he is now a leader. His essays were geological, and to that science he has chiefly devoted his attention; although he has also published investigations on the Poor-laws, Potato disease, and other questions of social economy.

Professor Low, in like manner, is identi fied as an author with the Highland and Agricultural Society. His works are well known. It will be found that most of them are habitually cast in the form of lectures, and framed to demonstrate rather than instruct. The best and most popular of them is his work on "Domestic Animals." But the influence of his writings on improving the management of land has been incalulable.

mostly drawn and colored from living or recent specimens of the "Rare and Remarkable Animals of Scotland." The Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh has for a few years been all but in abeyance. But an attempt has been made this winter to revive it by placing Sir John at its head; and he will probably exert himself to do so; at least we have the experience of the stimulus which his presidency of the Society of Arts, several years ago, imparted to a similar body, now of a very flourishing complexion. Of Sir William Jardine, of Applegarth, who is, we believe, a denizen of Inverleith Row, we need but say that this distinguished naturalist has contributed as largely to our scientific literature, chiefly in capacity of editor of "Lizars' Naturalists' Library," as The Rev. Dr. Fleming, author of the any man of his day. Professors Forbes and "Philosophy of Zoology," but better known Kelland, and, for that matter, Mr. David by his "History of British Animals," has Milne, shine in the Royal Society, the frigid rendered himself formidable by the freedom aristocracy of which is scarcely to be thawed with which he wields the scourge against by the genial common sense and graphic dic-"pretence." The worthy divine was fortion of the Rev. Dr. Fleming, but is formally and formidably represented by the other trio. Mr. Forbes is a clever man in spite of his coldness. To see him go through with a demonstration, be it mathematical, algebraical, or a mere diagram of the composition and resolution of mechanical forces, you must believe that there is something more hearty in the great expositor of the "Theory "If," said he, "anatomy and physiology be reof Glaciers" than snow and ice. But edu-garded as the basis of zoological science, the hiscation has been at fault. The son of the tory of species will include a description of their well-known Edinburgh banker, Sir William structure and functions along with their external characters. Forbes-the Bill Forbes of the jolly tar who If anatomy and physiology be discarded as foreign to the subject, and the professed presented a five pound note at the bank naturalist acknowledge, without a blush, his ig

counter as "a tickler," and intimated that he would take it up in trifles, as he did not like to affront him before the lads-has been reared in isolation and upon a pinnacle. He labors under a deficiency of social sympathies. Yet he is communicative, and covets fame. Why else should he publish or expound? The Rev. Philip Kelland and Mr. David Milne are precisely of the same school. Mr. Kelland being an English, and, we fancy, a High Church divine, might wear this exterior with less challenge than the others. But, in truth, he is the most demonstrative of the three. Mathematical studies are little calculated to warm the human breast. Mr. Kelland has, however, a charm in his manner, which atones for the abstraction into which his peculiar position doubtless casts him. Mr. Milne, a practising counsel, commenced his scientific career as a prize essayist of the Highland and Agricultural Society, of which, as a country gentleman,

merly minister of Flisk, in Fifeshire, and holds at present a professorship in the new College of the Free Church in Edinburgh. In the preface to his Natural History he at once proceeded to draw a distinction, which marked him out as a devotee of original observation:

norance or his contempt of both, then the history of species will be chiefly occupied with the details of external appearance."

Such different conditions he asserted to have prevailed in the study of the science in this country, and to have divided it into two great eras. Passing every panegyric on the golden age of Ray, Willoughby, Lester, and Sibbald, as the physiological era, he consequently upholds their natural method, and denounces the artificial method of Linnæus ;. according all praise, however, to the Swedish Aristotle individually, and only incensed at the conduct of his "blind admirers." In the compilation of this work the Rev. Doctor showed so lively an acquaintance with the truths of natural history and the facts of literature, that it stands without exception the best text-book of zoology yet produced. Disdaining to quote such authorities as the compilation of Gmelin, which frequently

supplies the place of the 12th edition of Linnæus, and thus occasions the absurdity of quoting his authority for the names of species established subsequent to his decease, the Doctor went back in every instance to the best and most perfect edition of the various writers on natural science; and thus succeeded in giving things their proper names, discoveries their exact positions, and disentangling much of the confusion of zoological writings.

