wards, that the shoulders may become fixed points; the muscles of the arm and shoulder then act as muscles of respiration, and aid in the motion of the chest, during the heaving and anxiety which belong to the disease." 195.

This description is rendered the more affecting, by being accompanied with a beautiful drawing of this masterpiece of Ctesilaus, representing (as Winkelmann has justly said) "a wounded man dying, who perfectly expressed what there remained of life in him."

There is an interesting section in one of these Essays, in which our author suggests some strictures on the pictorial representation of " Demoniacal possession," or Convulsionary attacks, by those great masters of their art, Domenichino and Raffaelle. One of the frescoes, by the former, in the Convent of the Grotto Ferrata near Rome, represents Saint Nilus in the act of miraculously curing a lad that is possessed with a devil. "Convulsions have seized him; he is rigidly bent back; the lower limbs spasmodically extended, so that his toes only rest on the ground; the eyes are distorted, and the pupils turned up under the eyelids. This would be the position of opisthotonos, were not the hands spread abroad, the palms and fingers open, and the jaw fallen. Had the representation been perfectly true to Nature, the jaws would have been clenched, and the teeth grinding. But then the miracle could not have been repre sented; for one, under the direction of the Saint, has the finger of his left hand in the boy's mouth, and the other holds a vessel of oil, with which the tongue is to be touched."

In the famous Cartoon by Raffaelle, of "The death of Ananias," the effect would have been more impressive-if it was really the painter's intention to excite horror--had there been greater truth in the convulsions of the dying sinner, instead of a mere twisting of the body.

"In the same painter's great picture of the Transfiguration, in the Vatican, there is a lad possessed, and in convulsions. I hope I am not insensible to the beauties of that picture, nor presumptuous in saying that the figure is not natural. A physician would conclude that this youth was feigning. He is, I presume, convulsed; he is stiffened with contractions, and his eyes turned in their sockets. But no child was ever so affected. In real convulsions, the extensor muscles yield to the more powerful contractions of the flexor muscles; whereas, in the picture, the lad extends his arms; and the fingers of the left hand are stretched unnaturally backwards. Nor do the lower extremities correspond with truth; he stands firm; the eyes are not natural; they should have been turned more inwards, as looking into the head, and partially buried under the forehead. The mouth, too, is open, which is quite at variance with the general condition, and without the apology which Domenichino had. The muscles of the arms are exaggerated to a degree which Michael Angelo never attempted; and still it is the extensors and supinators, and not the flexors, which are thus prominent." 161.

However strictly true such strictures may be, in a pathological point of view, our author candidly admits that, "were the painter to represent every circumstance (of such an attack) faithfully, the effect might be too painful; something must be left to his taste and imagination."

With two or three remarks on the Expression communicated by the eye in certain states of the system, we shall close our notice of this charming volume--charming alike by its physiological expositions, its artistic illustrations, and its classical allusions and extracts.

"The orbicularis muscle of the eyelids acts powerfully in certain kinds of expression. In laughing and crying, the outer circle of this muscle, as it contracts, gathers up the skin about the eye; and at the same time it compresses the eyeball. A new interest is given to the subject, when we inquire into the object of that compression. It has a distinct relation to the circulation of the blood within the eye. During every violent act of expiration, whether in hearty laughter, weeping, coughing, or sneezing, the eyeball is firmly compressed by the fibres of the orbicularis; and this is a provision for supporting and defending the vascular system of the interior of the eye from a retrograde impulse communicated to the blood in the veins at that time. When we contract the chest, and expel the air, there is a retardation of the blood in the veins of the neck and head; and in the more powerful acts of expulsion, the blood not only distends the vessels, but is even regurgitated into the minute branches. Were the eye not properly compressed at that time, and a resistance given to the shock, irreparable injury might be inflicted on the delicate textures of the interior of the eye. Hence we see a reason for the closed state of the eyelids, and wrinkling of the surrounding skin, and twinkling of the eye, in hearty laughter." 106.

