many silent letters, a great imperfection in his scheme. The English orthography of foreign words is often uncertain, and very improper to represent their sounds. The only feasible. method yet attempted is to fix certain unchangeable powers to each representative. Monis writes Zauine, Vaugh, Caugh, Taugh, which are more properly represented in the usual manner, even when intended to be pronounced by Englishmen, thus, Zain, Vau, Caf, Tau. He is very fond of double consonants and spells Laummedd, and up Vau-o-dee-gua-noo, more commonly, and we think correctly represented by Lamed and Va hodiheme.

He is very full upon the letters, which, as is commonly the case among the Masorites, occupy a great part of his book, and every word used as an example has its reference in the margin. In explaining the serviles he is uncommonly particular and descends into all their minutiae, accompanying them with their appropriate rabbinical names. This scrupulous exactness, while it evinces his knowledge of the subject, serves also to shew the labour necessary to acquire a tolerable knowof the points. He has a paradigm for every little difference of pointing, which renders this very useful as a book of reference to those who make use of the points. The first table contains twenty-six verbs, all different from each other. These are varied through the participles and infinitive. Every conjugation is treated of very minutely before the paradigm is given. His method of comparing the changeable with the perfect verbs is much superiour to any commonly used at that time.

Another circumstance which we think of some consequence, is this. It has been customary to take the irregularity for the rule, Monis on the contrary prefers the uncontracted form; thus he prefers to T, mentioning the last in his observations upon the changeable or contracted forms.

He has one fault in common with most of the grammarians of that day, a neglect of the idiom and construction of the language, which is now justly considered the most important part of grammar. However upon the whole we do not hesitate to say, that his work is the best of the kind that we have seen ever published in this country, and by its fulness serves extremely well as a book of reference.

INTELLIGENCE.

From the New York Herald.

Address, of Samuel Bard, M. D. delivered before the Dutchess Medical Society, on the 14th day of November, 1809.

GENTLEMEN,

In complying with your request of last spring, I believe I cannot do better than recall your attention to the subject on which we were then employed; the importance of the medical character, and the culture necessary to form an accomplished physician. Our governments, and I hope our people in general begin to be sensible, that knowledge and virtue, as they are the foundations of every thing that is excellent in human nature, ought likewise to be the foundation of a medical education, and that the man to whom they commit the care of their own lives, as well as the lives of their wives and children, and dearest connexions should possess at least as many advantages of education, as the lawyer to whom they commit the care of their estates, or the mechanick whom they employ to mend their watches. On this subject all are agreed in speculation, yet so little attention is paid to it in practice, that one would imagine most people think a physician is formed by inspiration, and that (according to the dangerous and absurd tenet of those who assert, that the greatest sinner will make the greatest saint) they believe the most ignorant and uninformed man will make the best Doctor. But alas! it is too true, that in general we are neither wise nor good by nature, and that "to train up a" man "in the way he should go" is at least as necessary in medicine, as it is in religion or morals.

This being confessed let us inquire, what is the proper education of a physician and surgeon: in attempting which, however, I shall confine myself to a few general observations, and leave the detail of particulars to the professors of our colleges.

From the intricate and delicate structure of the human frame, from the variety of accidents to which it is exposed, from the sudden attack of many diseases, from the variety of their symptoms, and the complicated nature of their causes, as well as the different effects of the same cause upon different constitutions, a physician is often called on to exercise the most acute judgement upon the shortest notice; suddenly to

form conclusions of the greatest moment, in cases where life with all its blessings, or its greatest miseries may hang upon the decision of a moment. Good sense, an improved understanding, and a happy talent of quick and accurate discrimination, are, therefore, the first requisites in the character of a physician; and of consequence the boy who is intended for this profession, should be early subjected to all the discipline of a regular education; as soon as he can read and write his own language he should be sent to a good grammar school, and thence he should pass through all the classes of college, where by the time he is eighteen or twenty years of age, he may not only acquire the rudiments, but with tolerable application make considerable progess in classical, mathamatical, and philosophical learning. Experience has proved this, if not the best, the most certain mode, and the only one which is in the power of most people to improve the understanding, to enlarge the powers of the mind, and to acquire steady habits of application and industry; by which such talents as a man possesses from nature will be carried to the greatest degree of perfection, and without which it is in vain to hope for excellence in any profession. To an improved understanding, and to habits of application and diligence, the young man who aspires to the character of an accomplished physician, must add strict morals, abstemious temperance, and a humane and benevolent temper; to all which no professsion makes more frequent appeals than that of medicine.

