. that by the general healthy tone of the tion found his pulse and the motion of his will and its occasional extraordinary heart gradually returning; he began to excitement, the body has been kept as breathe gently, and speak softly. We it were in a prepared state to resist the were all astonished to the last degree at invasion of disease, or to throw it off, this unexpected change; and after some further conversation with him and our. instead of tamely submitting, if at any selves, went away fully satisfied as to all time it had actually seized upon the systhe particulars of this fact, but not able tem. The fact it is presumed will not to form any rational scheme how to ac- be denied ; and how else can it be exCount for it. plained? Occupation, whether of mind or body, or both, will hardly furnish an explanation, for simply having much to do, especially if it be attended with Civil as well as medical history can, great responsibility and be difficult of it should seem, furnish many examples execution, instead of conducing to the of the preservative power of an ener- corporal good of a man of feebie will, getic will. We can well recollect how would of itself destroy him. Nor can often, in reading the narrative of men it be said in opposition, that the hope who have been remarkable for their of reward, whether in wealth, honour, spirit of adventure, we have been struck or renown, would account for the fact, with the fact that they have almost uni- for this feeling would not so much proformly escaped the diseases which have duce its effect directly, as by stimulaswept off their followers. Of those ting resolution, and operating through men who have astonished the world by the medium of volition; and as for the heroism of their exploits in the field courage, intrepidity in danger, and the of battle; who have founded empires, feeling of exultation upon the successor new-modelled the institutions of ful issue of an arduous struggle, these states; who have extended the limits are all qualities of the will, or are found of civilization, or led the way through in those men only who are characterunexplored regions of the earth, we be- ized by the energy of that faculty. But lieve but few comparatively have ever we do not pretend to be qualified to lain long on the bed of languishment. enter into a profound discussion of this While men of pusillanimous spirits subject, and we will pass on, to what have fallen beneath privation and is said of the fear of death. disease like grass beneath the mower's After some striking remarks on the scythe, these great men, their animal melancholy inconsistency exhibited by fibre invigorated and shielded, and their those, upon whose health the fear of

This, however, was the last experiment the man made, for in a few hours afterwards he actually died.

death has produced the most fatal ef altogether unexpected, to the applicafects, "those persons most dreading tions of art. This patient,' says Dr. their departure from life, to whom it Reid, was one of the society of has proved least productive of enjoy- Friends; a society whose peaceful tement," Doctor Reid goes on to give nets and habits prove as favourable to some illustrations of the powerful ope- heath as they are to piety and virtue ; ration of this morbid feeling. Intro- with whom Christianity consists prin ducing this part of the subject, he ele- cipally in composure; and self-regulagantly says; "an indulgence in this tion constitutes the essence of religion.' morbid excess of apprehension not only embitters a man's existence, but often tends to shorten its duration. He has- tions both moral and medical. tens the advance of death by the fear with which his frame is seized at the appearance of its approach. His trembling band involuntarily shakes the glass in which his hours are numbered." As, however, we have not room to dwell as long as we could wish on any part of the book, we will quote some examples offered, and proceed.

The Essays on Pride and Remorse abound with just remarks and prescrip

Pride

is not only a sin, but may become a disease, and health as well as virtue suffer from its hateful influence. Remorse, also, is not of itself a compensation for misconduct. Where it is an unproductive feeling merely, and not a regenerating principle, instead of mitigating it can only serve to aggravate our offences. Repentance, sentimenThe well attested instance of the tally indulged, often stands in the way younger Lord Lyttleton is mentioned, of a practical reformation. The erwho expired at the exact stroke of the rors of our past life are not to be atoned clock which, in a dream or vision, he by wasting the remainder of it in a had been forewarned would be signal of sedentary grief, or in idle lamentations. his departure;' and that of a man who Active duty alone is able to counteract was sentenced to be bled to death. In- the injury, or to obliterate the stain, of stead, however, of the punishment be- transgression.' In short, Doctor Reid, ing actually inflicted, he was merely in leading us from the broad and fremade to believe that it was, by causing quented road of physical ill, brings us water, when his eyes were blinded, to into the path of duty and enjoyment. be poured down his arm. This mimicry, The remaining essays are on Solihowever, of an operation, as completely tude; on Excessive Study, or applicastopped the movements of the animated tion of mind; on Vicissitude, as a machine, as if an entire exhaustion had cause and characteristic of intellectual been effected of the vivifying fluid. malady; on Want of Sleep; on IntemThe man lost his life, but not his blood.' perance; on the Excess of Abstinence; Another person had been condemned on Morbid Affections of the organs of to lose his head. The moment after sense; on Mental Derangement not init had been laid upon the block a re- dicative of constitutional vigour of mind; prieve arrived; but the victim was al- on Physical Malady, the occasion of ready sacrificed. The living principle mental disorder; on the Atmosphere of had been extinguished by the fear of London; on Dyspeptic and Hepatic the axe, as effectually as it would have diseases; on Palsy, idiotic and spasbeen by its fall.' In connexion with modic affections; on the hereditary nathis subject, an instance is mentioned ture of Madness; on Old age; on Luof restoration from an apparently natic Asylums; on the importance of hopeless disease,' which was ascribed counteracting the tendency of Mental to the tranquil cheerfulness of the pa- Disease; on Bleeding; on Pharmacy; tient. which powerfully aided the ope- on Ablution; on Bodily Exercise; on rations of nature, and gave an efficacy, Real Evils, a remedy for those of the