682 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



The following extracts will give a fair 

 idea of the author's admirable directness 

 of statement, and the valuable practical in- 

 formation he has been able to substitute for 

 much of the technical detail that usually 

 encumbers such a book : 



An excess of aqueous vapor in the atmos- 

 phere has not only a depressing effect on the 

 nervous system, but it Interferes with the cutane- 

 ous and pulmonary exhalations. If the tempera- 

 ture is high (65° to 80° Fahr.), saturated air is sul- 

 try and ofl'eusive. If low (e. g., a Scotch mist of 

 36° Fahr.), its chilling influence penetrates all 

 clothing. At least one iin.lf of the patients which 

 apply for relief during the winter mouths to the 

 physicians of the metropolitan and provincial 

 hospitals of this country are afflicted with colds, 

 coughs, and bronchial and rheumatic affections. 

 The iirevalence of these disorders at this season 

 is, without a doubt, due partly to the coldness 

 and partly to the excessive moisture of our very 

 changeable climate. Above 80° Fahr., air of ex- 

 cessive humidity becomes injurious; and it has 

 been doubted as to whether life can be prolonged 

 in such air at a temperature between 90° and 100° 

 Fahr. 



The relation between such lung diseases as 

 bronchitis and pneumonia and the unwhole- 

 some condition of the air of our dwellings has 

 not been sufficiently recognized by the medical 

 profession and the public. One of the most 

 common causes of an attack of bronchitis is a 

 Budden exposure of the bronchial mucous mem- 

 brane to extreme conditions of air. A man 

 who breathes for some hours the hot and dry 

 vitiated air of anunventilated room is prone to 

 be thus affected on passing out into cold, damp 

 night air. If debilitated, from any cause, the in- 

 flammation may affect the substance of the lung, 

 and the man will have pneumonia. 



General Vaccination. By Elisha Har- 

 ris, M. D. Cambridge : Riverside Press, 

 1877. Pp. 16. 



In this paper, Dr. Harris presents his 

 well-matured views on the laws, sanitary 

 provisions, and methods best fitted for se- 

 curing the benefits of general vaccination 

 throughout the United States. The same 

 author, in another paper, suggests plans for 

 securing complete and authentic records 

 of deaths and the causes of death in this 

 country. 



Constituents of Climate. By F. D. Lente, 

 M. D. From the " Richmond and Lou- 

 isville Medical Journal," 1878. Pp. 56. 



The author of this pamphlet is a resident 

 of Florida, and considers the " Constituents 

 of Climate " with special reference to the 

 climate of that State. 



Democracy in Europe. By Sir Thomas 

 Erskine May. 2 vols. Kew York : 

 W. J. Widdleton, 1878. Pp. 495, 568. 

 Price, $5. 



The progress of democracy, that is, of 

 popular power, in European states, is a fact 

 that is regarded with widely difierent emo- 

 tions — some persons seeing in it unmixed 

 evil, while others expect from it the solution 

 of all the problems which vex the student of 

 political science. The event will in all prob- 

 ability confound the adherents of both of 

 these extreme opinions, and it will be found, 

 after the last barrier to popular self-govern- 

 ment has been removed, that the human 

 race will still pursue the even tenor of its 

 way. But, however this may be, the work 

 before us treats of a living question, and is 

 sure to win the attention of the thinking 

 public. 



Our author investigates the causes to 

 which the progress of democracy in Europe 

 is to be ascribed ; how far it has contributed 

 to good government ; what have been its 

 dangers and mischiefs ; and for his illustra- 

 tions he goes to the East, to Greece, to 

 Rome, the middle ages, the Italian repub- 

 lics, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, 

 and England. The work is a series of stud- 

 ies of democracy in the countries named, 

 and the author is careful not to call it a 

 " History of Democracy in Europe," which 

 would be simply another expression for a 

 " History of Europe." 



Of the work in general it may be re- 

 marked that it gives evidence of diligent 

 research and abundant learning; also that 

 it is written in a highly philosophical spirit. 

 No homage is here rendered to forms of 

 government, nor is the power of mere stat- 

 utes and constitutions regarded as para- 

 mount in shaping the destinies of man in 

 society. On the contrary. Sir Erskine May 

 expressly investigates the social, moral, and 

 physical causes of freedom, shows how the 

 development of popular power is a natural 

 law, considers the influence upon society 

 and freedom of local environment, as the 

 sea, navigable rivers, etc. ; the influence of 

 race ; and many other factors usually over- 

 looked by the Dryasdusts. 



Hence we are the more surprised at the 

 fact that he himself has overlooked one of the 

 most easily discernible factors in the devel- 

 opment of democracy in Europe. If we are 



