men or nations or planets. In one word that the product of two numbers always means, and can mean nothing else than, a certain number of things taken a certain number of times. Into one of the errors which we have indicated Mr. Locke seems to have fallen when he speaks of " repeating the idea of an unit, and joining it to another unit, and so making thereof one collective idea, marked by the name two." Into the other every tyro falls when he accepts the challange to multiply £999-19s. 11ąd. by £999-19s. 11d. It seems to us that it would not be difficult so to work into a boy's mind an accurate conception of the nature of number, that he should not be in danger of falling into either of these errors. Of this we are certain, that very much depends upon the manner of a boy's initiation into the science of numbers-very much, not only of his advancement in that science, but very much also of his accuracy of thought on all subjects whatsoever.

The India Review and Journal of Foreign Science and the Arts-Vol. VIII. Old Series, Vol. I. (and last) New Series. Calcutta, 1847.

We need not make any apology to our readers for introducing this volume to their notice, as its name is well worthy of a place in our miscellaneous list of Indian publications, and itself of a place on the shelf of every Indian library. The history of the India Review, and of its amiable and respected originator and quondam editor, is not unknown to our local readers. On his departure from the presidency, or rather, if we mistake not, on Lord Ellenborough's cutting the bond between all servants of the Hon'ble Company and the Press, the Review passed into the hands of a gentleman in Calcutta, who has collected within the volume before us, a great amount of important matter of a literary and scientific kind, and has embellished the whole with very numerous pictorial illustrations of a very high order of excellence. The number of lithographic. portraits, figures and diagrams, is so great, that only a very large subscription-list could have defrayed the charges of the publication, and this the editor did not attain. It was not in him, any more than in other "mortals, to command success," but we have no hesitation in saying that he fully "deserved it."

The volume before us will be of great value to those who long hence shall seek to illustrate the history of Bengal in our times; as they will find in it a vast amount of information respecting the "men and things" amidst whom and which we live. The biographical notices are especially interesting, and will become still more so when the subjects of them shall have passed away. The portraits that accompany them enhance their value; in every case the likeness being admirable.

We are given to understand that a few, and but a few, copies of this volume are to be had at the booksellers; and, in our opinion, those may account themselves fortunate who are in time to secure them.

A short account of the Materia Medica of Patna. By R. H. Irvine, M. D., Civil Surgeon. Printed by Order of Government. Calcutta: W. Ridsdale, Military Orphan Press, 1848.

THIS is a work of such palpable utility, in a professional point of view, that it requires not a syllable of recommendation at our hands. Were every Military, and especially, every Civil Surgeon in India to follow the praiseworthy example which Dr. Irvine has set them, our knowledge of Indian topography, both general and medical, might, long ere now, have been well nigh complete. Dr. Irvine has heretofore distinguished himself by the diligent application of his talents and learning to the elucidation of subjects of practical and scientific importance. Besides occasional contributions to Literary Journals, we have before us now his truly admirable and comprehensive account of the general and medical topography of Ajmír—a work, that has never had the justice done to it, which it so eminently deserves. And now, as the fruit of his active and accomplished mind, we have his account of the Materia Medica of Patna, With respect to it, all that we mean, at present, to do, is simply to furnish the author's own preface, with a single page to exemplify the manner in which the work has been executed :

"In making investigations as to the nature and properties of the Native medicines most in repute at Patna, great labour and much disappointment had to be undergone. A very great number of substances that were brought forward were absolutely inert and useless.

Materia Medica comprises chiefly the study of remedies, their natural character, their sensible qualities, their effects upon the living system, the theory of their action, and their application to the treatment of morbid affections; forming so many subjects of description or investigation. Divided into such branches is Materia Medica studied in all the schools of civilized countries. In Patna, however, as in other parts of India, the Materia Medica of the Native practitioners is formed on empiricism, superstition, and licentiousness. The result of the empiricism is the general and successful application of very numerous simple remedies; the results of the superstition and licentiousness are frequent death. The Natives unacquainted with Chemistry never consider the medicinal powers of natural bodies as connected with that science. From this they lose the great advantage of being able to extract the peculiar principles constituting the efficiency of many bulky and inconvenient substances. The same ignorance also entirely precludes that proper combination in prescriptions by which the proper addition of one substance may modify or give increased activity to another.

In regard to the Materia Medica of Patna, the fact applies here as elsewhere that many productions now imported are really indigenous; but, indolence and ignorance have prevented their discovery.

Here also, almost every wealthy inhabitant becomes impotent or in a state,

tending to that from excessive early dissipation, and as such, people will pay well for relief, a great number of substances are employed in a very preposterous manner with the view of benefitting in that way, hence a large part of the Patna Pharmacopoeia, consists of substances employed for their supposed aphrodisial virtues.

Nearly all the articles of real efficacy used by the Natives are found in our own Pharmacopoeia, such as gamboge, impure calomel, pure corrosive sublimate, arsenious acid, senna, cassia fistula, sulphur, mercury, opium, musk, castor, croton tiglium, rhubarb, turbeth root, jalap, impure potash and soda, the impure mineral acids, and several others.

The general nature of their prescriptions is ridiculous in regard to combination and quality of materials.

