Dr. Carpenter, the eminent author of" Human Physiology," and of
a work which, if not intrinsically greater, is at least much more fascinating to unprofessional readers, the book on "Mental Physiology," died very unexpectedly on Tuesday morning, in con- sequence of very serious burns, due to an accident with a lamp used in the heating of a vapour-bath. Dr. Carpenter was seventy-three years of age ; but he was in the, full enjoyment of his usual health and strength. Dr. Carpenter had applied him- self, especially in earlier life, to the investigation and discussion of the phenomena of "reflex action," and many of his most interesting papers turn on the true interpretation of these phe- nomena. In later life he had given himself up to the investiga- tion of the Foraminifera, and accompanied the Challenger' on her voyage for the purpose of making new discoveries in this region of natural history. A very great part of his useful and laborious life was devoted also to the office of Registrar of the University of London, in which even his high scientific attain- ments were hardly more useful than his honourable and spotless character and his unflagging industry. He will be a most serious loss to the University, of whose Senate he became, after he had resigned the Registrarship. a most weighty and active member, being, indeed, the chief authority on all questions of academical tradition. The degrees in science conferred by that University owed their existence almost, in the first instance to his anxious and elaborate care. Dr. Carpenter's "Principles of Mental Physiology" is not only one of the moat useful, but one of the most entertaining, books on abnormal mental states which the English language contains. His funeral took place yesterday at Highgate Cemetery, and was folio red by a large circle of attached friends.
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