New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-03-10

Az b,eio1oo, s strictly defined 10 be the science
Of vital actions or living forces, II cannot fal to be
directly and profoundly affected 10y the views which
are entertained of the philosophy Of forces 1t rs well
known that this great department oil science has nm
dercone a revolution during the past generation.
The doctrine of the conservation of forcethat force
bejpg as indestructible as matter persists in its total
amount and the doctrine of the correlation of forces
that the various forms of energy are mutually con
vertble are recognized by the physicists of all
nations as great fundamental truths with which the
various special sciences 10 be brought into har-
mOny The principles hero involved are so vast, so
| pregnant and so reyolutiOnizing, that their full
working out in all the departments of science must
be slow cautious. and difficult labor Of time Ppof
Huxley has dealt with this subject jim its physiological
bearings with great tact and Judgment. Without
going formally into the question, and without com
uniting himself to any of its doubtful or contested
aspects he tactly accepts the doctrine and treats the
subject of physiology from that point OF view.
Physiology is the doctrine of functions OF vital acty-
tiles But these phenomena are manifested through
definitely structural organisms, so that before the
functions or activities can be understood something
mast be known of the mechanism by which they are
conditioned and manifested. certain amount of
anatomy is therefore the inevitable accompaniment
and indispensable preliminary Of physiological study
as is essential TO comprehend the functons-so much
| rs is necessary to interpret the living organism
6ypopicqLu and he then considers the physiological
problem as a question of the disturbance and rcsto-
ration of equilibrium between the reception and OK
pendture of matter and force The functions OF all
mentation circulation respiration and secretion ana
the exercise of physical and mental power are con-
sdered in the light of losses and gains TO the system
and with constant reference to the physiological
balance of forces.
When we reflect to what an extent bodily ana
| mental health, vigor, and endurance are dynamical
questions involving exhaustion and recovery OF
physiological power-how growth, or the increase oil
mass and development the perfectng of structure
and how the calorifying, digestive and asSimilatng
functions. and the expenditure of muscular and ner
vous energy are all but so many antagonizing claims
upon the limited stock of vital power and that any
excessive draft Of either IS at the expense OF the
others it is apparent how supremacy important ana
fruitful of the highest benefits is this method OF
| viewing the living economy.
| The circumstances which have led to the twofold
authorship of this volume are thus explained by Dr.
Youmans in his preface.
NV friend and teacher Professor Huxley having been
for considerable time engaged in the preparation OF
elementary work on Physiology, such brief intervals
could snatch his labOriOus scientific researches
and IL having been suggested to him that ITS Tepublca
ton this country might De desirable, ho conhded the
early sheets of the work TO 20 make such additions
of matter and notifications of form as might thought
proper adapt ii the circumstances aud requirements OF
American education This have done 10 the pest OF my
9ed1% my s ON the relation q Physiology to the
other sciences and the last seven forming Part ~ which
treats briefly OF general Hygiene or me aIphe.lon IN
the principles Of Physiology 10 the art Of preserving
health. l have also numbered the paragraphs OF the
work continuously, preiXed headings 10 them, ana ap'
| pended set Of questions 10 tire whole.
| We are satisfied that upon an examination Of
| the work, the great majority Of teachers viii
coincide with the American editor in his estimate Of
| what the work required 10 adapt it TO tho educa-
ional wants of the country. Professor HuXleys book
is strictly limited TO the subject Of human physio-
Iogy, and occupies but PSI pages of the volume IL IS
TO be remembered that schoOl-books IL England are
prepared less with reference TO the general wants or
needs of the public than to the rigorous governmental
examinations by which education in that country is
| LARGELY regulated To what extent that SYSTEM Is
superior to our own it is not necessary here 10 IN
oure VIC only refer 10 it IN Its influence upon the
construction Of textbooks which tends to limit them
strictly to the specific topics in reference to which
the author has achieved his position. For this reason
Professor Huxley does not travel beyond his legitl
mate physiological sphere.
| But the educational uSages in this country are
different. We have no enforced system of eXamua-
ton and whether for good for evil the choice of
| textbooks and the manner of dealing with these
subjects are open to the largest discretion on tho part
| of teachers There is also with a requirement
moro urgent than exists anywhere else that school
books shall be of practical character-that they
shall present the uses and applications of knowledge
as well as its purely scientific relations Especially
in physiology il is undcniabe that there is growing
demand that increasing attention shall be gwen to
| questions of personal and public hygiene. And as,
in most cases the student will take up but one work
on physiology in the course of his studies, IL seems
Indispensable that the facts of hygiene should be
considered in connection with it, There IS, however.
a great advantage in their separate treatment. ~ IN
the volume before whore the student rs masters
the physiology and then proceeds to the study OF ls
hygienic applications. Dr. Youmans takes mp the
subject systematically in series Of chapters on the
scope and aims of hygiene on air and health. water
aud health food and health. clothing and health,
exercise and health and in his closing chapter he
treats with considerable uness the subject OF mental
hygiene This chapter of fortywo pages treats ofst
body and mind second tie forms Of mental impair
ment third the causes Of mental impairment; and
we regard it the most important part OF the book
In their private capacities and also Jurors
constantly liable TO be called upon to form judgments
upon the subject of mental sOuudness and 10 act upon
/ these judgments. Within a century revolution has
taken place in mems ideas upon the nature and causes
! OF mental impairmcnt-a revolution that has re-
suited in one of the most saluary changes Of policy
which has taken place in the course OF human affairs
But, although all are interested in this change and
the knowledge which has led 20 it, little has been
done to diffuse information concerning it among the
peopeit is still an affair Of the medical profession
Upon no subject perhaps is there so wide and deep
a gulf between what science has established and the
current habits of popular thought as is illustrated By
mental hygiene. And the matter is hardly touched
upon in any of our current physiological textbooks,
we are glad that Dr. Youmans has gwen it so full a