"When all the arrangements are completed in the sick room, little benefit can be anticipated if a proper nurse be not obtained to render them available to the invalid. Before describing the qualifications requisite to constitute an efficient nurse, I cannot avoid embracing this opportunity of mentioning the great difficulty of procuring properly-instructed nurses in this country. It is, indeed, to be greatly lamented, that amidst the numerous improvements which characterise the present æra, the females who assume to themselves the character of sick-nurses, and are employed as such, are still left to acquire information respecting the important duties which their office demands, from imperfect experience, or from accident. We expect that the skill of our medical attendants shall be certified by diplomas and licences before they are permitted to practice; but we leave their orders to be executed by the ignorant and the prejudiced, who not only too often fail in performing what they are ordered, but who, with the usual temerity of ignorance, presume to oppose their own opinions to those of the physician. Every female who wishes to act as a sick-nurse, should be obliged to serve a certain time as an assistant nurse in one of the public hospitals, and to receive a certificate of her efficiency before she leaves the establishment. The advantages which the public would derive from a body of nurses educated in this manner, must be obvious to every one who has had opportunities of observing the miserable working of the present system. We should no longer have to lament the neglect of cleanliness, inattention to ventilation and temperature, an obstinate and presumptuous opposition to the orders of the medical practitioner in reference to diet: we should no longer hear of doses of medicine being given hazardous to life, or of patients poisoned by topical applications administered as internal medicines, and of numerous other evils which are now, unhappily, of daily occurrence."

Hear how the imagination may influence the effects of medicines :"Peculiar effects of medicines sometimes depend on the imagination of the invalid, sometimes on preconceived prejudices respecting the action of the medicines. Many instances of these influences might be mentioned; but three will suffice to demonstrate their power. The late Dr. James Gregory had ordered an opiate to a young man, to relieve sleepless nights under which he had suffered in convalescence from fever. He informed the patient that he had prescribed an anodyne, to be taken at bed-time; but the invalid being somewhat deaf, understood him to say an aperient. Next morning, on the doctor inquiring whether he had slept after the anodyne, he replied, 'Anodyne! I thought it was an aperient; and it has, indeed, operated briskly.' A female lunatic was admitted into the County Asylum at Hanwell, under Sir William Ellis: she imagined that she was labouring under a complaint which required the use of mercury; but Sir William, finding that the idea of the existence of that disease was an insane delusion, yet considering that flattering the opinion of the lunatic to a certain degree would be favourable to the recovery of her reason, ordered bread pills for her, and called them mercurial pills: after a few days she was salivated, and the pills were discontinued; on again ordering them after the salivation had subsided, she was a second time affected in the same manner and this again happened on the recurrence to the use of the pills a third time. A lady, who was under the author's care, assured him that opium in any form

always caused headache, and restlessness, and vomiting on the following morning and on prescribing laudanum for her under its usual name, 'tinctura opii,' he found that her account of its effects was correct; but on prescribing it under the term 'tinctura thebaica,' which she did not understand (she read every prescription), it produced its usual salutary effect; and was continued for some time without inducing the smallest inordiuate action. The author has also met with instances where similar prejudices respecting particular medicines were as readily overcome. Nostrums owe the beneficial powers which they occasionally display to this influence of the imagination.

ART. XVIII.—An Essay on the Congress of Nations for the Adjustment of International Disputes without Recourse to Arms. By WM. LADD.

Ward.

THIS Essay contains the substance of a number of others on the same subject, a reward having been offered by the American Peace Society for the best that should be produced. About forty were sent in, but the judges were unable to decide which one out of five of them, ought to gain the prize. After various proceedings, it was determined that the President of the Society, Mr. Ladd, should take upon himself the task of extracting "all the matter from the rejected essays worth preserving." This he set himself to do; and the volume before us is the fruit of his labour.

It is a respectable volume both as regards thought and feeling. Even its literary execution is creditable, and by no means pie-bald or apparently patched and dovetailed; for Mr. Ladd seems to have digested well the substance of the contributions submitted to him, and no doubt added considerably from his own independent mint; thus producing unity of doctrine, and uniformity of manner.