more or less perfect immunity from conscious pain and suffering, whilst it did not diminish the strength and regularity of the muscular contractions. He had not before this time, nor for a month afterwards, dared however, to keep a patient in the anaesthetic state for more than half an hour. It was during the experience of the next three weeks he discovered that anaesthetic action could safely be kept up for one, two, three, or more hours. Subsequent cases to the first anaesthetic case of Dr. Simpson, were shortly reported at London, Bristol, and Dublin. In about a week, however, after the first case occurred in Edinburgh, the practice had been tried in France. It was later adopted in Germany; and even America, the country whence the first knowledge of anaesthetic effects in surgery emanated, did not employ ether in obstetric practice until after its use in Europe. The ether required to be exhibited in large quantities to keep up its action, and in November, 1847, an impulse was given to the practice of anæsthesia in this class of cases by the intro

Decidedly the greatest of our scientific writers or discoverers is Simpson, the author of the original treatise on chloroform. Strange to say, the popularity and singular efficacy of this extraordinary pain-subduing agent has not exempted it or its author from the ordinary modicum of envy and obloquy attendant on a scientific triumph. Simpson has indeed had less of the prejudice of the outer world to combat than of those who should know better-the members of his own profession. But he is more than a match for them at the literary small sword; and if he does not "seek the battle," he invariably observes the counterpart of Mac-duction of chloroform as a substitute for pherson's couplet, by not "shunning it when it comes." His prowess as a controversialist is sufficient to establish the reputation of any theory or practice, however bold the innovation; and woe to the dull ass that brays in arrear of Simpson's march of improvement, and "will not mend his pace for beating." No sooner was his anaesthetic system impugned, than Professor Simpson threw himself tooth and nail into the conflict; and his adversaries, after experiencing about as severe punishment as men could stand up and receive, are now beginning to understand their position. He appealed at once to the most venerable authorities-Dioscorides, Pliny, Apuleius, Theoderic, Paré, and others, to prove that he was not guilty of advancing any new thing, as some of these authorities had long ago described, and some of them apparently practised, the induction of anaesthesia previous to operations, both by giving their patients narcotic substances to swallow and narcotic vapors to inhale. The merit of its application in his own particular walk of practice was, however, all his own; the first instance in which it was adopted having occurred in Edinburgh on 19th January, 1847. For this innovation Simpson has had incredible assaults to sustain and repel. Ether-inhalation was the mode employed; and the case answered all his anticipations. The inhalation of ether procured for the patient a VOL. XVI. NO. IV.

36

sulphuric ether. The bulk of ether required,
its inconvenience for carriage, and the size
of apparatus believed necessary for its effec-
tual exhibition, had prepared the practitioner
heartily to discard it; when it was super-
seded by the discovery of Simpson, portable
in a case of the size of an ordinary cigar
case, and capable of being effectually ap-
plied by a few drops inhaled from a pocket-
handkerchief! This most wonderful of the
achievements of modern science was met
with the most dreadful denunciations--
"cerebral effusions," convulsions," "hy-
drocephalus," "idiotcy," were the mildest of
the imputations and predictions
against the effects of chloroform, and imag-
ined to be hatching for the infant generation.
Simpson has answered them all by a fearless
investigation of the results to the mothers
and to the children. And although it may
be deemed a delicate subject into which to
be led, even by scientific philanthropy, these
results are so important to society that we
cannot help saying that he has-in a "Re-
port on the Early History and Progress of
his Great Discovery"-the motto of which,
from "Measure for Measure,”

hurled

And neither heaven nor man grieve at the inercy," "I do think you might spare her,

is alleged to have been contributed by an English lady-proved that there has been found a means of mitigating indescribable

66

one has challenged the Professor to single
combat. This unhappy man is a Dr. Col-
lins, of Dublin; who,
like that great
goose, Cato," as Tom Hood has it, has fallen
on his own sword. He has ventured to op-
pose Simpson upon data, which turn out to
be in reality the data of Dr. Collins himself

