29 JANUARY 1881, Page 3

Italian physiologists seem determined to follow in bad foots steps.

Dr. Gaetano Leopardi has been appointed. Professor of Clinical Medicine at Siena, and has opened his course by announcing that he intends to pursue the track of Magendio. Baeelli, the now Minister of Public Instruction, has been attending the pompous opening of a huge Istituto Fisiologice Anatomico, in the Via Quattro Pentane, at Rome. Professor Crudeli, the director, in his inaugural speech, remarked that not more than 280,000 lire would be expended on the undertaking I The idea of a nation whose finances are in the state of those of Italy indulging in the luxury of anatomical an physiological institutions costing 280,000 francs, is an example of that "government by Professors " at which the best men in the country are shaking their heads. The laboratory at Florence, BO long presided over by Professor Schiff, is now in the posses- sion of Professor Mantogazza. This gentleman a few years ago published a pamphlet on the "Action of Pain on the Respira- tion." To produce as much pain as possible, he " larded " (as he expresses it) forty wretched animals with iron nails. In conclusion, having triumphantly talsulatedthe "atrocious pains" and the "cruel pains" which his victims had titndurool, he coma. placently observes (p. 25) that he has pursiveil these iaseetige, tions "con motto artery e pazienza."