own country, he removed, at the age of twenty-three, to Paris. Supporting himself there as a teacher of languages, he not only listened to the lectures of the medical faculty, but devoted much time to the critical study of music, of the arts, and of polite literature. His genial manners and his ability won him the friendship of the distinguished Prof. Michelet, who employed the enthusiastic young student as a translator from German historical works and brought him to the notice of the members of the faculty of the University of Paris. He emigrated to America in 1835, and graduated in the medical department of the University of New York. Soon after this he openly declared his faith in homœopathy and entered upon practice in accordance with his avowed belief. The school of which he soon became an acknowledged leader was at that time small in numbers, without political or social influence, and, above all, without a literature. The works of Hahnemann, the founder of the school, were accessible only to the few who had a knowledge of the German language. Eminently fitted for literary labors, Dr. Hempel at once commenced the translation of the "Materia Medica Pura," followed, at brief intervals, by the rendering into English of the other works of Hahnemann. He continued to translate many of the standard works on materia medica and on theory and practice, issued voluminous repertories, and, while attending to his growing practice, took a foremost part in creating a literature for the school, in developing its resources, and in spreading its doctrines. In 1855 he was married to Mrs. Mary E. Calder, a daughter of Mr. Coggeshall, one of the old residents of Grand Rapids. In 1856 he was called to fill the Chair of Materia Medica in the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia. The death of Mr. Coggeshall, which occurred a few years later, obliged Dr. Hempel to resign the chair which he had filled with signal success, in order to remove to Grand Rapids, where he entered upon a medical practice which soon taxed his energies to the utmost. His success in teaching materia medica led to the publication of his lectures in a volume of 1200 pages, which went through two large editions, both of which were republished in England. In 1869 the doctor began to fail in health, and his eyesight grew weak. In 1871 he made a trip to Europe, consulted eminent specialists, and learned that blindness was inevitable. During the years following he continued to fail slowly but constantly, until he became a perfect invalid, absolutely blind and helpless. In spite of this terrible affliction, his intellect remained perfectly clear. During the weary days of his long illness he wrote, by the aid of his wife, who acted as his amanuensis, a work on the principles of homœopathy, and prepared a new edition of his work on Materia Medica. This latter work became the last one point of interest of his life, and when arrangements for its publication had been made, he resigned himself to the conviction that his life's work was done. During the stormy weather of last week he took a severe cold, unexpected complications arose, and on the twenty-fourth day of September the weary wanderer entered into the rest for which he had often prayed. Dr. Hempel was an indefatigable worker. He translated into English nine large works on medicine; he published a work on domestic practice in French, English, and German; he wrote and published four large works on medicine; he furnished the best translation extant of the prose works of Schiller; he left the unpublished manuscript of a large German Grammar, which good authorities have pronounced a book of the highest merit; and he published a number of religio-philosophical works. The life now closed was active, earnest; the heart now still was child-like, void of malice; the spirit now gone home was, nay, is, joyous, hopeful, and bright, softening into gentler shades the shortcomings of human nature and scattering sunbeams on the pathway of others. Requiescat in pace! ABSTRACT OF THE ADDRESS OF DELAVAN C. SCOVILLE, ESQ., PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY, AT THE OPENING OF THE TWENTIETH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE NEW YORK MEDICAL COLLEGE. THE student of medicine has adopted the most difficult and exacting of all the professions, in the successful pursuit and practice of which he must toil hard and constantly. The miracle of life that is perpetually wrought in the human body depends upon the action and reaction of a mechanism so complex in its structure, so various in its forces, so multiform in its operations, so delicate in its adjustments, that he who deals with its disorders and disarrangements may well believe that Nature herself can restore its proper action. The circulation of the blood was discovered in the same decade that saw the first colony planted on Manhattan Island, yet the involuntary contraction of the heart and arteries is unexplained. We do not know the process by which the chemico-vital force is supplied in the capillary passages, nor are we fully acquainted with the genesis of the bloodcells. The rapidity of nerve-action has been established, but we do not know the exact nature of the nerve force, and science fails to explain the process of its generation. Yet medicine is the most learned of all the professions, if by learning we mean the knowledge of the greatest number of facts essential, or conducive, to human hap piness. Within its ranks are the most earnest and devoted men of these busy times, who are pushing outward the lines of discovery in all possible directions. The young man who enters this profession with the expectation of achieving success or winning distinction, must bring to his tasks all the firmness and courage of his nature. He must work hard early and late, and not be too sparing of his vital force. A liberal education promotes professional success. Medical students who have had a thorough course in science, or in classics and mathematics, begin their professional studies at great advantage. Their previous studies have given scope to their perception and judgment, and trained their minds to sound reasoning and correct methods of inquiry. The study of art. literature, or history brings one into sympathy with the best minds of all times, and thus furnishes a healthy mental stimulus. Moreover, it enlarges the capacity for knowedge. The student should strive to maintain the dignity and distinction of that good old word "doctor," a learned man. Whatever gives the mental faculties greater range, and tends to lift the student to the level of the times, in measure frees his mind from prejudice and ignorance. Biology has peculiar claims upon the student of medicine. He should also cultivate a spirit of toleration. The science of medicine presents a great number of unsettled questions, the true solution of which will be determined only by the most patient, laborious, and accurate research, by the critical and rigid observation of facts, and the utmost skill in analysis, comparison, and classification. We might reasonably expect that in the pursuit and practice of an art which is beset by so many difficulties, and which concerns itself