While Boerhaave held the reins of empire, and ruled with a sway almost as absolute as that of Galen, two rivals arose who overturned his apparently well established dominion. Hoffman and Stahl were rival professors at Halle, yet without acrimony, and without, at least, open opposition. Hoffman was a voluminous writer, but not the founder of a sect; for he does not always reason with consistency, nor are his arguments directed to any definite system. He wanders from the mechanical to the chemical doctrines; but, in the midst of these, directs the reader's attention to the exertions of the vital powers, in changing the direction and the balance of the circulation. Stahl, with scarcely less industry, but with acuteness and talents eminently superior, aimed at changing the whole of the science. He acknowledged, with Van Helmont, a ruling power, guarding the constitution against disease, and repairing every defect which might occur; but, with this superin-tendance, he considered the human system as a living and an irritable machine, susceptible of various and irregular motions, and consequently of topical congestions. This is the meaning of"spasm," of"tonic motion," and similar expressions; nor can we avoid the suspicion, that, when Hoffman speaks of spasm, he means what Stahl styles his tonic motion, for each is attended with topical congestions. Whatever becomes of this idea, it is evident that the germ of this new doctrine gradually expanded. Even Boerhaave, in his later years, did not reject the consideration of a nervous fluid, though consistently with his humoral pathology he considered it as

"inactive;" and Gaubius his successor treats at some length of the diseases of the vital solid. Indeed the heresy began in his own family; for his nephew, Kauw Boerhaave, who practised with credit at Petersburgh, considered the influence of the nervous system in his work entitled Impetum faciens Hippocrati dictum. Hal-ler, though chiefly of the mechanical sect, and who is entitled to our gratitude for his industry, rather than his genius, assisted this new revolution by his experiments on irritability; and Dr Cullen at last constructed, on this ground, a system highly ingenious, though, like many first efforts, sometimes too refined, perhaps occasionally incorrect. See Boerhaavian and Cullenian Systems. On the same foundation Dr. Brown has still farther refined; but, while the Boerhaavians made the human body wholly material, he considers it as wholly spiritual, created only by heat, motion, and other stimuli. See Brunonian System.

Of living physicians, as of surgeons, it is not"our hint to speak;" nor, indeed, in the present era, have we any revolution to describe, or any marked improvement to praise. When, in the history of surgery (see Chirurgia), we pointed out the objects of the surgeon, wc discriminated those of the physician. We there engaged also in a slight disquisition on the talents and acquisitions necessary to the surgeon. This calls on us for a similar explanation; yet, as coming"nearer to our own business and bosoms," it is a task we would wish to decline. Necessity, however, imperiously demands it; and the consciousness of holding the mirror up to what appears to us the character of an accomplished physician, will be our best shield against the censure we must consequently encounter.

It would appear superfluous to say, that a physician should be at least acquainted with the ancient languages,. did we not daily see pretenders to that character without even a knowledge of their own. The observations of Hippocrates and his followers should be read in their own language; and we would engage to promise a classical scholar the highest literary entertainment from the simple elegance of the Coan sage, the polished eloquence of Galen, and the expressive terseness of Are-taeus. Among the Latins his prospects are less alluring; and the Augustan elegance of Celsus must atone for the barbarisms of Coelius. Yet in more modern times Lommius, Read, Friend, Heberden, and Baker, will compensate for Stahl and Brown; and the sterling sense of Haller, Gaubius, and Burserius, will instruct, if their language should for a moment disgust. The modern languages are equally necessary, at least the French and the German. It is indeed to be regretted, that vernacular tongues are so much employed; for no position is more truly unfounded than that what deserves to be translated has already appeared in an English dress. The Italian is perhaps less necessary; yet Sar-cone, we believe, still retains his original garb, and different modern writers of that country seem to merit more attention than they appear to have received.

If, as has been supposed, the practice of medicine requires the active exertion of the intellectual powers with their full energy, it will at once be obvious, that every method by which the physician's views are early contracted must be injurious. For this reason, to spend the first period of his life in an apothecary's shop has appeared a plan of the worst tendency, for this is the time in which he must endeavour to attain an intimate acquaintance with the classics, a competent knowledge of mathematics and of natural philosophy. Man, the most glorious work of the Creator within our limited observation, is not indeed regulated by the laws of matter and motion; but each must be often taken into our views, in reflecting on the deviations from health and the means of restoring it; and, so intimately is every part of nature's works connected, that we cannot draw the line where the vital powers begin, and those of matter and motion end. Mathematics are highly necessary to enable the student to follow the mechanical philosopher, and to understand the mechanical physician; for it is highly disgraceful in the modern physician not to be acquainted with the principles of every sect, or unable to comprehend their mode of reasoning. Without mathematics, Haller, Hamberger, Bellini, Van Swieten, and Sauvages, will be often unintelligible. The utility of mathematics is not confined, however, to their aids in pursuing other objects. They accustom the mind to close, abstract investigations; give a habit of connected and accurate reasoning, of connecting consequences with premises by their strict relations, rather than by loose analogy. In these views we have often reason to regret the neglect into which the mathematics have lately fallen.