cludes by expressing his past obligations to Mr. Boodle; for he says, with admirable modesty and candour, "for Mr. Boodle first instructed "me how to detect disorders of the digestive

organs, when their local symptoms were so "trivial as to be unnoticed by the patient." He urges Mr. Boodle to publish also his own observations on the subject, because any remarks from one who observes the progress of disease, "with such sagacity and accuracy, "cannot but be interesting." We are quite aware how feeble our attempt has been to do justice to this admirable book. But nothing can do that but a careful study of the various principles which it either suggests, dimly shadows forth, or deeply and beautifully unfolds.

Through not a very short life, we have had ample opportunity of testing these principles by the bed-side, and of endeavouring to connect some of them with the laws in obedience to which they occur; and we are free to declare our impression that when the book is studied with the requisite previous knowledge, and freedom from preconceived opinion; and when tested

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VALUE OF HIS PRINCIPLES.

and carried out in principle, as distinguished from any adhesion to mere matters of detail; we think it infinitely more valuable than all other professional works whatever. In examining the truths it unfolds, or in our humble endeavours elsewhere at a more analytical or extended application of them, like Abernethy, we have rested our reasoning wholly on facts and observations which are acknowledged and indisputable.

Whilst other views have only led to a practice in the highest degree empirical, or what is worse, conjectural; those of Abernethy's lead often directly, but always when duly studied, to a practice at once clear, definite, and in the sense in which we shall qualify the word, "positive," -that is, one which gives us the power, (when we really have the management of the case,) of predicting the success or failure; which is at least a ripple indicative of a coming science.

In order, however, to carry out this clearly, we shall at once add what we think necessary to the profession and the public on the subject. The general relation of Abernethy's labours to a real and definite science will be better de

veloped in our concluding Summary; when we may have an opportunity of stating what further appears to have been done and what is yet required. It will have been perhaps already observed that Abernethy's views involve a few very simple propositions: first, that disturbance of a part is competent to disturb the whole system; and conversely, that disturbance of the whole system is competent to disturb any part. That the disturbance may commence in the brain or nervous system, may then disturb the various organs, and that these may again by reflected action disturb the brain, and so reciprocally; and that in all these cases tranquillity of the digestive organs is of the very first consequence; not merely from its abstract importance, but from the influence it exerts on the state of the nervous system.

With respect to any influences immediately directed to the nervous system, these we apprehend to be few and simple; some kinds of medicine, are, no doubt, in particular cases useful, none are susceptible of general application. None of them are certain, and

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UNCERTAINTY OF MEDICINES.

sedatives of all kinds, which appear to have the most direct influence on the nervous system, either require to be employed with the utmost caution, or are in the highest degree objectionable. But there are other direct influences, certainly; and very important they are. Quiet, avoidance of disturbing external impressions, whether of light, sound, temperature, &c., whether in fact of mind or body; but in the majority of mankind, how few of them we can, in a strictly philosophical sense, command. We are therefore driven to other sources of disturbance; and in the digestive organs we find those on which we can exert great influence, and in which tranquillity, however procured or under whatever circumstances, is certain, pro tanto, to relieve the whole system. This Abernethy attempted, and with a success which was remarkable in no cases more than those which had resisted all conventional modes of proceeding; by general measures, by simplicity of diet, by occasional solicitation of this or that organ, by air and exercise, and measures, which were directed to the general health. No doubt

CAUSES OF FAILURE EXAMINED.

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in some cases he failed, and so we shall in many; but let us look boldly at the cause, and see whether we do not fail a great deal more from our own ignorance than from any natural impossibility.

To examine the question, we must for the moment forget our admiration of Abernethy; be no longer dazzled by his genius, but look only to our duty; endeavour to discover his defects, or rather those of the state of the question when he left us, and see what further investigation has afforded in aid of supplying them.

In the first place, we must examine a little further that proposition which we have seen both in Hunter and Abernethy under different forms. Hunter says the disturbance of the organ sympathising is sometimes more prominent than that of the organ with which it sympathises. Abernethy says, that the organ primarily affected is sometimes little apparently disturbed, or not even perceptibly so.

very

Now, from both these statements, we find that there may be no signs in the primarily affected organ; which practically rendered is nothing more or less than saying that in many cases