The Art of Prolonging Life. (Revised Edition of Dr. Hufeland's
well- known work.) (Ward, Lock, and Tyler.)—One would hardly expect that a work on the above subject written before the commencement of the present century could be now of much utility. But common-sense, we suppose, was the same then as now, and from this point of view Dr. Hufeland's work leaves little to be desired. Of course, some part is now obsolete, but the residue is well worth preserving. The most patent error in the book is where the author gives it as his opinion that "refined cookery "is not as wholesome as "coarse preparation." No one but a German could have uttered such monstrous heresy as this. We will even venture to say that, if it be true, as we are here told, that savages do not attain to as great an age as more civilised men, the fearful messes they are in the habit of swallowing are to a great extent responsible. The theory that the ages of the Patriarchs should be divided by 4 is ingenious, but the author goes on to say that even now the duration of human life ought to be 150 or 200 years, and that almost all the deaths that take place before the 100th year are results of disease or accident. It is the simplicity of the book that is its great charm, and feeling sure that all can learn something from its pages, we wish it all the success it deserves.
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