The Press.
London, England, 1853-10-22 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

thing at all humorous it would be lighted np by his
halfshut, half-smiling, and habitually-benevolent eye.
His position was always easy and natural—sometimes
homely, perhaps. In the anatomical lecture he always
stood, and either leant against the wall with his arms
folded before him, or resting one hand on the table, with
the other perhaps in his pocket. In his surgical lecture
Ile always sat, and very gent-rally with one leg resting on
the other. He was particularly happy in a kind of cosi-
ness or friendliness of manner which seemed to identify
him with his audience, as if we were all about to investigate
sometloing interesting by/41w, and not as if we were
going to be "Its-tared at "sd all. lie spoke as if address-
ing each individual ; and his discourse, like a happy
portrait, always; seemed to be looking you in the face. His
voice pwillibnl rose above the osonversirtional, either in pitch
or tone. It was in general pleasing in quality, and en-
livened lay a wort of &winless of express' . Ills loudest
bone was never lipremsivi: to those nearest to hius, his
st subdued audible everywhere. The range of pitch
was very limited : the expression of the eye and a slight
modulation being the media by which he infused through
the lecture an agreeable variety, or gave to particular sew
tiutents the requisite expression.

A couple of the cases he related in his
lectures may find plaice here, as being cha-
racteristic of his 'style :
A gentleman, having recovered from a very serious ill-
ness, was threatened by the influence of the same causes
with a return of his malady. " lie thought," said Alter.
nethy, " that if he did not drink deeply he might eat like a
glutton." lie lived in the country, anti Mr. Alwrnethy
one day went down and dined with him. " Well," said
Alwruellty, " i saw hue was at his old tricks twain ;
being a merchant, I asked him what he would think of a
man who, having been thriving in business, had amassed
a considerable fortune, then Went and risked it all in some
imprudent speettlat' ?" " Why," said the merchant,
" 1 should think him a great ass." " Nay, then, sir," said
Abernethy, " thou art the awn."
Few old pupils will forget the story of the major who
had dislocated his jaw. This accident is a very simple
one. and easily put right ; butt having once happened is
apt to new on any unusual extension of the lower jaw.
Abernethy used to represent this as a frequent ocennence
with an hilarious major; but, as it generally happened at
mess, the surgeon went round to him, and immediately
put it in again. One day, however, the major was d' g
about fourteen miles fmtn the regiment, and, in a hearty
laugh, out went his jaw. They sent for the medical man,
whom, said Abernethy., we must call the apothecary. Well,
at first he thought that the jaw was dislocated; but he
began to pull anti to show that he knew nothing about the
broper mode of putting it right again. On this the major
gan to be very excited, and vociferated inarticulately in
a strange manner ; when, all at once, the doctor, as if he
had just hit on the nature of the case, suggested that the
major's cotnplaint was on his brain, and that he could not
be in his right mind. (In hearing this the major became
furious, which was regarded as confirmatory of the doctor's
opinion. 'They accordingly 'wised hint, confined him in a
strait waistcoat, and put him to bed, anti the doctor ordered
that the barber should be sett for to shave the head, and a
blister to he applied to the part atliTted. The major,
fairly beaten. ceased making resistance, but made the best
signs his situation and his impeded articulation allowed
for pen and paper. This being hailed as indicative of
returning rationality, writing materials were set before
him ; and as soon as he was sufficiently treed from his
bonds he write—" For (h l's sake, send for the surgeon
filthy regiment." This was accordingly dune, and the jaw
readily minced, as it had been often before. " I hope,"
added Abernethy, " you will never forget how to reduce a
climb tented jaw."

Ile held the post of hospital surgeon but
twelve years : he had worked hard, and had
not always taken that care of himself which he
reemninended to others. We have heard he
was accustomed to sad• that he was a finger-post
to show the way, not to walk in it. lie lived,
:Itel' worn in constitution, four years after-
wards. dying in his sixty-seventh year. His
earnest inquiry, penetrating intellect, and
even the eccentricity of his views, had good
effect in stimulating the medical mind of his
time, and inciting it to original research. It
is singular that Abernethy was horn about the
time Hunter settled in London, and that he
published his first work in the year that Hun-
ter died. Abernethy's lectures did justice to
Hunter's greatness. and to some extent carried
forward the views of that great man.