with the relief of human misery, the mitigation of pain, and the protection of life, there would be exhibited the broadest liberality, and a common desire to know the truth, under whatever form presented, or by whomever advocated. But the history of medicine disappoints this reasonable expectation. In no other profession has there been such servile submission to authority, such unquestioning deference to tradition, such bitter opposition to new discoveries. No other profession has suffered its chief benefactors to be so wickedly persecuted. calumniated, and traduced. Hahnemann, of spotless purity of life, was described as little less than a beast, for no other offence than making known a beneficent principle in medicine. The best way to acquire a spirit of toleration is to learn to love truth. If you love truth sincerely, supremely, and for its own sweet sake, your minds are in that condition of easy receptivity that makes true wisdom attainable. Love of truth is coming more and more to distinguish the scientific mind of the age. Dogma and tradition are losing their hold upon men's minds. The bitterness of schools and doctrines is passing away. Henceforth appeal must be made to facts, and facts alone. Might each of you take upon himself the vow that Hippocrates required of every student who entered the temple over which he presided, "I swear by the physician Apollo, and Esculapius, and Hygæia, and Panacea, that according to my ability, I will keep this oath and stipulation. With purity and holiness I will pass my life and practise my art. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption. Whatever in connection with my professional practice, or not in connection with it. I see or hear in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, reckoning that all such should be kept secret. While I con tinue to keep this oath inviolate. may it be granted to me to enjoy the practice of the art, respected of all men in all times; and should I trespass and violate this my oath, may the reverse be my lot." REVIEWS AND NOTICES OF Books. LEISHMAN'S SYSTEM OF MIDWIFERY. Third American Edition. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea, 1879. Boston: A. Williams & Co. pp. 732. Any one who will take the trouble to examine this book will not wonder that the previous editions of it have had such a wide sale, so ably has it been prepared. This third American edition has had the special benefit of the author's revision, and certainly is one of the most valuable treatises on the subject yet written. What particularly pleases us is the evident attempt all through to reduce the abstruse to simplicity, and to make everything perfectly intelligible, rather than to impress the reader with an idea of the profundity of the author's information. The two hundred and five wood-cuts are an invaluable means to this end, especially the numerous diagrams representing the different presentations, positions, and stages, as well as those which carefully illustrate each successive act in the introduction of the forceps, when the woman lies either on the back or on her left side. DISEASES OF WOMEN. By Lawson Tait, F. R. C. S. New York: Wm. Wood & Co. pp. 192. Another volume of Wood's Library of Standard Medical Authors. The second edition of this well-known work, thoroughly revised and enlarged, has been specially prepared for Wood's Library. A few weeks ago, when we were favored by a short visit from Dr. J. Gibbs Blake, of Birmingham, England, we heard him speak quite highly of his fellow-townsman, Dr. Tait, not only from a professional but from a social point of view. When the latter first moved to Birmingham he called upon the homœopathic physicians in town as well as upon the others, and in marked contrast to some of his school, treated them very cordially, and expressed a willingness to meet them in consultation at any time. His work on Women is too well known to speak of here. BUTLER'S TEXT-BOOK OF ELECTRO THERAPEUTICS AND ELECTRO SURGERY. Second Edition. New York: Boericke & Tafel. 1880. pp. 324. Among the many works on electricity as a therapeutic agent already published, we know of none which would be more likely to meet the needs of a homœopathic physician than this, written from a homœopathic standpoint; and we are glad that it has already met with such a favorable reception. The general profession, as a rule, know too little of this agent. In preparing the second edition of this work several alterations have been made. Original provings have been added to the chapter on symptomatology, and additions have likewise been made to the chapters on electro-physics and electro-surgery. The section on gynecology has been entirely rewritten. A few new instruments have also been described. HERING'S CONDENSED MATERIA MEDICA. Second Edition. New York: Boericke & Tafel. 1879. 66 On the title-page we find the announcement more condensed, revised, enlarged and improved." The new edition has eight hundred and eighty-six pages, while the old had eight hundred and seventy-one, so that the size remains essentially the same. On comparing the lists of drugs in the two editions, we notice the addition of abrotanum, absinthium, and the frisky cimex lectularius. We are thankful that finally, after having been almost everywhere spelled erroneously for several years, gelsemium appears without its often interpolated n. We are pleased at the substitution of the more euphonious guiacum for guajacum, and wish that cepa and kobaltum might also have been changed to the more common allium cepa and cobaltum. Many of the black-type headings of subdivisions in the body of the work have been altered, as, e. g., lower face for lower jaw; inner mouth for mouth; palate and throat for throat; belching, nausea, and vomiting for nausea and vomiting; pregnancy and parturition for pregnancy; voice and larynx for larynx; respiration for breathing; position for motion; fever for chill, fever, sweat; locality for sides; touch, injuries, for contact, injuries; relationship for other drugs, etc. In the Preface the author explains that, in this edition, "the 1, corresponding to the third degree of distinction in Boenninghausen's repertory, has here more significance than in the Guiding Symptoms.' There it stands before symptoms verified by cures, here it marks in most instances characteristic symptoms. The Greek letter is occasionally used (not as extensively as in Guiding Symptoms') before the pathological or physiological state to which the symptom refers." Acknowledgment is made for assistance on this edition to Drs. Knerr and Mohr. 6 CONSUMPTION, AND HOW TO PREVENT IT. By Thomas J. May, Boston: A. Williams & This book is intended more particularly for the general public, and discusses in a simple manner, which all will understand, the influence of foods, air, soils, clothing, light, physical exercises, disease, digestion, infant diet, cod-liver oil, fat, butter, alcohol, etc., on the causation or prevention of this terrible disease, which in 1878 carried off about 70,000 persons in this country, deaths which were regarded by the community with more or less indifference, and considered almost as a matter of course, while in the same year the yellow fever, which |