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    ?—¦—Critics are notfclxe legislators , but the judges and police of literature . They do not makelam-tbey interpret-and try- to enforce tnem . — Edinburgh &ev % * w .

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    We have lateSjr received some papers which tend to je&ow that the study of Physiolqgy , ' the highest and richest of the organic sciences , * is gaining ground on < Qxfoid . Tke first , modestly entitled A Mote on Teaching Physiology in the Higher Sehods , is a letter by Dr . Aoi-anb , Regius Professor of Medicine in the University , to the Rev . J . E . Miuabd , Head Master of the Grammar School sA , Magdalen College , During the last term an elementary course of Physiology had been introduced into the school as an experiment ; at the end of the term the pupils weft subjected to a written , examination , and the x > aper forwarded to T > r . Acland for inspection , with three questions , to -which he replies in the letter before us . The Brst of these questions ? refers simply to the results of the examination at Magdalen School , of whieh Dr . Axxjlsb speaks highly . The second is of general interest . It . ^ suggests the desirableness of introducing Physiology as a branch instruction in . the higher schools . To this important question Dr . Aclaxd replies in the -affirmative , urging the introduction of the subject on a number of grounds , -of which we can only give the three last , which are , however , . sufficiently

    • decisive ;^~ . 6 . The standard of medical knowledge . and medical practice will be raised in propor-. ± iaa to the diffusion of Physiological knowledge among the general public . I look , . therefore , to the increase of a general knowledge of Physiology ( and of Hygiene which it implies ) , as one of the greatest benefits which will accrue through science to rthe temporal interests of mankind . Every form of quackery and imposture in medicine will in this way , and in this way only , be discouraged . It is , in great part , on this ground—on the ground of the future benefit to the people through the dissemma--tion of a true perception of the groundwork of Practical Medicine—that I have laboured for many years to promote Physiological knowledge in this University , among students holding whatever rank , and destined for whatever occupation . 7- Probably no . kind of literary composition -will lead more to precision of thought xuid statement , than the early habit of describing correctly natural objects . This baa . an obvious hearing on various competitions for public . appointments . & . It remains . only , to Bay , whether I know any objection to beginning these studies ~ at school . I know ho objection ¦ which . cannot be met .

    Of course there ace same objections to every plan of education . The most B&nans that I have heard to the introduction of Natural History studies is , that children iave Hot time . I am jbo satisfied tlmt ,-speaking generally , linguistic and mathematical studies are of jmore value than any others as instruments of intellectual discipline , that if I thought that scientific studies ( I meed not here speak of the studies of the Axis ) would either supplant or injure the enlture of youth by means of them , or if I -thought tke hours qfvigorous play , and manly fneedoin , would be abridged , I never . should have advocated this addition . . In . this matter , however , the . truth is often unperceived . Training by language and ¦ calculation may he combined with , aad make part of , scientific teaching : without precision of ideas-and accurate expression , true physiological science does not exist , and can neither be taught nor learnt That this is so , will appear more and more as . time goes on;—the ideas and the language , of . evien my own hitherto most looselyworded Art , become every year more definite and significant 5 its dogmas are becoin-Jng either precise or worthless . I must allow , however , that the ideas , and conse-« ju © ntly the nomenclature of science , are not , and cannot be , absolutely fixed : and so £ ax science most always he a less perfect aid to instruction than the a . neient Greek

    language . The third question relates to the best method of teaching Physiology in scIiodIs , and to this question Dr . Acland gives the following minute and . practical reply : — 1 . For the sake of precision in a subject which contains , neoessarily , many doubtful points , introduce , where you can , precise definitions and numerical calculations . You jcoay find many opportunities in dimensions , nucxwgnaphic and others , —in weights , in Algebraic formula ? , &c . , . 2 . , iFor the atudy of external characters , encourage Jthe collection of the * auna and . Mora of the neighbourhood ; including , in the case of older bays , microscopic . species . JFar the study of organs and of functions , show dissections where you can . A . rabbit , a rat , a sparrow , a frag , a perch , a snail , 0 bee , on earth-worm , and , if you ittVti a microscope , a few infusoria , will « na . ble you , at nny time of the year , to show soroa of the most important types of structure in , the lanimol kingdom . j 8 u lEftoourage the boys to put up inicroscopic objects . The minute manifpulation will jgive . neatness and precise habits . Little apparatus is required ; and no mess need bo

