"Mr. Headlam has, no doubt, forgotten the well-known remark of the late Dr. James Johnson, physician to King William the Fourth, that there was as much quackery in the profession as there was out of it.' The same gentleman, moreover, declares it as his conscientious opinion, founded on long observation and reflection, that if there were not a single surgeon, apothecary, man-midwife, chemist, druggist, or drug on the face of the earth, there would be less sickness and less mortality than now prevail.' As respects this country,' remarks Dr. Elliotson, I cannot but think if all the patients in Asiatic cholera had been left alone, the mortality would have been much the same as it has been.'

"Sir Anthony Carlisle used to say, 'Hospitals are institutions in which medical education is perfected by murder.'

"So far as my experience in medical matters goes,' remarks Dr. Dickson, ' few people in these times are permitted to die of disease-the orthodox fashion is to die of the doctor.' Dr. Billing says, I visited the different schools of medicine, and the students of each hinted, if they did not assert, that the other sects killed their patients.' Franks says, ‘Thousands are slaughtered in the quiet sick room,' Reed says, 'More infantile subjects are, perhaps, annually destroyed by the pestle and mortar than in the ancient Bethlehem fell victims in one day to the Herodian massacre.' Speaking of the plague, Dr. Madden says, 'In all our cases we did as other practitioners did, we continued to bleed-and the patients continued to die.' Sir A. Cooper gave it as his opinion that the science of medicine was founded on conjecture, and improved by murder.' These observations, made at different times by medical men of eminence in the old school, will show in what degree of estimation they held that profession which it is now proposed to endow with such extraordinary power and privileges. Surely the public generally is becoming awake, and, what is rather disagreeable to some minds, very knowing in matters beyond their calling. Many begin shrewdly to suspect that the old treatment is wrong in principle, and they will, ere long, demand a change, by employing those only who cure by simple and natural means. Sir William Knighton said, 'Medicine seems one of those ill-fated arts whose improvement bears no proportion to its antiquity.' Abernethy remarked, There has been, of late years, a great increase of medical men; but, upon my life, diseases have increased in proportion.'"

HISTORY.

1. "A COMPENDIUM OF CHRONOLOGY, FROM THE CREATION OF THE WORLD TO THE END OF THE YEAR 1854." By. F. H. Jaquemet. Edited by the Rev. John Alcorn, M.A. Cl., post, 8vo., pp. 339. Longman & Co. 1855.

THIS is in every respect an excellent work, and one which should be used as a text book, if not as a class book, in every good school in which general history is one of the subjects pursued. To students and lovers of history -of whom there are very many, we are happy to say-this "Compendium of Chronology" will assuredly prove an invaluable assistance. To say that a better book on the subject could not be produced would be absurd; but it is not too much to say, that no book that has been published on the subject presents so large an amount of very carefully arranged matter in so small a compass. The typographical arrangement is admirable. It is as follows:

Kings of Judah, and afterwards Kings of England, in old English. Kings of Israel, and afterwards Kings of Scotland, in Roman capitals. Emperors of Germany in Egyptian type. Kings of France in italic capitals. The Popes in small italic capitals. Illustrious Men in small Roman capitals. The History of the Bible, and afterwards that of the British Empire, in italics. Ecclesiastical History in smaller italics. The most important Events in General History in large Egyptian capitals. Literature, Discoveries, Inventions, &c., in the smallest type.

The reader is thus enabled to pursue any one thread of history without the contingency of being encumbered with numerous others. Again, two or more threads of history may be entwined without danger of entanglement. The accuracy which characterizes the continuous chronology is no less observable in the copious indices and useful tables which are appended to it. We congratulate Miss Jaquemet on her giving to the world a work which we doubt not will ere long become a favourite, not only in ladies' schools, but also in our universities and collegiate establishments. We are glad to observe, that the "Compendium of Chronology" is dedicated by permission to the amiable and learned Archbishop Whately, of Dublin; this not only reflects high credit on the kindness of so good a prelate and so great a man, but it also speaks volumes with regard to his appreciation of the merits of Miss Jaquemet's work. We trust that our fair readers will recommend the "Compendium of Chronology" in proportion to their satisfaction with it; if they do, we doubt not that a second edition will soon be called for.