Whenever there is an actual or impending stupefaction of the system, the voluntary or recti muscles of the eyeball resign their action to the oblique muscles; the effect of which is, that the eye revolves upwards, and the white of the ball is exposed; at the same time, the levator palpebræ superioris yields, in sympathy with the oblique muscles, to the action of the orbicularis which closes the eye, and the eyelid drops. It is the struggle of the drunkard to resist, with his half-conscious efforts, the rapid turning-up of the eye, and to preserve it under the control of the voluntary muscles, that makes him see things distorted or double; and strive, by arching his eyebrows, to prevent the dropping of the upper eyelid. The puzzled appearance which this gives rise to, along with the relaxation of the lower part of the face, and the slight paralytic obliquity of the mouth, completes the degrading expression. In another passage our author beautifully observes: "There is sometimes in death a fearful agony in the eye; but we have said, that it is consolatory to know that this does not indicate suffering, but increasing insensibility. The pupils are turned upwards and inwards. This is especially observed in those who are expiring from loss of blood. It is the strabismus patheticus orantium of Boerhaave. Sauvages observes on this rolling up of the eyeball, in dying children,- Vulgo aiunt hos tenellos suam patriam respicere.' The vulgar say, that these little ones are looking to their native home.'"

ON DIET, WITH ITS INFLUENCE ON MAN. Being an Address to Parents, &c., or how to obtain Health, Strength, Sweetness, Beauty, Development of Intellect, and Long Life. By Thomas Parry. Octavo, pp. 119. Highley. London, Nov. 1844.

The

To works emanating from regular practitioners, we have seldom seen a more taking title prefixed, than the one at the head of this article. words "sweetness,' and "beauty," will attract the attention of a con

siderable number of damsels and dandies, whose mirrors have sometimes raised suspicions in their minds respecting the sweetness and beauty of their precious persons. We are among the last to under-estimate the influence of diet on mind as well as matter-on health as well as on disease; but we cannot help suspecting that Mr. Parry has overdone his work in the following proposition:-" take away from your nosology, fevers, mias matic and contagious-surgical accidents and specific diseases, and may not nearly all the rests be traced to dietetic errors ?" Mr. Parry has left out the most efficient morbific causes of all-perturbations and anxieties of mind-nakedness and exposure to wet and cold-penury and destitution, &c. The author of this little work has evidently many peculiar notions about diet, some of which are not very clear or tenable; but many of them are deserving of consideration. The book is divided into thirteen Chapters some of which we shall notice.

I. Birth to Weaning.-Human milk is the proper nourishment for this period, and next to that, the milk of cloven-footed, and cud-chewing animals-especially the cow, whose milk ought to be diluted for young infants, and very little sugar added. The author has never seen any advantage from asses' milk, whether in health or disease. The milk of the ewe is very light and nutritious. "Corn and its products, flour and meal, is universally the just food of human offspring when making its separation from the mother." This is the same in all countries, and has been the same in all ages. Of the varieties of corn, wheat is the most nutritivecontaining the greatest quantity of gluten and starch. The abundance of gluten in wheat renders that corn the most nutritive, but most difficult of digestion. The leavening of bread renders it more digestible.

"This leavening, however, is but one of the processes employed for rendering more digestible this dense nutritious food. It is afterwards baked, by which much more of the gluten is destroyed, it being rendered friable, and thus deprived of its gluey nature; and frequently this process is done twice to render the food still more light and easy of digestion. Bread thus prepared was formerly called bis-cuit, or twice baked. The term biscuit is now quite misapplied in general usage; the article to which the term is at present appropriated being an unleavened bread only once baked-a good and nutritious food, but not a light and easy digesting bread, as biscuit is." 9.

Wheat then being more difficult of digestion than other species of corn, barley is preferable for the young stomach, being the most mucilaginous.

"In the first months of infancy, if feeding be at all necessary, and corn be used, it should be either the light floury oat, or the diffusing starch (arrow root), or the mucilaginous rice. But if wheat food be preferred from prejudice or custom, then it should be leavened and biscuited, or twice baked—such are rusks, and tops and bottoms; these should never be burnt, although well baked, burning not only making them bitter and offensive to the stomach, but destroying also the nutritive quality of the corn. As the infant advances in age and strength, the degree of leavening and baking may be lessened; and, after a few months, baked flour, flour tied up and boiled in a cloth for several hours, biscuit powder, and leavened bread, may come to be used without so great a destruction of the gluten as had been before necessary." 10.

II. Nine to Eighteen Months.-The child being weaned, a more copious

supply of the light nutriment alluded to may be allowed. The milk may be less diluted-eggs may be sparingly used in pudding--weak broths may be allowed--but animal food is, as yet, improper. "But if a head-strong, self-willed, and bigoted person must indulge a fancied equality with some other child, who has been imprudently fed, then, in pity to the infant, let the meat be very small in quantity, very much cooked (not burnt) and cut into pieces not larger than a common currant." By these means, thinks our author, "the child will have a good chance of passing it off undigested," and "without other ill effect than having lost that nutriment which ought to have been given in its stead." In fine, he thinks that children from nine till eighteen months, should be fed on milk and farinace, with some eggs sparingly used. Light broth under particular circumstances. There is much good sense and wise counsel in these observations.