Such, however, as are the numerous substances sold by the punsaries or native apothecaries, still, though generally very cheap and easily procured, they are constantly adultered, being under no regulation and liable to no investigation whatever; they are at liberty to injure the lieges of the Hon'ble Company, to a full extent, and especially the quantity of arsenic and other poisons sold is terrible to

think of.

The latter evil might be greatly obviated by placing all the punsaries under certain proper restrictions; compelling such to bring a written list with small accompanying specimens, twice a year, to the Civil Surgeon for inspection; and levying a fine where the articles were not genuine; and by compelling punsaries to bring a written account of all the worst kinds of poisons sold, with the names and residences of the purchasers, once a month, to the Magistrate. At least, at Civil and Military stations, something of this kind might be effected.

I now subjoin the four hundred and eight articles of any consequence as medicines, selected from the Patna Native apothecaries.

This account of the Patna Native Materia Medica was drawn up to accompany a box containing the 480 specimens of every article described, and carefully arranged for reference when desired.

In all cases the native opinion regarding the action and doses of these remedies has been entered. Some of the articles are ridiculous in application or nearly inert; while many are efficacious, and in the hands of the superior hukeems are applied in reference to qualities nearly in accordance with modern scientific views.

These articles were selected from the "punsaries"" shops at Patna, and, comprise all that possess any energy, per se, or implied efficacy by collateral influence of magic.

In relation to the general state of the native practice of physic, the higher Hindu castes act the most wisely in rejecting interference altogether, and holding with Pliny, that "omnis morbus lethalis aut curabilis; in vitam desinit aut in mortem. Utroque igitur modo medicina inutilis; si lethalis, curari non potest; si curabilis, non requirit medicum; natura expellat ;" and they live or die resigned and contented.

But by far the greater number of sick are a prey to native "mountebanks, empirics, quacksalvers or wizards, barbers, and old women."

Quibus loquacis affatim arrogantiæ est,
Peritiæ parum aut nihil!

The community having full faith in the Paracelsian adage, that relief depends not so much on remedial action as upon psychological imbuement through the medium of the preparer; so that with them

Hellebrorus curat; set quod ab omni datus medico, vanum est!

The native surgery of Patna is at a still lower ebb than the native physic; and of both of the most numerous and inferior order of professors it may be truly said

Chirurgus medico quo differt? scilicet isto,
Enecat hic succis; enecat ille manu,"

The following is the first page, containing a specimen of the work itself:

A Dictionary, Hindustani and English, to which is added a reversed part, English and Hindustani. By Duncan Forbes, L. L. D., Professor of Oriental Languages and Literature in King's College, London, &c.

THIS work, which only issued from the London Press, towards the end of June last, we are anxious at once to introduce to the notice of our oriental readers. It is in the form of an exceedingly handsome royal octavo, of about nine hundred pages, with excellent paper and a remarkably clear and beautiful type. By his grammars and other works on the Hindustani and Persian languages, Dr. Forbes has heretofore conferred an invaluable boon on all the students of oriental Literature. But this Dictionary crowns the series as his magnum opus; for a great work we have no hesitation in pronouncing it, whether we regard its vast utility to the learner, or consider the immense amount of labour and practised skill brought to bear upon it by the author.

Our present object being simply to notify to our readers the completion of a work, to which, while yet in a state of preparation, allusion was made in a former number, we shall satisfy ourselves by extracting the greater part of the author's explanatory preface. Respecting the first part of his work, he thus writes :—

"A Dictionary, Hindustani and English, accompanied by a reverse part, English and Hindustani, has hitherto been a desideratum in this country. It must be obvious that it is indispensable to a student of a foreign language, desirous of speaking and writing, as well as reading it, that he should have not only the words of that foreign language explained in his own, but the words of his own tongue rendered into that foreign language; and that a Dictionary, intended to assist translation into both languages, which wants either counterpart, is essentially defective.

After more than twenty years' experience in the study and teaching of Hindustani, which has convinced me that deficiency, added to the exorbitant prices charged for Hindustani Dictionaries, has greatly impeded learners, I have endeavoured to remove this impediment by compiling a Dictionary of the principal colloquial language of India at once copious, portable, and of a moderate price. These objects have been attained, without any real sacrifice, by using a small but clear and distinct letter-press; by employing the Roman character wherever it answered the purpose better than the Oriental; and by excluding every thing not practically useful, and which is therefore an incumbrance, to the learner. By these means I have been enabled to compress into a single volume, of convenient dimensions, both parts of the Dictionary, including, at the same time, not only more words, but more information really useful to the student, than will be found in any Dictionary of the language hitherto published.

It is proper, and will be expected, that I should give a brief account of the authorities to which I am indebted for the materials of this Dictionary, and of the mode in which I have compiled both its parts. The basis of the first part is the "Dictionary Hindustani and English," in 2 vols. 4to., published by William Hunter, M.D., Calcutta, 1808. Upon this foundation I have superadded at least fifteen thousand words and phrases from the following sources:-1st. A vast number of useful words, both Urdu and Hindi, from the eccentric, but copious vocabulary appended to Dr. Gilchrist's "Hindi Moral Preceptor," 8vo. London, 1821. 2nd.