The name of Abernethy will probably sell
this book, indifferent as it is. Were Mr. Mac-
ilwain to expunge the matter tone half of the
whole we suppose) having no direct connection
with his subject, and make better use of the
sources of information, which must be
open to him, for collectift further facts, he
might easily make up a popular volume. The
public is very willing to receive a life of Aber-
nethy, but very unwilling, we imagine, to take
under that title the rambling views of Mr.
Mad!wain on men, matters, and medicine in
general.

SATURDAY,

NEV WORKS UN LO iIC.

1. The Art of Reasoning, de. With an Outline,
qf the History of Logie, and an Appendix an
Recent Logical Derelopments. With Notes.
Ily Samuel Neil. Loudon : Walton and
Nlal)erly.

2. ',vim' Science Considered as an Eduaitional
Element. Au Inaugural Address delivered in
the Theatre of the Royal College of Sur-
geons in Ireland, &e., by John Murray, A.M.,
LL.D., Professor
,of Logic in the Royal
College of Surgeons iu Ireland. Dublin :
Hodges and Smith.
I. A clever book, containing all that is usually
found in works on logic, illustrated by re-
ference to all sorts of authors and opinions.
The severe symmetry of a text-book is not
attained nor attempted ; but the different
parts of the subject are explained in clear and
lively language, impossible to be misunder-
stood. All the great logical miters are quoted,
and, in return for their assistance, cordially
praised. Those who wish for a popular view
of the subject—and„judging by the success of
Mr. Oilbares " Logic for the Million," they
must be many—will find something here to
meet their wants. Mr. Neil falls into the mis-
take—common enough —of supposing the
" Idola " of Bacon to be idols that men worship.
They are rather spectral shapes that beset
the mind and delude the vision; and the
word bears its Greek sense, as Bacon indicates
(" De Augmentis," b. v., ch. 4), by connecting
the term with Plato's " Myth of the Cave.
" Idolatry " has nothing to do with the matter.
Other mistakes there are—and no wonder—
but they do not affect the value of the volume,
which, as a popular compilation, takes a fair
place.
2. The lovers of logic may congratulate them
selves on such a sign of the times 'as the
appointment of a Professor of Logic to assist
in medical education. Of Professor Murray's
qualifications we would not judge from the
present pamphlet, which is somewhat crude.
IVe question whether the term " logics," as
distinct from " logic," " prevails in common
use at all"; and time is wasted in showing,
first, that these two words " must have some
inseparable affinity," which is pretty evident;
and then, that " logos," viewed as the origin
of one of these words, must have a more re-
stricted sense than when viewed as the origin
of the other, which is an error. Professor
Murray copies the very words and phrases of
other logicians without the least acknowledg-
ment. In four or five places this liberty is
taken with a well known manual by Mr. Thom
son, which is not even named throughout the
pamphlet; whilst large passages from Whately
and Mill occupy so much space that, if these
and the unacknowledged borrowings were re-
moved, all that remains of Professor Murray's
own might be covered by a midge's wing.

A Treatise on the Book if Common Prayer. By
the Bev. William Gilson ilumphry, B.D.
London : John W. Parker and Son.
MIR work has been composed " for the use of
the theological student," and its author hopes
that it may also be useful to the increasing
body of the laity who " desire to be intelligent
as well as faithful members of the Church."
A rival work to Wheatly should display great
4ierits to obtain success. This difficulty has
been felt by Mr. liumphry, who frankly ac-
knowledges the learning and piety of Wheatly,
but suggests that portions of his valuable
treatise are now obsolete. We concur to some
extent with that opinion, though the defects
of Wheatly, on close examination, will be
found more in the modes of his statement
than in respect of his matter. Some questions
of discipline which were of importance in his
day have in our times lost all but their
scholastic interest. On the other hand, the
Tractarian controversy has given fresh in-
terest to various other topics, and these we
might expect to find handled in a new
dissertation on the Prayer Book. We do not,
however, meet with so much of these in the
present case as we might look for from the
examining 4:Wean to the Bishop of JAoadou.