exceeding a span in diameter. What an infinity of plants, then, might be raised from some of the most stupendous trees, such as the Adansonia of Africa, or the Liriodendron, Platanus, and others of North-America! But the fertility of nature, in the formation of buds, is infinitely greater than even philosophers themselves have, in general, imagined. MIL

LIONS OF BUDS LIE LATENT IN THE TREE, AND NEVER

MEET THE LIGHT OF THE DAY. The embryon punctum is not evolved into notice, from a deficiency of those stimulating agents, which, if they be not the sole cause of life, are, at least, essentially necessary to bring the phenomena of life into view."

In addition to the eight kinds of pericarpium described by Linnæus, we observe Dr. B. has added the four others proposed by Scopoli. And accordingly the Theca, Granatum, Cysta and Scrinum, are severally explained (p. 196). And his observations on seeds, with the means by which they are disseminated over the face of the earth, and their powers of germination, will be perused with interest by all the lovers of vegetable physiology. But our restricted limits forbid their insertion here. We make the like remark on his chapter upon the Calendarium Floræ (p. 296), by which it appears that our native Indians had a way of distinguishing the periods of time in the year by names derived from something relative to plants and animals, very analogous to what we know formerly prevailed among our Saxon ancestors. A good etymological display of the latter may be seen in the introduction to Bailey's Dictionary, and easily compared with the similar researches now before us. It is a curious fact, that the ingenuity exercised latterly in France, in giving names to the months, is scarcely, if at all superior, in propriety and correctness, to the calendar existing ages ago among the Cherokees and Angles.

The second part of Dr. B.'s performance treats of the physiology of plants. But the consideration of this, as well as of the third part, which exhibits the sexual method of Linnæus, we are obliged to postpone. In a future number of our Review we propose to continue the examination.

In the mean time we would observe that there is a valuable section subjoined to the account of each of the classes of vegetables, in the latter division of this work. In these the author has compared the prevailing technical arrangement of the schools with the natural orders of plants. He has examined the classific character of the twenty-four great departments of the science, and elucidated it with many critical and pertinent

observations. In executing this practical part of his task, he appears to us like a man who, in addition to the knowledge of books, prints, and dried herbariums, acquired in his closet, had taken a broad survey of the face of creation out of doors, had traversed mountain and valley, lake and fen, to find and examine vegetables in their native stations, and who, of course, is entitled to that weight and authority which is due to talents accompanied by candour, experience, and discriminating powers. The remote parts of New-York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, have heard of his rural excursions and herbalizing campaigns on both sides of the Kattskill and Alleghany ridges; as he deemed it both decorous and useful for a professor to avoid the ridicule inseparable from the character of a metropolitan or city-botanist, and to study the science in the country itself, where plants of the natural growth abounded.

The student of botany will find in this part of these Elements catalogues of the principal genera of plants growing in Fredon. To the end of each of his critical and characteristic discussions, Dr. B. has a list of the great families of the respective classes which grow in North-America. This will facilitate the progress of the inquirer, and save him from a world of embarrassment and trouble. Knowing what this quarter of the globe affords, he will judge of what he is likely to find, and may be relieved from the fruitless toil of searching for the vegetables peculiar to Otaheite, New-Holland, Japan, or the Cape of Good-Hope: and for this our Botanical tyros may be very much obliged to him.

We ought not to close our remarks on this valuable and interesting volume, without expressing our regret that it is defective in a table of contents and an index. A book containing many various and miscellaneous materials is certainly published in an incomplete form, without something of the kind to aid and direct the reader. Though the subjects appear perfectly plain and easy to the writer, the case is commonly very different to him who has every thing to learn. An index is like the map of a country, and certainly affords great instruction, relief and satisfaction to him who is to travel through and explore it. On this point Linnæus was remarkably careful. His Philosophia Botanica is supplied with a triple index; one of the terms, another of the genera, and a third of the other contents. His Genera Plantarum have also a full index both of the generic names and of their synonymes; to which is subjoined the arrangement of these under their na

tural orders. The same is true of his Species Plantarum, in which a three-fold index gives the reader an easy method of finding each generic name, every synonimous word, and all the trivial epithets. With a little more labour, Dr. B.'s volume might have been furnished with such a convenience, which, like a path with a lamp and a direction-post here and there, would have conducted his reader agreeably through a regular garden or parterre, instead of leaving him to brush among the thickets, and see his way through the wilderness as well as he can.

(To be continued.)

ART. III. The Town and Country Friend and Physician; or an affectionate Address on the Preservation of Health, and the Removal of Disease on its first Appearance: supposed to be delivered by a Country Physician to the Circle of his Friends and Patients on his retiring from Business With some cursory Observations on the Treatment of Children, &c. 18mo, pp. 108. Philadelphia. J. Humphreys,

1803.

