Psychological Inquiries

So long as metaphysicians limit their inquiries to the laws of mental action, and omit therefrom an investigation of the organic conditions under which that action takes place, so long will mental philosophy, and the whole theory of human nature in all its aspects, he incomplete. The power of the soul over the hody has been amply illustrated, because little physiology and less anatomy are requisite for the inquiry; the power of the body over the soul, on the contrary, has been left in obscurity, because a profound physiology, a correct anatomy, and a large expei'ience of human nature in its ordinary aspects, are necessaiy to its elucidation. The speculative philosopher, withdrawn from the world, and abstracted in the contemplation of his own consciousness, knows little of these requisites; the observant, experienced, and scientific medical practitioner knows much. Such an one (as may be deduced from internal evidence) is the author of the charming little volume before us,* and such appears to be the opinion he has formed. He remarks:? " It is the business of medical practitioners to study not only the influence of the mind on the body, but also that of the body on the