must be mechanically abstracted; and if it proceed from an altered state of fluids, the changed fluids must be evacuated by leeches and scarifications, with cupping: the efficacy of which in relieving inflammation experience has fully established. 2. General bloodletting, by diminishing the flow of the arterial blood in all parts of the body, must necessarily lessen it in the inflamed, or, in our author's words, hyperendosmosed part: and as the void thus caused in the large vessels can only be filled by the general depletion of the capillaries, the inflamed part will become less turgid, and the hyperendosmose be diminished. 3. Leeches and cupping in the vicinity of an inflamed part relieve the hyperendosmose in two ways. 1. The evacuation of the blood procures the general depletion of the vessels: 2. their suction causes a derivation in the direction of the affluxion. 4. An energetic hyperendosmose excited in one part, tends to diminish this state existing in another part. This is the result of the change produced in the direction of the affluxion, the fluids being always directed to that part in which the most powerful hyperendosmose exists. In this way blisters operate, and the relief is always in proportion to the evacuation produced. 5. As the addition of water, by thinning the fluid contained in the organic tissue, or by weakening its chemical qualities, diminishes the intensity of the endosmose, the introduction of water into the organic tissues is a powerful method of combating inflammation. 6. As there are inflammations, or states of morbid hyperendosmose, which cannot be cured by the means abovementioned, M. Dutrochet conceives that his theory points out a sixth method of cure. We know, says he, that fluids introduced into the organic tissue by endosmose expel those which already exist in it; so that, in a state of morbid hyperendosmose caused by a chemical change of the fluids, if we can introduce into the organic tissue chemical fluids capable of producing a greater hyperendosmose than already exists, the matters causing this will be expelled by means of the increased activity of the endosmose. In this manner cantharides and many other acrid matters prove useful; and mercury cures syphilis. To this principle also, without our author being aware of it, may be referred the cure of syphilis without mercury, by simple dilution and rest, as has been lately practised. The acrimony of the virus is gradually lessened, the energy of the endosmose diminished, and the disposition to the formation of the morbid state of the fluids, which had been induced by the introduction of the virus, is overcome by the restoration of the milder state of the secreted fluids, selected from the nutritive juices. 7. The intensity of the hyperendosmose may be diminished by the introduction into the economy of certain causes of exosmose. Acids, in general, are of this description, and it is probably this property which renders acidulous beverage so useful in inflammations. On the contrary, M. Dutrochet regards solutions of gum, of extract and of sugar hurtful, as being productive of endosmose. If emollient cataplasms produce a beneficial effect, when applied to inflamed parts, it is to be ascribed, ac cording to our author, to the fluid being absorbed, and favouring exosmose and he is of opinion that baths can be useful only as the liquids used for forming them are more or less dense than the organic fluids, depending on the nature of the disease. M. Dutrochet having concluded his remarks on inflammation, commences the consideration of the advantages resulting from the application of his theory to animal absorption and exhalation. He objects to the theory advanced by M. Majendie, that absorption is the simple result of capillary attraction: and then proceeds to prove, that absorption is the result of endosmose; and that elective absorption depends altogether upon the relation of the fluids exterior to the organic tissue and those contained in it. Thus, in the intestines, chyle is absorbed, but fecal matters are rejected, because, as his experiments have proved, fecal matter is an agent productive of exosmose, while chyle possesses the opposite property. "If then the chyle possesses such qualities as fits it to be absorbed by the organic tissue, for the same reason the fecal matter possesses qualities which cause it to be rejected."—p. 214. The mucous membrane of the intestines is a chemical filter, that permits those substances only which are endowed with certain chemical qualities to pass: but although this is a species of secretion, yet it is merely a separation of mixed substances; similar, for example, to the secretion of urea by the kidneys; for it is well known, from the experiments of M. Prevost and Dumas, that urea exists ready formed in blood: whereas many secretions are the result of a separation and a new combination of the elements of the nutritious fluid. The general theory of secretion of vegetables is applicable to animals; and the organs employed in this function, like those of vegetables, are hollow sacs or cells, through the sides of which the secreted fluid is introduced. This is manifest in insects and the mollusca, the secretory organs of which are composed of a congeries of vesicles, among which the blood-vessels and the excretory canals ramify. The sides of these vesicles are true chemical filters, which, under the influence of an electrical current, transmit, whilst at the same time they modify, certain elements of the nutritive fluid. The secreted fluid is expelled, in the natural state, towards the excretory canals; but, if these be obstructed, it passes into the blood-vessels, thence result certain morbid accidents. In this point of view, nutrition itself is a modification of secretion: the nervous vesicles secrete the nervous matter which fills them, and the muscular vesicles that substance to which they owe their peculiar vital properties. "Each of these vesicles expel at the same time substances previously secreted, and these fall into the blood vessels, the only excretory vessels of secretion and nutrition."-p. 217. M. Dutrochet conceives, with much truth, that there is no continual waste and renewal of the solid parts as is generally supposed; and adds "If the containing parts renewed themselves continually like the contained parts, it is probable that death from old age would never happen, since the living being would never be old."