III. Eighteen Months to Seven Years.-Towards the close of the eighteen months, our author begins to relax in his farinalactic regimen, and indulges the young omnivorous animal in his carnivorous propensities. He is then running about. The mild nutriment is still to be continued, but "a small quantity of meat well cooked and cut small, may be commenced when the child has cut most of his teeth." This amendment, or rather adaptation of the diet may be gradually increased as the child advances in years. Neither wine, beer, cider, nor any fermented drink should be allowed. Under such regimen the child will be lively and inclined to exercise. Ripe fruit may be sparingly admitted to the table of the children at this period.

IV. Seven to Fourteen Years.-The growth of the body and the necessary exercises during this septenniad, require a "very plentiful supply of nutriment." The gluten of the wheat is now useful, and heavy substantial pudding may be taken with advantage, especially if the boy's digestion be strong. If the plain pudding lies heavy on the stomach

"To obviate this evil, and yet avail ourselves of the sustaining gluten of the corn, strongly nourishing and digestible pudding may be made by mixing with the wheat flour, eggs, butter, fat, and milk, to which may be added sugar as a condiment." 20.

The use of fruit must still be sparing; and cheese, where it agrees, is very nutritious, but difficult of digestion. Beer and wine are unnecessary, except medically, and when taken should be diluted, so as not to produce exhilaration.

V. Fourteen to Man and Womanhood.-In this Septenniad, the growth of the body is still advancing-exercise is considerable, and the expenditure of education is to be supported. An abundant supply of good nutritious food is now indispensable. Discretion in butcher's meat and wine is necessary, upon the following grounds :

"First, Too low a diet gives an apathy of character, with slowness of action, and weakness of body.

"Secondly, Too high a diet gives impetuosity of passions and temper, oftentimes with cruelty of disposition.

"Thirdly, A diet without exhilaration gives a gloomy tendency, with despondency, instead of buoyancy of spirit." 27.

This being the chief period in which the germs of consumption develop themselves, our author discusses the diet which accelerates or checks that fatal development. The Chistian differs from the Hebrew world, and all those who observe the injunctions of the Old Testament, by eating "meat with the blood." The Jews, Turks, Arabians, he says, who avoid blood and swine's flesh, "are infinitely more free from disease than the Christians -more especially do they escape those opprobria of the medical art, scrofula, gout, consumption, and madness." We doubt this statement; but, granting that it is perfectly correct, we do not draw the same inference that Mr. Parry does-namely, that such immunity is owing to absti nence from hog's flesh. We believe that Hippocrates was a better physician than Moses; and everybody knows that the Coan Sage spoke highly in favour of the flesh of the porker.

"The swine-fed navies of Christendom suffered greater devastations from a painful tubercular disease of the bowels, (dysentery), than from any other

cause. 28.

The above passage induces us to think that Mr. Parry is not a medical man. The scorbutic dysenteries of seamen would have been cured, instead of being caused by pork, had it been fresh pork; but it was the salt beef and salt pork that induced scurvy and bowel.complaints. The author has a horror of black-pudding, and of fowls whose necks are wrung, and the blood left in them; but the swine's flesh is abomination! We think he must be an Israelite!

"If this important point be neglected in dieting for sweetness, strength, and beauty, and unclean food be substituted for that which is clean, then, it will come to pass,' as formerly said by Isaiah when the Israelites forsook their principles, instead of a sweet smell, there will be a stink; instead of well-set hair, baldness; and burning (inflammation) instead of beauty." 29..

We consider this opinion as a mere prejudice or superstition, without any foundation whatever. We agree with our author, however, in his next proposition, that all violent gymnastic exercises are to be avoided during the third Septenniad. The body is not strong enough, in fibre or texture, to admit of these experiments, and great mischief is annually done in the attempt. If the top of the strength be reached, it can never be held on in any living being, but is always followed by exhaustion and withering of the powers.

VI. Exhilaration.-This has the sanction of Scripture, the authority of profane history, and the consent of Reason. "Neither health, society, nor individual happiness, can go on without it." This dogma we much doubt, as far as wine is concerned in exhilaration. This term of our author, however, excludes intoxication-the use, and not the abuse, of wine, being the subject of Mr. Parry's eulogium. Mr. P. has a great

aversion to bitters.

"And we now come to an exposition, why bitters came to be used in diet, when the Dutch had sent to us beasts' food to eat, and the natural consequence was experienced in stomach-pains, colics, and all the catalogue of gastric mise