LITERARY NOTICES. 



241 



zealously condemns he, too, is an 

 object of reformatory solicitude. One 

 thunders against the whole tribe of 

 alcoholic stimulants, from ethereal wine 

 to acrid whiskey, and never touches, 

 tastes, or handles them the pipe will 

 do for him. Another counter-blasts 

 tobacco content with abundance of 

 strong coffee. Another decries all these 

 together, inspired by the stimulus of 

 concentrated potions of tea. Still an- 

 otber ingests perhaps only vegetables 

 and water, and fulminates from the pul- 

 pit or platform against all these gross 

 material indulgences, yet is lifted into 

 the seventh heaven of enjoyment by 

 the stimulating incense of flattery and 

 applause which comes up from admir- 

 ing auditors, and without which life 

 would be "flat, stale, and unprofitable." 

 Others get from music, pictures, thea- 

 tres, fashion, novels, newspapers, or 

 travel, a quieter fonn of excitement, 

 which, though often running into dis- 

 sipation, is less harmful than ordinary 

 narcotic stimulation. How far the ball- 

 room, the political campaign, or the 

 religious revival, may be the equivalent 

 of a drinking spree, we will not pretend 

 to say, but that they are all marked by 

 a common character stimulation of 

 pleasurable feeling carried to a pitch 

 of excitement which ends in reaction 

 more or less exhausting is not to be 

 denied. 



As regards relief from the mischiefs 

 of over-stimulation, alcoholic or other- 

 wise, we have no reformatory nostrum 

 to propose. And, when they are pro- 

 posed, we shall do well to remember 

 that the evil does not exist alone; it is 

 part of the general imperfection of our 

 nature, and the social state which ac- 

 companies it. Nor is it to be remedied 

 alone; the evils that result from the 

 craving for stimulants, and the gratifica- 

 tion of it by dangerous drugs, will prob- 

 ably only be removed with the slow and 

 general improvement of character and 

 amelioration of social conditions. As 

 soon as people know better their own 



16 



nature and the true conditions of its 

 unfolding, and begin to regard the sub- 

 ject with a more sacred respect, in pro- 

 portion, we will venture to say, to the 

 growth of a scientific conscience, will 

 man become a higher law to himself, 

 and the grosser vices of conduct mav 

 be expected gradually to disappear. 



LITERARY NOTICES. 



Corals and Coral Islands. By James D. 

 Dana, LL. D. Dodd & Mead. 



This book will be widely welcomed, not 

 only for the interest of its matter and the 

 elegance of its form, but because of the 

 gratifying assurance it will afford to the 

 numerous friends of its accomplished au- 

 thor that, although in shattered health, he 

 still retains that wonderful power of versa- 

 tile labor by which he has been distin- 

 guished in the world of science for the last 

 25 years. Prof. Dana went round the world, 

 from 1838 to 1842, with the Wilkes Expedi- 

 tion, as geologist in the scientific corps. In 

 this extended exploration, in addition to his 

 geological work, he made a special and 

 elaborate study of the zoophytes, and treat- 

 ed at length of corals, coral animals, and 

 coral reefs. His reports upon these sub- 

 jects were, of course, designed mainly for 

 men of science, but in the present volume 

 he has recast the statement, with the view 

 to its more general usefulness. In his pref- 

 ace the author says : " The object in view, 

 in the preparation of this work, has been to 

 present a popular account of ' corals and 

 coral islands,' without sacrifice of scientific 

 precision, or, on the main topic, of fulness. 

 Dry details and technicalities' have been 

 avoided as far as was compatible with this 

 restriction ; explanations in simple form 

 have been freely added, and numerous illus- 

 trations introduced in order that the sub- 

 ject may have its natural attractiveness to 

 both classes of readers." The object pro- 

 posed has been very completely attained, 

 and a volume produced which will be alike 

 valuable to men of science and entertaining 

 and instructive to general readers. Its illus- 

 trations are many and fine, and its manu- 

 facture is a credit to the publishers. 



We have no room here to treat of the 