H'

ERE is another manual of health, which some benevo→ lent person has compiled, with the express intention, as he informs his readers, of promoting domestic happiness. For this purpose he has not taken the trouble of an original inquiry into the different branches of his subject, but has freely borrowed what he deemed proper for his purpose from the writers before him, who have treated on the art of preserving health, in verse and prose. He does not affect new sentiments, but frankly avows, in his preface, that the first part of his book is nearly copied from "The Villager's Friend and Physician," printed in England; and the second part from some other late celebrated publications on the means of preserving health and prolonging life.

There is something agreeable in the contemplation of an aged physician giving to his neighbours and employers a few friendly words, as he withdraws himself from business, still retaining full possession of his understanding; and such a person, executing, as it were, his professional will and testament, makes a noble bequest of his treasures of observation and experience, and constitues the whole human race his le gatees. The generous and liberal conduct of such a testator excites a sentiment of thankfulness and respect in the breast of

most persons who receive their portion of this choice inheritance. It puts us in mind of PENN, dealing out maxims and advice to preserve the moral health of his children; and of WASHINGTON, pointing out to his fellow-citizens the critical condition of their body politic, with the means of keeping it wholesome and sound. The intent and meaning of such acts, when they are conceived to be good, have such a conciliatory operation, that in spite of all the positiveness and errors of old Dr. Dovar, we can read The Ancient Physician's Legacy to his Country with considerable pleasure, and moralize as we go along on the very moderate compass wherein he comprized what he had collected in forty-nine years practice.

The Esculapian sage, in the tract now before us, gives such good counsel to his friends, that the adoption of it would ruin his successor's prospects of growing rich as a practitioner. To show his disinterestedness, he assures them he is poorer at the close of his labours than he was when he began to prescribe for them. And from the small size of his book, it cannot be expected he means to grow wealthy by that. Under such circumstances we cannot but admire his philanthropy: for is it not matter of admiration, we ask, that a physician who has, with great hazard, toil and expense, acquired a profession, the object of which is to practise, and thereby reimburse him his capital, with large profit, and provide for his own and his family's subsistence at a distant day as well as during the present hour, should so far mistake his bu siness as to put people upon a plan of preventing those very diseases, by the cure of which he is to signalize his skill, to extend his reputation, and to build up an estate? Yet when we reflect on the impetuosity of human appetites and passions, and on the neglect with which these monitory epistles are commonly treated, we do not perceive that any considerable effect is likely to be produced to the injury of the steady practiser. Though some of the brethren may be so indiscreet as to betray mysteries of the craft, and instruct the people in the art of living without their services, the greater part of the faculty will, however, generally continue to be faithful keepers of their own secrets, wisely observing the distinction between the preventing a man from getting sick, and curing him after he is sick. And although the " And although the "Family Physician" should deal in " Domestic Medicine," and take the "Guide to Health," "Hygeia herself," and the "Villager's Friend," into consultation, and thereby strive to make "Every Man his own Doctor," there is, after all, strong reason to believe, VOL. I.

I

that the greater part of the visits and advices will continue to be paid and bestowed more majorum..

Very different from those reserved and sapient doctors who keep the greater part of their knowledge snug within their own noddles, is the disposition of the communicative old gentleman whose work is under review. He chats and prattles at an entertaining rate: he relates what he has seen and what he has meditated: he tells people what is good for them and what is bad for them: and he enlivens his plain narrative with now and then a quotation of a poetical kind. Our readers may, if they please, imagine themselves listening to him as he holds forth in the following strains. (p. 4.)

"You observe that I offer to you plain, unadorned truth; but if my address prove useful, I shall be fully satisfied with the portion of eloquence it may contain. To many of you I am indebted for your confidence, and to all of you for your kind wishes. Accept, in return, with my farewell, the following suggestions, intended to promote your happiness, as well as to enable you to preserve or restore your health.

"As most of you are men who benefit society by your labours, gaining your livelihood by the sweat of your brows, you will not be surprised that I commence my instructions with a few remarks on exercise and labour.

Toil and be strong. By toil the flaccid nerves
Grow firm, and gain a more compacted tone.'

Truly does this author say,

Armstrong.

"Exercise, indeed, gives strength to every fibre, and energy and spring to all the vital powers. In a word, man is ren`dered

Robust with labour, and by custom steel'd

To every casualty of life:'

For strength is increased by being used, and lost by being too much hoarded. But I need not dwell on the advantages derivable from exercise, to you, who have experienced them whilst engaged in the labours by which your families are supported. No! to you whose habits are those of industry, some few cautions against the excessive and irregular indulgence of those habits will be more beneficial. Be assured then, that all violent and long-continued exertions, even in your wonted labours, may not only prove of serious injury to your health,