336 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



The Study of Language. — The quality of one language can never be per- 

 fectly reproduced in another; Latin altogether lacks many necessary words; a 

 translator must not only be perfectly acquainted with his subject, but also with 

 the two languages with which he deals; the translators of Aristotle have not 

 fulfilled this condition; errors remain in the Vulgate; Hebrew, Chaldean, Latin, 

 Greek (and Arabic) should be studied. 



Mathematical Science is the key to all sciences; astronomy depends on 

 mathematics; things terrestrial no less, since they are governed by things 

 celestial. 



Rays issuing in infinite number from a point in every direction find their 

 termination on the hollow surface of a sphere. Light and other forces propa- 

 gate themselves in this way. By the foregoing principles and others akin to 

 them all natural actions are to be explained — as, for example, eclipses. (The 

 moon and planets are self-luminous.) Refraction is discussed. The varying 

 heat of different regions of the earth at difl'erent seasons is explained. 



The emanations from the stars affect not merely climate but character; 

 implanting in the new-born child dispositions to good and evil: though free- 

 will, God's grace, temptations of the devil, or education may modify these innate 

 tendencies. (Temperament is itself a result of the influence of the stars.) 



The theory of (radiations of force) may be applied to the tides. These 

 evidently depend on the moon. It is still unexplained why tides occur in the 

 hemisphere averted from the moon. 



On geometrical grounds the shape of the universe may be inferred to be 

 spherical. The water, air and the fire surrounding the earth concentrically are 

 of similar form (the sphere of fire is neither luminous nor visible). 



In a body falling towards the earth's center a strain is involved; from this 

 strain, heat results; experiment shows this to be a fact. 



The Application of Mathematics to Sacred Subjects. — Astronomy shows the 

 insignificance of the earth as compared with the heavens. The smallest of the 

 stars is larger than the earth. Chronology is dependent upon astronomy. The 

 lunar periods are discussed. 



The rainbow is produced by the solar rays striking on the raindrops and 

 being refracted or reflected thence. 



One degree of latitude is 56 miles. The semi-diameter of the earth is 3,250 

 miles. The distance of the starry sphere (according to Alfraganus) is 130,- 

 715,000 miles. The distances of the planets are given — Saturn's as 65,357,500 

 miles (it is in fact 886,000,000) and the moon's 208,541 (it is in fact 238,840). 



There are 1,022 fixed stars catalogued. The largest are 107 times as 

 large as the earth ; the smallest 18 times. Besides these there are infinite num- 

 bers of other stars. 



Astrology as it relates to church government is discussed. Christianity is 

 associated with the conjunctions of the planets Jupiter and Mercury; the 

 extinction of religions is related to the conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn with 

 the moon. 



The correction of the Church Calendar is discussed. At the present time 

 its errors are so great as to attract the ridicule of Jevsdsh and Arab astronomers. 



Geography is discussed at length. The space of ocean separating Spain 

 and India is inconsiderable; the seven climates of Ptolemy. 



Astrology. — The sun may be said to beget no less than the parent. Each 

 planet has an influence. Special parts of the body are affected by different 

 constellations. The bearing of this on medical art is obvious. The comet 

 of 1264 was due to Mars, and it was related to the European wars of that year. 



Optics. — The organs of vision, psychical and cerebral; the organs of the 

 sensitive soul are in the brain; threefold division of the brain; the heart is the 



