Every word has the inestimable value also of being alike intelligible to the public and the profession. His statement is interspersed with remarks of great value, which, we trust, have not passed away altogether unimproved: such as, that he had observed disorder of the digestive organs produce states of health "similar to those" said to be characteristic of the absorption of particular poisons—a most recondite subject; but one, the obscurity of which has entirely, as we think, resulted from the determination to regard the diseases to which it refers as _abstractions_, and to investigate them under the impenetrable shadow of _preconceived_ opinions. Almost all his remarks have received more or less confirmation from the experience of the whole civilized world. There are few things in his observations more interesting than the emphatic way in which they ignore the vulgar impression that he referred all diseases to the stomach. In the whole round of scientific literature, it would be difficult to find, in the same space, so complete or comprehensive a view of _all_ those which we usually term the digestive organs. Abernethy was very far from any such narrow views; whilst, in regard to other organs, to which some of our most distinguished men had paid particular attention, it is not too much to say, that, more clear and precise than Curry, and equally careful with Hunter, not less painstaking than our excellent Prout, he is more _practically_ penetrating and comprehensive on this subject than any of them. But as to the charge of exclusive reference to the stomach, we shall easily see there was no foundation for it. In speaking of the reciprocal affections of the brain and the digestive organs, he says: "The stomach is said to be chiefly concerned in producing these effects; but the cause of the sympathetic affection is probably more general." Page 48. He then goes on to exemplify causes acting on the _Liver_, and so forth. Page 49. He distinctly contends that _other_ of the chylopoetic organs may disturb the brain as well as the stomach. Again, at page 52, he repeats a similar opinion, and especially adds, that when the alimentary canal _is_ affected, we can never be sure that it is _primarily so_. He also says, at page 53, that, in some cases, the disorder of the digestive organs is dependent on disease of the brain. I have alluded to these passages, because nothing is more unjust to Abernethy than to suppose that he attributed everything to the stomach, or restricted his attention to that or any other organ. Such a misapprehension also tends indefinitely to impede the practical application of his principles, and to deprive us of the advantages which are so constantly derivable from them. This is so important, that it may be useful to consider a little the circumstances which may have thus misled the public, and we fear, not unfrequently, the profession also, in the interpretation of Abernethy's views.