New-York daily tribune., 1845-03-26
s,yedenbors,. Animal Alngdom., .


This wonderful man is clearly destined 10 be ac-
knowledged as one CT the great lights OF the race
HIS scientific works, which have hitherto remained
locked up IN the obscurity of the Laun, arc now
appearing in az English Translation and the pro-
foundest minds are aslonished at the gigantic pow.
ers which they display. The Animal Kingdom" p"
in two large volumes, 8ro. has recently appeared
from the London press, the character Of whichmay
be Judged Of from the following notices, the one
from the London " Forceps,'' Medical Journal, and
the other IRON the sc Monthly Review The wri-
ters neither of them in the interests of the New
Church, nor believers in the divine mission OF Swe
denborg.
This is the most remarkable theory OF the hu-
man body Of that mas ever fallen ia our hands; and
by Emanuel SwedenboTg, too man whom We
had always been taught 10 regard as either tool,
mailman, or an Imposor, or perhas an untehnable
compound OF all the three. Wonders, II seems,
never trW cease and therefore We're better hence
forth 20 look ou, for theu, aud accept them when
ever they present themselves and make them into
ordinary things IN that way. For thereby we may
be saved from making wonderful asses OF ourselves
and craft Tor enlightened posterIty 10 laugh AT
g To return 10 our book, can honesty assure
ou. readers (Which ls more Than 1t would be sale
to do in all cases,) that we have carefully read
through both volumes If ii, bulky though they De,
and have gained much philosophical insight from II
INTO the chains OF ends and causes that govern IN
the human organism. What has 'he world been
doing for the past century to let this great system
slurnb-r on the Shelf and TO after host OF little
buebotiles of hypothe>es winch were ncveriramed
to live for more than short part OF single season!
1t is clear that it yet knows nothing OF It's great
e., men, The fact ls, II has been making money,
or trying 10 make II, and grubblng after worthless
reputation unt has lost its eyesIsht Tor the stars
of Heaven and the sun that is shining above H.
Emanuel Swedenborgs doctrine Is altogether
the widest thing Of the kind which medical li,era-
lure affords, and cast lnto an aristlcai shape OF
consunmate beauty. Under the nch drapery OF
ornament which dversies his pages, there runs
framework of the truest reasoning. The book IS
perfect mine OF principles, far exceeding IN intel
lectual wealth. and surprising IN elevation, the
finest efforts OF Lord Bacon's genius II treats OF
the oftes subjects without abstruseness, being al
ultimately retcrable 10 the common sense oil man
kind Unlike the German trdnscendentalists this
gifted Swede fulls both the requisites oil the true
philosopher: he Is one to whom the lowest things
ascend, and the highest descend, who is the equal
and kindly brother oi all There is no triiilng
about hm but hc forth his opinions, lrrespeci-
i've of controversy, with plainness OF affirmation
which cannot be mistaken: and in such close and
direct terms, that TO give full idea OF his system in
other words would require that we lesser men
should write larger volumes than h!s own.
The plan of the work is this: Swedenborg first
gives extracts from the greatest anatomsts OF his
own and former times, such as Malpishi Leuwen-
hoek, Morsasnl, Swammerdam,, Hester, Wins
low, &c. &c so that these volumes contain
body of old anatomy Translated now into close
Engllsh) such as cannot be met with III this
shape elsewhere. He then gives his own unln-
curnbered deductions from this experience. IN
der the heading analysis Each organ OF the
horax and abdomen in this way has a two-fold
chapter allotted to lis consideration, which chapter
is a complete little essay, or we might say, elnc,
upon the subject. The philosophical unity OF the
work is astonishing, and serves 10 unlock the most
abslruse organs, such az the spleen, ,hymuS gland,
supra-renal capsules, and other parts upon which
Swcdenborg has dilaed with an anal ytlc efficacy
which the moderns have not even approached;
and of which the ancients afforded scarcely an IN
dicaton. Upon these more mysterious organs, we
think his views most suggestive and valuable, and
worthy of the whole attention OF the better minds OF
the medical profession. " tue doctrine OF series.
since called by the less appropriate term, homo
cgy,' he has Afforded the most singular illustra-
tions, not contnng himself TO the law Of series n
the solids, but boldly pushing II into the domain OF
the fluids and this with an energy OF purpose, and
IA strength of conception and execution, such as Is
rarely shewn by any nine men In these degenerate
days We opened this book with surprise, sur
prise grounded upon the name and tame ct the
author, and upon the daring affirmative stand
which he takes IN timfh3; we close II with deep
laid wonder, and with an ANXIOUS wish that II may
not appeal in vain 10 profession which may gam
tifcallv, from the priceless truths contained IN lis
pages
The language of The Alonthly Review, June iStl,
is equally emphatic:
"ln conclusion, we record our opinion positively,
and not relatively. wholly and without reservation,
that if the mode OF reasoning and explanation adopt
ed by Swedcnborg be once understood, the anato-
mist and physlolosst will acquire more lniorma-
on aud obtain a more comprehensive view OF the
human body, and It's relation TO higher sphere,
than from any single book ever published nay, we
NAV add, than from all the books which have been
written Especially in modern umesl on physiology,
or as 1t has been lately named, uanscendenta ana
tony. Swedenborg reasons not on any hypothesis.
no, on any theory, not on any iavorite doctrlne OF
fashionable school, but on the solid PRINCIPLES of
geometry, based on the immuta6e rock OF Truth;
and he must and will be considered al no distant
period the Zoroaster of Europe. and the Prone
theus of new era of reason, however at present
the clouds of prejudice may intervene, or the
storms opasscn obscure the corruscatIors OF hisl ln
tellect."