Maternity Hospital; only, Simpson shows as
clear as day, that all this experience has not
enabled the worthy Doctor to draw a single
accurate deduction!. Collins, in fact, is con-
victed of the most enormous Irish bull on
record; and Simpson's drollery in proving
the untenable absurdity of his opponent's
position, is about as amusing a thing as could
be perused. Dr. Collins complains, that by
not stating his practice to be "the most
successful on record," Simpson has done
him wrong; and adds, "I believe you would
not intentionally pluck the laurel off my
brow." But the Professor has not only the
cruelty deliberately to substantiate that there
is no laurel to pluck, but that a much more
successful practice being on record, Dr.
Collins must surrender the laurel. Oh.
horror! to the female practitioners; or, as
Simpson has it, "real petticoated midwives"
of the London Maternity Hospital.

human agony, removing those anxieties which the dread anticipation of these sufferings have occasioned, and thus in many respects benefiting the patients, besides producing a great saving of human life, in respect of the increased number of children born alive. Professor Simpson adverts to the opposition encountered by the greatest mod--namely, some 16,000 cases in the Dublin ern improvements in practical surgery and medicine-such as the ligature of arteries, the discovery of vaccination, and the first employment of antimony, ipecacuanha, chinchane bark, &c. The London physicians, he states, have on several occasions specially distinguished themselves by their determined and prejudicial opposition to all innovations in practice not originating among themselves. When Robert Talbor, of Essex, removed to London in the 17th century, and employed chinchane bark in the cure of the common agues of the metropolis, "he found," says Simpson, "that as he gained the favor of the world, he lost that of the physicians of London; and apparently their persecution of him was such, that the king was at last obliged to interfere, and in the year 1678 King Charles II. sent a royal mandate to the College of Physicians, commanding the president, Dr. Micklethwait, "and the rest of the College of Physicians, not to give Talbor molestation or disturbance in his practice." Sydenham, Harvey, and other illustrious names, are mentioned among the obstructives on this occasion. In a previous instance, the president had actually sent Groenvelt, the discoverer of the use of cantharides, to Newgate, for using his remedy. In like manner, a member of the London College of Physicians, in 1805, urged the propriety of putting down "the beastly of cow-pox; and in September, 1848, the "London Medical Gazette' suggested, whether the practice of relieving women by anæsthetics should not "be considered criminal according to law!" Dr. Simpson has thus had to combat objections, religious and moral as well as medical, to his practice. Some parts of the controversy, had we not the pile of printed pamphlets before us, might be even thought preposter

new disease

ous.

He has had to show cause against an alleged attempt to disturb the permanence of the primeval curse! He maintains that the disputed word "sorrow," Etzeb, (in sorrow shalt thou bring forth children,) does not in the original Hebrew really signify the sensation of pain; and he has had to answer, in detail, the plea of allowing "nature" to conduct the case. Amongst his antagonists,

atrocious crime of youth. Every day I get older, "You accuse me," says Simpson, "of the and every day I feel more and more the vast

amount of work that yet remains to be done by us all; and I would fain excite you, if I could, to expend more of your abilities and talents upon the real advancement of that branch of medicine which you and I practise. Further, you seem to suppose that the seeing an enormous number of cases is the means by which this advancement is to be accomplished, and that my want of experience (as you choose to term it) is enough to prevent me aiding in this good work. But I beg you again to remember that it is not a mere mass of cases seen that has ameliorated or will ameliorate the state of midwifery. In your hospital upwards charge of different masters. If we except, howof 150,000 women have been delivered, under the ever, the names of Auld and Clarke, I cannot at

this moment recollect that any one of your other physicians, when acting as masters, has added a single new fact to obstetric science, or propounded a single new principle in obstetric prac

tice."

