Professor Beck has furnished data for other estimates, which would not be without interest, but we shall leave it with our readers to supply our omissions.

D.

ART. XVIII.-A Catalogue of Plants, Native and Naturalized, in the vicinity of Columbus, Ohio. By Wм. S. SULLIVANT, 1840, p. 63.

Why do so few of our young physicians, a vast majority of whom practise medicine in the country, devote themselves to the study of Botany? Can not nature, with her brilliant hues and balmy odors, captivate them? Do they not appreciate the fact, that new discoveries might be made, and their names handed down to posterity? Do they recognize no relations between Botany and Materia Medica? Between vegetable and animal Physiology? We have always marvelled, that, living in the depths of a wilderness but half subdued, so small a number of students of medicine, and of our young men of wealth and leisure generally, should turn to the cultivation of this delightful science. Thirty years ago, there was an excuse for this neglect, in the difficulty of obtaining suitable books-either elementary or practical; but that difficulty no longer exists; and for a few dollars, an adequate library may be obtained. The author of the pamphlet before us, is a gentleman of leisure, but not of laziness; and although not under the necessity of being active in business, is active—even laborious, in collecting and studying the plants of his neigh

bourhood. Would that more of our sons possessed his taste. Mr. Sullivant has arranged his plants on the natural method of Lindley, which may be studied in the " Introduction to the Natural System of Botany," of that distinguished Botanist, edited by Torrey and republished in New York. Of the two hundred and seventy-two natural orders in that system, the catalogue of Mr. S. embraces one hundred and twentyseven, of which but two are exclusively exotic. This, considering the narrow limits of his locality, seems very remarkable; and depends, perhaps, first on its latitude, about 40° N., combining the climatorial influences of the temperate zone: and second, on its geological character. This is essentially diluvial, though there are tracts in which a compact secondary lime-stone shows itself. The diluvium has evidently been brought from the distant north, as much of it is primitive, and it may be traced towards the lakes; which, it is clear, once discharged great quantities of water over the summit levels of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

Among the native genera of this catalogue, we notice more than forty, which embrace species, known to be medicinal or poisonous—if the distinction may be allowed. But how little do we know of the component parts, and action on the living body, of our native plants. As yet, a most superficial examination is all that the majority of them has received; and there the physicians of the United States seem to have stopped.

A few monographs, botanical, pharmaceutic and chemical, have, it is true, been put forth, but the work, has in fact, only been commenced. This is the inevitable effect, of the slight chemical and botanical training to which our students of medicine are subjected.

We trust that Mr. S. will continue his labours, gradually

extending his field of observation, and that many other floras will at no distant time, be the consequence of his example. It is only by their aid, that a general and complete catalogue of our plants can be made out. Such a work is much wanted, and we are happy to know that our confrere, Professor Short, is preparing such a work for the press. His personal researches for twenty-five years, have eminently prepared him for giving to the world a flora of the central parts of the United States.

We ought to state that Mr. S. is desirous of exchanging specimens, with other botanists: and that his brother Mr. John Sullivant, who is devoted to the study of the mineralogy and organic remains, of the west, will be pleased to make similar exchanges with other naturalists.

D.

ART. XIX.-The Philadelphia Practice of Midwifery. By CHARLES D. MEIGS, M. D., Philadelphia, 1838. I vol. 8vo. Pp. 370.

THE author of this unpretending little volume has been extensively and favorably known to the profession in this country since 1831, by his translation of Velpeau's Midwifery. He has been engaged for several years in the practice and teaching of obstetrics, and the work before us, we are informed in the dedication, is rather an expression of his own reflections and experience than a dry compilation of materials to be found every where in the obstetric library, and as such he

hopes it may be found serviceable to students. We do not doubt that his hope will be realized, and we venture to add that practitioners, who have enjoyed less favorable opportunities than the author for keeping up with the progress of the science, and acquiring a practical acquaintance with its important subjects, will derive from its perusal more precise views than they have hitherto possessed, and much useful information. Not that we are able to say that the author has exhibited much, if any originality, (for who, indeed, can lay claim to such distinction at this day, in a science which, as Velpeau expresses it in the introduction to the second edition of his "Traite Complet de l'art des Accouchemens," derives its essential principles from the laws of mechanics or is founded upon exact anatomy, giving to it a precision approaching the certainty of the mathematical sciences,) but he has shown himself familiarly acquainted with all that has been discovered or written on the subjects which he discusses. The easy, unaffected, yet chaste and correct style that is observed throughout the book, together with its freedom from learned parade, and the perfect candour and good faith that appear conspicuous on every page, impart to it a charm that is quite captivating, and force the conviction that we are communing with an accomplished teacher and a most estimable man. Such a work as the present, if we do not greatly err, was much needed in this country; the writings of Dr. Dewees, which occupy a tutelary rank in the library of almost every practitioner, excellent as they are in many respects, are liable to some very weighty objections. Among these, not the least is the space allotted to critical disquisitions of little practical moment, and a general diffusiveness, which, when employed upon trival matters, becomes irksome to the reader. This is a fault that does not attach to Dr. Meigs' book; in

deed, it may be questioned if certain important subjects are not despatched with too great brevity, as, for example, puerperal convulsions. In the main, however, we think the author has succeeded in furnishing a compendium of obstetrics, which will be highly prized by students, in attendance on a course of lectures, and by practitioners, as a book of reference. Again, the system of Dr. Dewees, (but this is no fault of his,) contains some errors of doctrine and practice, which have been disclosed since he wrote. In embryology he adopts substantially the views of the Hunters, which have been implicitly received by almost all writers and teachers until a very recent period. It is but a short time, for example, since the correctness of John Hunter's account of the structure of the placenta was called in question, and yet, if any faith may be given to the most careful inquiries of Velpeau, Lee, and others, it was founded upon a delusion resulting from the manner in which the great physiologist attempted to investigate it. Certainly, if the placenta be examined in situ, and without doing violence to its structure by forcing injections of wax into it, nothing like a maternal and fatal portion will be discovered, nor will large arteries be seen passing from the uterus into pretended cells in its substance. The placenta belongs, in truth, exclusively to the fœtal system, and is composed entirely of its blood vessels, arteries and veins, connected by cellular tissue, and has no vascular connexion with the uterus, save by capillary vessels, and the existence of even these is doubted or denied by Velpeau. It may be regarded, then, as the capillary termination of the vascular system of the fœtus, in apposition with the uterus for the purpose of deriving from thence its supplies of nutriment and oxygen, or whatever is imparted in respiration.

"

The observations of Dr. Meigs go to confirm the truth of