NOTICES OF BOOKS. m 



of facts regarding polarised light and the construction of polarising 

 apparatus. Were a course of instruction in general physics obligatory 

 at the beginning of the education of all medical students, the case would 

 be different. But the only person concerned with his education who does 

 require of the diploma student a certain knowledge of physics is his 

 physiological teacher. Hence a number of Prof. Waller's pages are 

 occupied with statements belonging to elementary physics and with 

 descriptions of ordinary simple physical instruments. These are ad- 

 mirably given ; but probably no one realises more vividly and regretfully 

 than their author the sacrifice they necessitate of rightful physiological 

 matter, for it is he who is best acquainted with the keenness of compe- 

 tition of rival matters for every paragraph of a text-book like the one he 

 gives us. 



The tone of utterance of Prof. Waller's book is piquantly dog- 

 matic. It is condensed not by abbreviation of construction so much 

 as by epigram. Brevity is the soul of wit. In other words, compres- 

 sion of thought engenders force of thought. In physiological phrase, 

 contrast emphasises words and ideas as it does colour-sensations. For 

 a teacher to be successful dogmatism is unavoidable ; he must be dog- 

 matic. There are whole pages in this book that teach almost in epi- 

 gram. This may be dangerous. Epigram is akin to paradox, and no 

 paradox was ever either the whole truth or nothing but the truth. 

 Nevertheless it is part of the superlative value of this book, for it attracts 

 and interests and incites inquiry, in short captivates for an earnest 

 science a new student lover. The book is indeed that rare thing — a 

 serious scientific manual possessing literary style. Its fertility of ex- 

 pression has begotten phrases that have already become dear to the 

 examinee. The student in viva voce replies, making one start, " The 

 appetite for special centres has lost its edge"; or says blandly, "The 

 hypnotised person is one in a state of suggestibility ". He has often 

 much of this Wallerian manner in him. and let us hope its matter is 

 with him as abiding knowledge. 



The new matter introduced into this edition of the book is chiefly 

 contained in that portion which deals with nerve and retina, and the 

 chapter on Animal Electricity. The results of the author's comparative 

 researches on the influence of vapours, especially of anaesthetic vapours, 

 on nerve, are succinctly related and illustrated by seven new original 

 figures. 



The book before us has yet another value tor the student of medi- 

 cine. It is the book latest placed in all his curriculum which possesses 

 first-rate educational as well as technical value. It presents worthily 

 the most philosophical, the least empirical, knowledge that his pro- 

 fession demands of him. The exercises of human anatomy, devoid of 

 scientific quality, involve mnemonic gymnastics of a kind, but as in- 

 tellectual training they are probably worse than useless. The apology 

 for the time spent on human anatomy is that of the catalogue of 

 minute facts composing it. Some are of importance to the applied 