Along with the Rev. Dr. Fleming, Mr. Hugh Miller and Professor Balfour united in contributing, in the course of last year, to a volume projected by Mr. James Crawford, junior, W. S., and entitled "The Bass Rock." There were other contributors to this volume-the Rev. Thomas M'Crie, who possesses no little of the style and spirit of

his venerated relative, the biographer of
Knox; and the Rev. James Anderson, an
industrious rather than illustrious compiler
of biographies. As we have no anxiety,
however, at least in the present article, to
review the book, we must limit ourselves to
Mr. Hugh Miller and Dr. John Hutton
Balfour. The former is a popular and
graphic party writer, who has struck out
his path from the bottom of a quarry to the
top of a tower, through a mass of red sand-
stone; his "Walks," his "Cromarty," and,
finally, his "First Impressions of England,"
sufficiently explain what we mean. The geo-
logical regions before noticed, which he has
invested with a charm, through the mere
felicity of language, are now assigned pecu-
liarly as his province; and no one need dis-
pute the sway he has established over his
empire. In combination with a peculiar line
of reading, both in poetry and romance, and
a partiality for the older writers of the last
half century, Mr. Hugh Miller supplies an
amusing occasional chapter, of the character
of a melange, to our present stock of publi-
cations. He lives in comparative seclusion,
and does not mingle much in society; and,
from the details of chance conversations in
railway and stage coaches, frequently re-
peated for the benefit of his readers, we
should judge that he had much yet to ac-
quire from social intercourse. He is editor
of the Witness; but most of the successful
papers from his pen have evidently rather
been designed for separate publication than
for the columns of a newspaper. Professor
Balfour, again, seems to observe the maxim
very strictly, ne sutor ultra crepidam. His
rencontre with the Duke of Atholl in Glen
Tilt has brought up his name in connection
with the popular movement of "the right
of way," with which we believe, however,
he has little to do: and, indeed, the Pro-
fessor's labors are confined almost exclusively
to botanical science, in which he is fortu-
nately an enthusiast. His "School Botany,"
which the Messrs. Griffin, of Glasgow, are
about to produce, will be the most practical
work of instruction that has yet appeared.
We had almost forgot that the Professor is
one thing more than a botanist. He is a
philanthropist; and his philanthropy is di-
rected in a diagonal line betwixt religion and
education. The "ragged schools," and other
schemes of social elevation, have had the
free gift of the learned Professor's exertions;
but he usually takes along with him Dr.
Greville, Captain Grove, and other members
of the Rev. Mr. Drummond's (Episcopal) |

congregation, of which all these benevolent gentlemen are office-bearers. Dr. Greville we ought to mention as the most accomplished cryptogamic botanist of the age, as well in the description as in the delineation of plants and species, and favorably known as a translator of some of the most learned German scientific treatises.

We must now approach "the mob of gentlemen who write with ease"--although there are some to be disposed of previously, who scarcely merit that title. There is Principal Lee, who, perhaps, could not do anything with ease," because the Principal is rather painstaking in his compositions. His inaugural addresses at the University are decidedly relished by the students, and annually attract a tolerable attendance. The Principal is more celebrated for his knowledge than for his production of books. With the exception of Dr. Irving, late of the Advocates' Library, he is, perhaps, the first bibliopolist in the Modern Athens. Yet the stream of his discourses by no means runs deep-a quotation from the Greek or Latin classics, and a commendation of the style of Robertson as an historian, with a few common-places respecting the good behavior of youth, and the enumeration of the wellthumbed principles, that "virtue is its own reward, and vice its own punishment;" these are the characteristics of the addresses of Principal Lee. The Rev. Dr. Hetherington is a genuine literary man, who has seen the life of a divinity student in all its phases, from tutor and teacher to professor. His Church History is an able production, and shows that he is capable of great things. The Rev. Dr. William Lindsay Alexander, as a reviewer and pamphleteer, stands deservedly high in public estimation. His sermons on the death of Dr. Chalmers, and of Dr. Russell, of Dundee, are amongst the best obituary discourses we have ever read. Mr. John Hill Burton, an author of great ability, universality, and research, merits more than a passing notice; and were not his edition of the "Correspondence of David Hume," and his "Lives of Simon Lord Lovat," and "Duncan Forbes of Culloden," already familiar to our readers, we would assuredly pause emphatically on the merits of John Hill Burton. As a law author, he is known favorably and even popularly; and his labors in compiling the legal portion of that business annual, "Oliver and Boyd's Edinburgh Almanac," are highly appreciated by the public, and have confirmed the reputation of the work. Messrs. Parker