420 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY, 



and Relations of Physical and Psychical Phe- 

 nomena. In the first of these he shows how 

 each property of matter could be regarded 

 as a manifestation of energy ; in the second 

 he points out the bearing of certain princi- 

 ples of physics upon the probability of vari- 

 ous claims of the spiritists and theosophists, 

 while in the third he argues that whatever 

 wonderful things really take place at seances 

 are done in conformity with the laws of 

 matter, not in opposition to them. 



In the mathematical series for graded 

 schools, by John H. Walsh, Part II, or Inter- 

 mediate Arithmetic, comprises Chapters VI 

 to X. The subjects taken up are fractions, 

 decimals, denominate numbers, bills, meas- 

 urements, and, in the last chapter, algebraic 

 equations. Part III, or Higher Arithmetic, 

 completing the series, comprises Chapters 

 XI to XVI, dealing with the various subjects 

 involving percentage computations, with 

 proportion, square root, mensuration, and 

 the metric system. There is also a chapter 

 on algebraic equations and one on elemen- 

 tary constructive geometry. As special fea- 

 tures of the series, the author calls attention 

 to its division into half-yearly chapters, in- 

 stead of by topics, the small number of rules 

 and definitions, the great number and variety 

 of examples, and the use of the equation. 

 (Heath, Part II, 40 cents ; Part III, 75 cents.) 



The Complete Graded Arithmetic, pre- 

 pared by George E. Atuood, begins with a 

 Part I, in which the usual elementary work 

 with integers and the manipulation of frac- 

 tions are taught. It provides work for two 

 years of three terras each. The author has 

 aimed to incorporate enough review work in 

 each lesson so that the teacher shall not 

 need to do any planning of reviews. The 

 rules and definitions are put at the end of 

 the book and referred to by number. Part 

 II provides exercises for three years, passing 

 from elementary decimals through denomi- 

 nate numbers, the various commercial cal- 

 culations involving percentage, and ending 

 with mensuration. The making of bills, re- 

 ceipts, notes, drafts, etc., is a feature of the 

 examples. (Heath, Part I, 45 cents ; Part 

 II, 85 cents.) 



Any one who wishes to know what Modern 

 Theosophy is will find an attempt to tell him 

 in a book with the above title, by Claude 

 Falls Wriffid (New England Theosophical 



Corporation, 24 Mount Vernon Street, Bos- 

 ton, $1). To the strict adherent of modern 

 scientific thought the book will be meaning- 

 less, for it is full of assertions unsupported 

 by anything that he is accustomed to regard 

 as evidence conflicting, in fact, with many 

 things that are so supported. Perhaps not 

 entirely meaningless, for it may serve as an 

 instructive example of the vagaries that the 

 human mind is capable of when not forced 

 to occupy itself with something useful or 

 reasonable. 



An Introduction to the Mathematical The- 

 ory of the Stre><s and Strain of Elastic Solids 

 has been prejiared by Benjamin Williamson, 

 a Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin (Long- 

 mans, $1.50). The book is small, but its 

 author hopes that " it is sufficient to enable 

 the student to understand the mathematical 

 theory of the internal strains and stresses 

 that arise whenever external forces are ap- 

 plied to solid bodies." The rapid increase 

 in the size of the structures that modern 

 engineers are undertaking makes a thorough 

 understanding of the distribution of stress 

 extremely important. 



In 77ie Science of Vital Force, by W. R. 

 Dunham, M. D. (Damrell), the idea that the 

 author talks about and around seems to be 

 that medicine has no active property, but 

 that disease is cured by vital activity. 



Captain Willard Glazier has published 

 another book in support of his claim to have 

 discovered the real source of the Mississippi 

 River (Rand, McNally & Co.). It is entitled 

 Headimtirs of the Mississippi, and describes 

 the adventures of explorers of that river 

 from De Vaca, in 1528, down to the present 

 time. Captain Glazier's expedition which 

 resulted in his discovery of Lake Glazier was 

 made in 1881, and, as the importance of this 

 lake became a matter of controversy, he 

 made a second expedition in 1891, to obtain 

 more convincing proof of his assertions. The 

 story of his second expedition forms the lat- 

 ter part of this volume, and is followed by 

 an appendix of letters and other documents 

 in support of Captain Glazier's position. The 

 volume contains a great deal of descriptive 

 matter concerning persons and places in 

 Minnesota, and is fully illustrated. 



The little book on Gas-ligHiing and Gas- 

 fitting, by William Paul Gerhard (Van Nos- 

 trand, 50 cents), contains specifications and 