    ? nade < 4 . Write , or have written by some first-Bate hand , precise c-stoologiodl Monographs for boys , of the skeletons of the cat , the mole , the pigeon , the frog , the common isnake , and the perch 5 and get « ome school-Bociety to publish Buch a text-book , and to supply atyecU instead of plates . To Blaster . tlrem would be a . capital exercise of ndcee-attention , of some thought , And of practical powers of comparison . The other paper relates to the Physiological prizes oifqred some timo ago for the best Essays ' On tho Fauna of Christ Church Meadow and . the adjoining Waters ; ' tho first , on tho Vcrtcbrata , to be accompanied with notes on

    ( their habitats and history , and u collection of specimens ; tho second , on tho TnverWbratn , to be accompanied with a monograph of a genus , and illustrated swifca diflsectbus and drawings . The charm of Physiological . atudy lies very much in the Jkeener and more . vigorous nx&Q of the perceptive faculties which it " ^ Sicf ^ onsT l ^ quest of illustrative specimens , and in tho delight wliich follows the discovery , of tho richest . soiqntiflo matexiuls hx the most familiar objects . Nothing , . therefore , could well afford a better etLmulus towards tho practical study of Physiology at Oxford tlwn these prizes for local specimons .

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    JMackwood tills month opens with a seasonable article on u . subject ruther obtaudfid / of iate on public notioe by its injudioioua ( Viands— ' Tho Condition of Women . ' Though somewhat redundant and diffuse in . » tyto , ihc paper ia (

    temperate in tone , and sensible in substance . The writer justly complains of the partial and distorted point of view from which the subjeet is too generally regarded—as though tihe condition of women were a separate question , not a necessary aad vital . branch of the far wider soeial-condition-of-England question . If . there is ' a larger number of unmarried wonien in the country now than formerly , there must be a larger number of unmarried wen also , for with the increase of population the proportion between the sexes has not been seriously disturbed . Arid the -reason of this—the deeper cause of our present soeial -state—must be investigated in dealing with the multiplication of spinsters which is at most only one of its effects . Then the whole discussion touching the rights , the duties , the condition , and iufluence of women , is too much narrowed to the one case of single women . The writer of the last manifesto on the subject—Woman ' s Thoughts about Women—herself a distinguished

    lady-novelist—at the outset formally excludes married women trom the circle of her reflections . As a natural result of such a one-sided view , we find that those who discuss the subject tend to exaggerate the number , and misrepresent the position of the class they exclusively consider . In reading some o £ the contributions on the subject , one would almost imagine tliat the existence of such a class at all must be regarded by the writers as quite a recent phenomenon—a jcreation of the nineteenth century ; the fact that single-blessedness has existed as a well-known , and , for the most part , honourable estate , in all ages of the world , being entirely overlooked . The class , however , is represented as not only large in number , but as altogether isolated in position . It is questionable , however , whether such representations of the whole class is considered in its integrity , the tendency obviously lacing to narrow the ground still further by excluding from the rank of single women all m ho are not also

    solitary , self-dependent , and self-contained . The author just referred to , for instance , states as a fact patent to every person of common-sense and experience , " that in the present day , whether voluntarily or nof , one hal of our teamen are obliged to take care of themselves—obliged to look solely to themselves for maintenance , position , occupation , amusement , reputation , life . " In order to meet the necessity of this their destined position , girls , it is maintained , must have an entirely new education , similar to that which boys receive at school and college ; and hence the eloquent denunciations of the existing systems of female education with which we are inundated . . That there arc defects in female education is no doubt true , but they are not likely to be corrected by the intemperate crusade of writers who pronounce it an . utter Jhiiure . Towards the close of the article the writer reverts to this aspect of the question , justly defending against its detractors the substantial worth of tho old unconscious system as contrasted with the morbid consciousness of ihu new : —