The course recommended in the Essay is that two congresses be instituted,--one legislative and the other judicial. The duty of the former ought to be that of forming an international code of laws, so as to set at rest the still disputed points; and that of the latter to decide upon such cases of dispute as might from time to time arise between particular states. Each of our readers will judge for himself relative to the practical power, and efficiency of such institutions.

ART. XIX.-What can be done to suppress the Opium Trade. By WILLIAM GROSer. Richardson.

MR. GROSER, who styles himself Secretary to the Anti-Opium Society, of course, strongly reprobates the Opium Trade; says, it is within the power of the East India Company to repress it; and that if the Leadenhall Street sovereigns neglect or refuse to perform that which humanity and morals so imperiously call for, then the British public, who can do it, must abolish the devastating evil without delay.

ART. XX.-The Works of Josephus. Part VII. Virtue. THE "Antiquities" are concluded in this Part; and "The Wars of the Jews; or the History of the Destruction of Jerusalem," is commenced.

ART. XXI.-Canadian Scenery. Part 8. Virtue.

PERHAPS it is because this part is the last of these Illustrations into which we have looked, that we think its plates the most clear, the points the best defined, and the harmony the most perfect that we have yet discovered even in this exquisite work. We have not had leisure to look into the letter-press.

ART. XXII,-An Index of Prohibited Books, by Command of the Present Pope Gregory XVI., in 1835; being the latest Specimen of the Literary Policy of the Church of Rome. By the REV. JOSEPH MENDHAM,

M.A. Duncan.

THE title of this book is a misleading one, for it contains an old index of works prohibited some centuries ago, although later Popes may have proved their literary policy to be far behind the spirit of their age, by renewals of an absurd, a blind, and what must generally be an idle and despised expression of authority. We do not, however, think that Mr. Mendham has manifested so much of sound discretion and liberality as of zeal on the present occasion; for the index is made use of as a text for a violent and virulent assault on Catholicism, and of certain Catholic publications as well as writers.

ART. XXIII.-Antipopery. By JOHN ROGERS.

THIS is a new, or rather a remodelled edition of a curious volume by Mr. Rogers, that was noticed by us on its first appearance. The author on the former occasion attacked other churches and sects, but now confines himself to the Scarlet Lady: and certainly he neither wants will nor ability to strike hard. His learning and reading, too, are considerable; but what is more, he is an originalist. The subject of his book, and the nature of the controversy forbid us entering into any scrutiny of the author's arguments. The Rev. Joseph Mendham should be applied to by Mr. Rogers, if a review written in a congenial spirit is earnestly desired.

ART. XXIV.-The Accidence and Principles of English Grammar. By B. H. SMART.

A VALUABLE Work,-an excellent purpose ably carried out; for Mr. Sharp has not only perceived, but clearly illustrated that grammar is regulated by rational principles, and that it is closely allied to other and high departments of science as well as art; and also that words are to be regarded as the signs of things or of ideas.

ART. XXV.-Minutes of the Committee of Council on Education, with Appendices and Plans of School-Houses.

PROGRESS after all is being made, although long deferred was the practical beginning, in behalf of National Education; and what is still more encouraging that which has already been done or suggested by the Committee of Council, appears to be so judicious and so necessary the moment that it is

understood, that much of the alarm and the heat which so long prevailed with regard to the Government plan and experiment is settling down into a temperate state; so that the probability is that ere long, an almost unanimous demand will be made for education to all, and to be superintended by some one national board formed upon a liberal and comprehensive basis. From the "Minutes" we shall now quote one short passage referring to play-grounds, which are with the most obvious propriety recommended to be attached to school-houses. After stating that the absence of such accommodation is a serious defect, for it renders the street the resort of the children after school-hours, it is remarked,

