HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



II 



the new and extended interest taken in astronomical 

 investigation, discovery, and theory, are greatly due 

 to Mr. Proctor's popularly written works. They have 

 found their way into most libraries, and have won 

 new students for astronomy. Such a book as this 

 before us, for instance, cannot fail to make a man a 

 stellar observer, and, for however brief a period, all 

 the better a man for it. It is divided into a series of 

 chapters (besides the introduction), devoted to each 

 of the twelve months of the year. Four star-majjs 

 illustrate the position on every side of the stars in 

 each month, so that identification, not only of con- 

 stellations, but of the chief stars in them, is very easy. 

 No better boolc on tlie subject could be put into the 

 hands of those who love astronomical science. 



Magnetism and Electricity, by Richard Wormell, 

 D.Sc. (London : Thos. Murby). The great influence 

 which electrical engineering is lilcely to hold over us 

 in the future renders it all the more necessary that 

 elementary text-books like the present should be 

 widely known. And, as even in our newspaper 

 literature, in descriptions of the progress made by 

 applied electricity, we are constantly coming into 

 contact with terms and phrases it is assumed that 

 everybody understands (but wliich in reality are very 

 little understood), Dr. Wormell's book is all the 

 more welcome for helping us out of our difficulty. 

 Suffice it to say that we here find a clearly-explained 

 outline of the newest facts, discovered laws, appli- 

 cations, and theories relating to electricity. It is the 

 best elementary text-book before the public. 



The Sliidenfs Handbook of Cheinistiy, by H. 

 Leicester Greville, F.C.S. (Edinburgh: E. & S. 

 Livingstone). This book still recognises the dis- 

 tinction between Inorganic and Organic chemistry, and 

 perhaps for classificatory purposes such a division is 

 useful. Works on chemistry have poured forth from 

 the press in great abundance lately, showing how 

 ardently and generally the study of tliis important 

 science must be spreading. But we have seen none 

 which appear so promising as the one before us. Its 

 arrangement is very clear and methodical, and the 

 author has the rare power of putting the newest views 

 in chemical philosophy before his readers in such a 

 manner that they are at once apprehended. This 

 treatise is fuller and ampler than the slim abbreviated 

 manuals it is the fashion to bring out. We can 

 condense chemistry less than any other, and yet, 

 somehow or other, "Elementary Chemistry" books 

 are much briefer. 



Acoustics, Light and Heat, by William Leeds, 

 M.A. (London & Glasgow : W. Collins, Sons, & Co.). 

 A short, well-arranged little treatise on the above 

 growing subject, arranged in strict accordance with 

 the syllabus of the Department of Science and Art. 



The Scientific Basis of Ahxtional Progress, by G. 

 Gore, LL.D. (London : Williams & Norgate). The 

 author herein sets forth the fact that our future 

 success as a nation depends largely upon our scien- 



tific progress ; he shows the necessity for new 

 scientific knowledge, and the obstacles in the way of 

 the latter. Hence he pleads the importance of pro- 

 moting original scientific research. Present know- 

 ledge, Dr. Gore argues, only enables us to maintain 

 our present state, whereas national progress is the 

 result of new ideas, and the chief source of the latter 

 is original research. It is a most thoughtful and 

 suggestive essay. 



Consumption : a Re-investigation of its Causes, by 

 C. W. De Lacy Evans (London : Bailliere, Tindall, 

 & Cox). This is a small but compendious work, in 

 which the author endeavours to show that the above 

 fatal complaint arises chiefly from an excessive action 

 of atmospheric oxygen. 



Trance and JMusclc Reading, by G. M. Beard 

 (New York). A short pamphlet, dealing with the 

 subject which Mr. Cumberland has recently aston- 

 ished the Spiritualists with. 



MICROSCOPY. 



Cutting Coal-sections. — I have seen it stated 

 that coal can be cut by being softened in carbonate 

 of potash, but like Mr. Kittonlhave never succeeded 

 in doing it, and have never heard of anyone who has. 

 Coal soaked in benzine for some time will not be so 

 brittle, but I have never succeeded in cutting it ; I 

 might say do not waste time over it, it is useless.^ 

 Albert Smith. 



Cutting sections of Coal. — I am rather sur- 

 prised so experienced a microscopist as Mr. Kitton 

 should have put the soaking in potash process to 

 actual trial. I have denounced it over and over 

 again ; at least once, I think, in Science-Gossip. A 

 friend of mine said he believed if Adam had put a 

 piece in to soak it would by this time have been as 

 hard as a cabinet minister's conscience. I should like 

 to challenge the production, not only by this means, 

 but by any means whatever of a real transparent 

 section of coal. At present having failed altogether 

 to obtain a sight of one, I do not believe in its exist- 

 ence. All I have seen have been sections of coal 

 shale or coal nodules, but not one of genuine ordinary 

 coal can I get any one to produce. — E. Holmes. 



Cutting Sections of Coal. — I can fully endorse 

 all Mr. Kitton says as to the failure of carbonate of 

 potash to render coal easy to cut into slices, as my 

 own experience in this matter has been exactly 

 similar to his. I have also tried a strong solution of 

 caustic potash, with equal want of success. It is not 

 difficult, however, to rub down pieces of coal to a 

 moderate degree of thinness, say -^ inch, but then 

 comes the difficulty (as I have always found it) of 

 rendering these transparent, I have treated them 

 (still following the Micrographic Dictionary) with 

 strong nitric acid, and have also boiled them with the 