-p. 218. We will here close our remarks on this ingenious and highly interesting treatise, the few remaining pages being too hypothetical either to win our assent to the doctrines they contain, or even to induce us seriously to point out their fallacy. We have attempted to lay before our readers an analysis rather than a critical review of the author's opinions. They require more time, and more attentive consideration, than we have been able to bestow upon them, to authorize us to decide, with confidence in the accuracy of our judgment, on their value. Like every promulgator of a new theory, M. Dutrochet beholds no cloud in the heaven of his invention; and, exulting in the dayspring, which he fondly believes it is to shed on every thing hitherto obscured by the mists of doubt and uncertainty, robes himself with authority, and confidently assumes as certain that which, at most, is merely probable. Thence, although we feel that we are almost converts to his theory, yet, in his too extensive application of it, we must candidly confess that we think he has failed in many particulars. He has, undoubtedly, drawn aside the veil which had so long concealed the mysteries of the vegetable economy; and it will not be denied that, in elucidating these, he has advanced one step towards disencumbering physiology of many difficulties, the admitted explanations of which have been adopted not always from a conviction of their truth, but from a reverence of those who proposed them; that idolatry imposed by genius on posterity; that adoration due to the only rational object of ambition "Clarum et venerabile nomen." ART. XI.-Cours de Literature Grecque Moderne, donné à Genève par Jacovaky Rizo Neroulos, ancien premier Ministre des Hospodars Grecs de Valachie et de Moldavie. Publié par Jean Humbert. 8vo. Genève. 1827. AFTER a struggle of six years duration, in which the Greeks, fighting for the most glorious of causes, have displayed virtues and qualities of the highest order, contrasting favourably with the brute courage and unrelenting cruelty and ferocity of their Turkish antagonists, while their mutual sentiments of national and religious hatred have given so embittered a character to the contest as to render it almost a war of extermination, fortune has again turned the scale, and the Cross has once more yielded to the Crescent. That the Greeks would have finally achieved their liberation by their own efforts, there seemed little reason to doubt; but when the Turks received the assistance of their Egyptian auxiliaries, disciplined and commanded by European renegadoes, it became evident that, unless some extraneous aid were also afforded to the Greeks, the chances of their success would be greatly diminished. The. support which they have already derived from the naval and military services and experience of some distinguished officers of our own and a neighbouring nation, has indeed been most important; but, without money, the great sinew of war, in order to procure the means of carrying it on effectually, it is evident that these services could be turned to comparatively little account. Under such circumstances, and with the gloomy anticipations which the recent successes of the Turks had naturally excited, the friends of the Greeks must have hailed with no common pleasure the intelligence of a treaty having been concluded between three of the great powers of Europe for the purpose of offering a mediation between the parties, as affording a gleam of light in the darkness of the horizon, and a prospect of terminating a contest, hitherto so unsatisfactory in its results. The publication of the treaty, within the month in which we are writing, has strengthened this cheering prospect. That the Ottoman cabinet will at once accede to the proposal of the three powers, is more than can reasonably be predicted, when we consider the disposition of the reigning sultan, the sanguinary character of his recent administration, the bigotry and ferocious ignorance of the Mussulman population, and the triumph inspired by their recent successes. That the plan which is proposed by the treaty, for settling the points of difference between the contending parties, is the very best which could be adopted, is also more than we can venture to affirm; but no one, who fairly considers the difficulty of reconciling such opposite pretensions, will be inclined to judge with severity any plan which presents a reasonable practicability for effecting an object so desirable. It may be matter of regret, that the motives which have at last brought about this important measure did not come earlier into operation; the reasons of this delay it would not be difficult to develope, although a discussion of them would be here out of place. We feel perfectly assured that this recognition of Grecian independence, however tardy, will very soon decidedly turn the scale in favour of that cause, which unites in its favour the hopes and wishes of the friends of freedom, national independence, and civilization. For the part which our own country has yet to play in this important drama, it is pleasing to regard it as another emanation of that "master mind," whose good fortune it was, twenty years since, to be the leading instrument of his country's generous aid to the Spaniards, in their insurrection against the treacherous usurpation of Napoleon,-whose liberal policy, in more recent times, has fostered the growth and development of free and liberal institutions in the New World,-and whose continued efforts for the maintenance of peaceful relations, and the amicable settlement of disputes which might lead to war between other nations, reflect the highest lustre on his administration. The example of the Greek revolution adds another to the many proofs which history affords, that political and religious tyranny, by whatever means established, or however sanctioned by long prescription, will, when pushed beyond certain limits, inevitably rouse the spirit of resistance, and warm into life the indestructible germs of liberty, which nature has planted in every human breast. So it has been with the Greeks. Although ages have passed since they ceased to be a free nation, they have shown, when the favourable moment arrived, that the sentiments which actuated their ancestors, in the brightest period of their annals, still animate their bosoms. One of the most remarkable features in their history, is their preservation as a distinct nation ever since they lost their freedom. To us it appears, that they owe their preservation in a great measure to the very circumstances which might have been expected to produce their extinction. After the Romans had for centuries held them in bondage, after they had been made partakers in the decrepitude of the Eastern empire, they were doomed to be the victims of the invasion and conquest of their country by the Crusaders. That seems to have been the period of the greatest corruption in their language. "All the dialects of the West were then forcibly introduced into Greece; a number of foreign words became naturalized; changes were daily making in the language of the people, and in time it would have been entirely lost, had their masters but known how to win their subjects' affections, and taken pains to amalgamate the victors and the vanquished. But their superstitious feelings, which led them to regard their Greek subjects as detestable heretics, raised a wall of separation between them. The Greeks on their side, returning hatred for hatred, entrenched themselves more and more in their own language, customs and religion, and gradually abjured all moral communication with their masters. This double separation between the Greeks and Franks, served as the model of that |