"If the master be unprovided with an exercise-ground, he is without the most effectual means of ascertaining, by being a spectator, or joining in their sports, the characters of the children under his care, and of training their habits. At the best, the teacher of a day-school cannot hope altogether to correct the effects of evil example at the child's home; and therefore to increase the beneficial influence of his own more elevated mind on the thoughts and habits of his scholars, he should possess the means of attracting them to spend a large portion of the time devoted to exercise in the neighbourhood of the school-house, where the development of character may proceed under his better than paternal care. The physical training of the children may therefore be usefully provided for on other grounds than its tendency to develop the muscular powers, and to render the scholars robust and vigorous. The physical exercises of the play-ground extend the moral influence of the teacher, by encouraging the children to remain under his care during the hours of recreation.'

"

ART. XXVI.-Erro, a Romantic Poem. By EDWARD NOYCE BROWNE. London: Hodgson.

A GRIEF-SHADOWED pilgrim, an old man, wanders about, and is made to take a share, more or less in the stories told, which, if the public reception of the two before us be favourable, are to be increased in number. We, however, see nothing in the plan or in the execution, so far as Mr. Browne has yet gone, to make us long for more; nor anything much better or worse than hundreds of maidens and young men are constantly surfeiting us with, in the shape of verse.

ART. XXVII.—A Present from Germany; or the Christmas-Tree. Translated from the German by EMILY BERRY. London: Fox. A CHILD's book, containing a diversity of little tales, charged with lessons and sentimentality, sometimes peculiarly German, of a moral and religious The descriptions of external nature will reach and interest a child's mind, and guide to pleasurable and profitable observation.

nature.

ART. XXVIII.—Wild Flowers from the Glens. By E. J. J. Dublin: Curry and Co.

TALES of a romantic cast, illustrative of the superstitions of the Glens of
Antrim, and descriptive of the scenery.
The authoress is not only young

but unassuming, modest but gifted,-a natural alliance. More experience will cure her, probability, of a tendency to over-lay her Wild Flowers with those of words, and also lend her a deeper insight into character. But a warmer enthusiasm for nature and country, and a more amiable or pious spirit we do not look for, and can hardly desire.

ART. XXIX.-Fisher's Historic Illustrations of the Bible. Division II. The "Descent from the Cross" in this portion of these Illustrations, is not only, in a pecuniary view, worth double the price charged for the "Division," but the purchaser will experience much difficulty in procuring an engraving of this celebrated work by Rubens, at all equal to the one before us. When we mention that there are others from pictures and designs by West, Guercino, and N. Poussin, we need not say more than that all the prints are remarkably good, considering the scale and price of the publication.

ART. XXX.-The Child and the Hermit or a Sequel to the Story without an End. By C. M. Darton and Clarke.

WHEN we say, and it is not more than the truth, that the Sequel is worthy of being joined to Goethe's Story, what higher praise can we bestow? The author has not only imbibed the spirit of the great prototype in the gladdening and sacred work of directing, conducting, and enlarging the child's mind and tastes throughout the realms which that beautiful and wondrous school, nature, furnishes ; but we think we discover exquisite touches of instructive sentiment and of tender appeals, which feminine feeling can alone contribute. The wood-engravings are suitable and fine.

ART. XXXI.-Dictionary of the Art of Printing, No. 9. By WILLIAM SAVAGE. London: Longman.

THIS number begins with a continuation of the article Imposing, and ends with abbreviations of Law Authorities. The article Ink, of course, is included, and is not without a popular interest; while that of Irish, we imagine, must be of importance to the Trade, at the same time that it deals with curious specimens in the history of alphabets and of letters-the signs of sounds.

ART. XXXII.—Religion and her Name. A Metrical Tract; with Note* By JOHN SEARCH. London: Ridgway.

JOHN SEARCH, is a searching, pungent, and learned writer, and in a novel shape, manfully stands up in behalf of education for the poor, besides lashing anomalies disgraceful to professors of religion, as well as to the history of churches.

ART. XXXIII.-A Catalogue of Books. HENRY C. BOHN. 1841 THERE certainly never was a catalogue of books published in any country that could be compared to this, either as to size or the number of works