"TYTLER'S ELEMENTS OF GENERAL HISTORY." New Edition. I vol. Cl., 12mo., pp. 512. Henry G. Bohn. 1855.

On the merits of Professor "Tytler's Elements of General History" it were superfluous to dilate; they are admitted by every experienced teacher: but many in the profession may not be aware that Mr. H. G. Bohn publishes an edition at a price which places it within the reach of pupils in even third-rate schools. The paper is good, and the type, although small, is beautifully clear. When the extraordinary cheapness of the book is considered, we may be deemed unreasonable in expressing dissatisfaction, or, rather, we would say disappointment, that in the edition before us, professing on the title-page to be "A New Edition, with Additions, Corrections, and Illustrations, and a Continuation, TO THE PRESENT TIME," and bearing the date 1855, the "Modern History" reaches no further than 1945, and the chronological table no further than 1844. We repeat it— we may be deemed unreasonable-but still we cannot refrain from express. ing our disappointment at finding so egregious a mis-statement of facts on the title-page of a publisher of whose respectability and integrity we enter

tain the highest opinion; if it were not from a firm conviction on our part that no wilful misrepresentation is intended, we should denounce such a proceeding in the strongest terms, even although the book were half as cheap as it is. It appears, however, that this "New Edition" is merely a reprint (without any addition whatever) of the "New Edition" of 1846; and that by an oversight, the words "to the present time" have been retained on the title page. We earnestly recommend Mr. Bohn, if he has many copies on hand, to have the words "year 1846" pasted over the words "present time." Teachers then, instead of having just cause of complaint at being deceived, will, we are sure, testify in a marked manner their sense of his praiseworthy enterprise in publishing so excellent a book at so low a price. "COURTENAY'S DICTIONARY OF ABBREVIATIONS, LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, COMMERCIAL, ECCLESIASTICAL, MILITARY, NAVAL, LEGAL, MEDICAL, &c., &c." By Edward S. C. Courtenay, Esq. Pp. 53. Groombridge and Sons.

THIS is certainly one of the most useful bocks of reference which has ever been submitted to our notice, and the price-sixpence only-is such as we doubt not will secure to it an extensive circulation. Such a work supplies a desideratum which has long been felt; and it will be regarded as an invaluable Dictionary Appendix, containing as it does considerably upwards of two thousand abbreviations.

Mr. Courtenay has exercised considerable judgment in his arrangement. The abbreviations are not classified with reference to subjects, but are ranged in alphabetical order, and after each one there is a parenthetical reference to the art, science, or profession in which it is principally used, thus: :

"Alt. hor. (prescriptions), Alternis horis-every other hour.
"Alth. (medico-botany), Althea-marsh-mallow."

In some of the Latin words we observe orthographical inaccuracies; but these we may reasonably suppose are merely typographical, and will be corrected in the next edition.

Mr. Courtenay and our literary friends generally will perhaps excuse us for calling especial attention to the necessity of carefully correcting proofsheets. It is often a very tedious operation, but always an important one. In the "Compendium of Chronology" (noticed in this number), we find not only errata printed in the work, but an additional list of about forty lines, printed on a loose fly leaf. Indeed it is rare to see a first edition without a list of errata, and in many cases the errata are unnoticed. Even experienced authors are often annoyed at finding that errors, such as the substitution of one word for another, have quite altered the sense of an important passage. Mr. Justin Brenan, to whose work we drew the attention of our readers some months since, says :

"Write all the terms of trade or science, proper names, foreign words, or those not in common use, particularly plain, by which you will escape some vexation and extra charges for correction. Observe, in such cases, to make every 7 and t very plain, and that it shall not appear doubtful if an n be a u, or a w an m. Though you may hear to the contrary, give me leave to tell you that our compositors are only obliged to know plain English. If, for civil, I write civit; for always, atways; for author, anthor; for common, commou-these they will spell right; but they are not supposed to know scarce or unusual, technical or foreign words."

