When anatomy had thu.s become a clear and distinct science, it was inculcated and taught, in the different nations of Europe, by numerous professors, with a zeal and industry highly honourable to themselves, and useful to mankind. As the prejudices of mankind respecting dissection have in a great measure subsided, the difficulties, which formerly obstructed anatomical re searches, have mostly disappeared, and a sufficient quantity of subjects for anato mical purposes can generally be procured. In most, perhaps in all, the countries of the continent of Europe, the government has provided for the want of anatomists in this particular. In England, however, it still remains a matter of considerable difficulty and expense to procure the means of instruction in practical anatomy ; and, accordingly, n-hile foreigners have been enriching science with many splen did works, the name of one Englishman cannot for many years past be recorded in the annals of anatomy. We wish we could announce to our readers any pros pect of a change in this respect; but here literature and science are left to themselves, and must advance unaided by the patronage of government, or not advance at all.
It would occupy us too long to detail the labours and discoveries of all the emi nent men, who have immortalized them selves in anatomy during the last century. We may state, generally, that every part of the human body has been most thoroughly and minutely examined and described ; and accurate and elegant engravings have appeared of every part. So that a student, in these days, possesses every facility for the prosecution of his anatomical labours. The bones and muscles have been most elegantly represented and described by Albinus, Cheselden, Sue, and Covtper. The vascular system has been illustrated by a splendid work of the immortal Haller. Walker and 3leckel of Berlin, and Searpa at Pavia, have bestowed equal, or even superior, diligence in tracing the distribu tion of the most important nerves, and re presenting them in faithful engravings. Mr. Cruikshank distinguished himself by an excellent book on the absorbing sys tem; and Mascagni has lately given to the public a most elaborate account of the ab sorbing vessels, with very splendid plates.
.Dr. Hunter, to whom anatomy owes more in this country than to any individual, has published a complete history, with beauti ful explanatory- engraving's, of the growth of the human ovum, and of the changes which the uterus undergoes after the ovum has been received into its cavity. Ilis brother, NIL John Hunter, also de mands mention in this place, as an accu rate find minute dissector, and a patient experimentalist He surveyed, in his re searches, the whole field of animated na ture, and greatly promoted the science of phisiology. Ile formed also the grand est and most beautiful anatomical cabinet in Europe ; and this precious treasure has now passed into the hands of the Royal College of Surgeons in London. The structure of the brain has been represent ed with unrivalled elegance by. Vieq D'Azyr, a French anatotnist, in a folio volume of coloured pl ates, which we hesi tate not to applaud as a chef d'oeuvre of anatomical science, and a most splendid monument of the arts. Some parts of this most important organ have also been illustrated by the labours of Soemmering, who still prosecutes the study of anatomy with unwearied industry. We have late ly, from his hands, two most finished pro ductions, in every respect, on the anatomy of the eye and ear. It would be unjust not to enumerate, with a due tribute of applause, the laboursof Zinn, Cassebohm, and Scarpa, on the same subjects.
Morgagni, who taught anatomy in Pa dua, published 3 work of great utility on morbid anatomy. Dr. Baillie has °flute in this country prosecuted the sanie subject, though in a different manner. Ile has published a book on the morbid anatoniy of the body, and has illustrated his tlescri p tions by a collection of the most elegant, expres.sive, and accurate plates.
Winslow, Sabatier, and Ilichat, are the authors of the most approved anatomical systems in France, and Soemrnering and. fiddebrant in Germany. iVe.regret that it is not in our power to mention any eon.
rect and complete system by an English writer. The imperfect and contemptible, ephemeral productions, published under the auspices of hooksellers, cannot have a place in this enumeration.