    We do not speak abstractly , or in general terms ; we say plainly and bimply , that whatever theoretical faults there may be in English female education , it turns out women aa little apt to fail in the duties of tlieir life as any class of human creatures , male or female , under the sun . We say that it is a mere exploded piece of antique nonsense to assert that society flatters women into foolishness , or permits them to be flattered ; and that those who find in the young girls of our families only helpless nosegays of ornament , unqualified to do service either . to themselves or other people , are either totally unacquainted with household life , or have a determined ' cast' in their vision , not to bo remedied . All these things tire patent and visible to every simple observer who has no theory to support ; but truth often suffers herself to bo obacured out of sheer unbelief in the power of misrepresentation ; and we do not doubt that many a mother of a family , who knows a great deal better if she but took timo to consider , receives the decision which comes to her in a book , with 11 show < j 1 "

    authority and an appearance of wisdom , supposing , though it does not tally wil . ' i her own experience , that somehow or other it must be true . Tho next step is , thai the wise book gets put into the hands of young people , to till them at their outset willi false idoos—not of themselves , for we have generally vanity enough , « ll til' im , to keep us clear in our own persons of any share iu tho unjust condemnation— but , what is much worse , of their neighbours . We protest against the whole system kindly and earnestly . Why a young girl should have the disagreeable idea of sex dinned into her ears all day long—why she should be taught to nwike the most sweeping and wholesale condemnation of other classes arouud her—to believe that tho msrvniu-muidens who encompass her in almost every action of her life , and with whom uhe very lilu ' ly holds a natural sympathy , aro in a stato of such universal depravity uu < l degradation that tho greater part of them arq married , if at ull , 'just a week or two before ni . ilurnity ; and that among the married people to whom sho looks up '« happy marriage is 1 I 10

    most uncommon lot of all , and tho condition most frequently an unholy state , --wo confess wo are totally at a loss to perceive . What is likely to bo tho luitural product of such teaching ? A woman perpetually sell-conscious— -no longer a ttpoiiUneous human creaturo , but a representative of her sux—conscious of purity in her < wn pureon , but doubting every other—fancying that who lias ( bund out n now condition , ami a new development ol' feminity , yot holding fast by tho hundred-year-old tradition . * of frivolous education and social flattery— ' pretty dolla , tho plaything ol mir lonis and masters , ' and all tho other humbug- of anoiont times— fancying , if « ho docs not marry , that it is bucauso her views are hiybor and her principles more oluvaUd timn those of the vulgnr persons who do ; and that , looking over their hoa-dn , slio 1 * aOlo 10 peroeivo how unlit they uro for tho relations which sho horriclf will not accept—it ud other le rvtuue mw

    woman who sincerely pitios other people ' s children , a peopa ^ , looks on with an observant aciontillo compassion ut tho world , whioli Id H ' i "" ii K ' utlulu j to ruin , and out of which she is half aiVuid good aonao will die in Uur own puraou . *» it to this extent of wisdom nnrl superiority that" wo doslro to seo our duutfinoid giow r —is this the model after- which wo would willinyly frame them ? bur our . own . par , -we-can-o ^ y-sayrtlefc-ua ^ ttv ^ -baqlu ^ w ^ young people uro to bo instructed iu tho aoolal vice * , by way of catublirtlimu ; tneiru « morality , lot Kicliurdm > n onee more be the uupport of virtue . It Is bultt .-r to tu 1 1 story of tho mueh-trlod milkmaid ., which is visibly u fiction , than tu proacli pwioso phioal suggestions of universal wickedness , which aro supposed to lo true . ? People I have never Mot' is tho title of a paper containing p laiHimt Hu linciil sketches of some well-known social tvpes of olmruotor , who wijoy u lillul oL prescriptive but fictitious reputation . Tho following i » u specimen :---" Wordle is a capital follow , I unsure you—no rionHonso about him . " Wh" hnS ,. " , J fcewd , of WurtUe ? "Who com honeotly miy he Ims the pleasure ol YYariuu »

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    iCitato *

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    3 « g THE LEA 1 ES . [ AT © - 411 , ^ j ebk-uab y S , 1858 .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 6, 1858, page 138, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2229/page/18/