With such acquirements he is qualified to enter upon the particular study of his profession; which is undoubtedly best begun by the study of anatomy, chemistry, botany, and other preliminary branches, at a publick school; where only they can be taught. The knowledge of diseases and their cures, is best acquired at a publick hospital, under the guidance of the physicians and surgeons appointed not only to relieve the distresses of the poor, but to make their private misfortunes a publick benefit, by pointing out to the pupils, the characteristick symptoms of their diseases, their causes, consequences, and, methods of cure. There is no doubt but that this is the best mode of studying physick and surgery; but it will be some time, probably many years, before the greater number of our medical students will pursue this course; and there will always be many who from pecuniary considerations will wish to avoid the necessary expense attending it, and who will aim at a professional charac

ter, by the shorter and less expensive mode of private tuition, under a practising physician. To such it should be recommended to attend upon the publick schools for at least one course of lectures, and upon the hospital for one year, by which they will acquire some idea of the extent of their profession, and at least learn their own deficiencies. Indeed it is to be wished that ere long our government may render such attendance at least for one year, necessary to the obtaining a license to practice any branch of medicine; and at the same time amend our present law, so as to prevent any person coming from the neighbouring states, and entering on the practice of medicine among us, with less acquirements and under testimonials less to be depended on, than those we expect from our own pupils.

From this slight sketch, we discover the wisdom of our legislature in the patronage they have lately afforded to medical education; and the incalculable advantages which the publick derives from the unexampled liberality of the professors of both our medical schools, in granting to the county societies, the great privilege to send one pupil to each school every year, to receive the benefit of their instruction, free of expense; a regulation founded in the wisest policy, the truest patriotism, and the best judged beneficence; but evidently arising from the emulation and rivalship, which have been excited between the two schools: from which we have already begun to experience the most happy effects, and by which the general character of our medical men will very soon be greatly improved. But these singular advantages in a great measure depend upon the liberal and impartial view which the legislature may take of this subject, and must be materially lessened if not wholly lost, if through a blind partiality to one school, or an inexcusable neglect of the other, this generous competition is suffered to subside.

Convinced as I am of the great and general importance of correct medical instruction, and anxious that our schools should be fostered by necessary patronage, I cannot but regret the the failure of the proposal made last year in our legislature, for the purchase of doctor Hosack's botanick garden. It would be too tedious at present to point out how much medicine may be benefited; how greatly the arts may be enriched, and how many of the comforts, the pleasures, and even the necessaries of life may be improved by such an institution. As an appen

dage to a medical school it has become indispensable; and if we suffer this garden of Doctor Hosack's to sink, as sink it must if left in the hands of an individual; we give a decided advantage to every medical school in the United States, as well as in almost every other country over our own. In point of expense it makes very little difference to a young man who must go from home for his education, whether he goes to Boston, Philadelphia or New-York. He will always go, where for the least expense he can obtain the greatest advantages. It becomes therefore decidedly the interest of the State to render our own seminaries as perfect as possible. I hope therefore that this institution, as well as both our medical schools may continue to receive a decided patronage from our government; and that there never will be wanting in our legislature enlightened individuals, who will reiterate their application on the subject until they shall convince the less informed. Much gentlemen will be in your power; a physician is or ought to be the friend of his patients; and if you would exert that influence which so intimate a connection affords you; in a government like ours, you cannot fail of success in every laudable measure. I venture likewise to recommend it to you in your corporate capacity, and that you will instruct your delegate to use his influence with the members of the State Society and the University to accomplish it.

One of the strongest arguments in favour of our medical schools, and one which must recommend them irresistibly to the patronage of an enlightened legislature, is, that they afford the only means of training young men for the publick service in case of war. Every dictate of humanity, and every princi ple of policy, demand, that due attention shall be paid in time of peace, to educating medical men for the army and navy; that in case of war those unhappy scenes, and that aggravated misery, may not be renewed, which we have once experienced; when our sick and wounded soldiers and seamen were in a great measure left to their fate, or what was perhaps worse, put into the hands of ignorant and unexperienced men. It is a painful recollection, but too true, that at the commencement of our revolutionary war, medical and surgical talents were among the greatest wants of our armies, and one from which they suffered more than from the muskets and bayonets of their enemies. Although therefore we may have reason to hope that the miseries of war may for a long time be kept from our hap