In periodical literature errata is sometimes excusable. An editor is often sorely pressed for time, and has no opportunity of seeing a revise— that is, a second proof-sheet; but with books it is very different. However laboriously an author may have to work, he is expected to be particular with reference to printers' work. It is not for us to say that the public demand too much in requiring this, especially with regard to books of reference.

Although we make these remarks in connexion with our notice of Mr. Courtenay's "Dictionary of Abbreviations," it must not be inferred that he has been more negligent than is the wont of authors-we only regret that he has not been more careful. "There are spots in the sun." We must not be hyper-critical. That more abbreviations might have been added to the large collection so well arranged by Mr. Courtenay, we think is probable; but despite all defects and imperfections, "Courtenay's Dictionary of Abbreviations" is a work which we can confidently recommend. To the teacher and to the general reader it will prove a most useful vade mecum. No school should be without it.

"Russia and heR CZARS." By E. J. Brabazon. Cl., cr. 8vo., pp. 351. R. Theobald. 1855.

THE war, which now for some time past has been the public topic and the cause of so much national excitement and domestic sorrow, has given to Russia and her Czars an unenviable importance in history. Unenviable because inseparable from associations far from favourable-instancing, as they do, a populous and powerful nation enslaved by its rulers, but doubly enslaved in an enlightened age, by ignorance and its repulsive progeny, superstition and vice.

Miss Brabazon-the author of "Home Happiness," a little work which we noticed favourably some months since, has exercised no small share of discrimination in the compilation of a history of Russia and her Czars which, whilst interesting to everybody, is peculiarly adapted to the young. From the best works on Russian history, Miss Brabazon has selected the most graphic passages, and re-cast them with such judgment and taste that every incident is recorded with the ease of a novellist and the earnestness of the historian. Nothing important to be known is omitted-nothing which

might not be read in the family circle or in the school-class is inserted. If revolting deeds of cruel barbarity are alluded to, it is because Russian history cannot otherwise be told. All that is praiseworthy is recorded by our fair author in terms of evident satisfaction; she, with the gentleness and generosity which characterize her sex, forbears from vituperent remarks, even when opportunities occur. She writes her history as impartially as if we were not at war with the subject of it. From the very many anecdotes by which the author's remarks are illustrated, we select the following, relative to the Emperor Nicholas :

"Passing, on a winter's evening, by one of the guard-houses in St. Petersburgh, he had the curiosity to see what was going on in the interior. The officer on duty was seated near a table, tranquilly sleeping, but with helmet on, sword at his side, and accoutrements irreproachable. The emperor made a sign to the sentinel to let him enter, and, approaching the table, he perceived on it a paper, on which the following memorandum was written:

"State of my Expenses and of my Receipts:—

“'Who will pay this sum ?—This question terminated the account, and the officer, unable to find any answer, had fallen asleep with the pen in his hand. The emperor approached him, and having recognized one of the best-conducted amongst his guards, took the pen gently and wrote beneath the appalling question the significant name of 'NICHOLAS.' He then quietly withdrew, without awakening the officer, or having been seen by any other of the soldiers on guard. The surprise of the guardsman may be imagined, who, on awaking, found the emperor's signature on the paper before him, and learned the mysterious visit with which he had been favoured. The next morning, to his further surprise and delight, he was presented by an orderly with a letter from Nicholas, in which he was admonished to choose for the future better time and place to sleep, but to continue, as in the past, to serve his emperor, and to take care of his

mother."

As the publisher, Mr. Theobald, offers to send to schools a specimen copy for a shilling less than the publishing price, we recommend principals to avail themselves of the opportunity of forming their own opinion of a book which we consider adapted to the purposes either of a school-book or a prize-book.