76 Tue Microscope. 
whole work there is a confusion between the different groups of 
animals and plants; examples are taken from one group to illus- 
trate the definition of another; the meanings of the words gen- 
era and species are confounded; the principles of physics and 
chemistry are utterly ignored; in short, the work is a “‘ complete 
encyclopedia” of misinformation. In the following extracts 
portions have been omitted, but there is no garbling, no per- 
version. The derivations have been omitted and in most cases 
the italics are ours. One case of derivation, however, needs 
mention: ‘Metrorrhagia (Gr. meter, and segnymi, to burst 
forth ).” 
First come a few definitions for the mathematicians and as- 
tronomers. 
“Galactic circle, in astronomy, the circle at right angles to 
the diameter, forming the galactic pole. The galactic poles are 
the opposite points of the celestial sphere, round which the stars 
are most scattered.” 
“ Sliding ruleis a mathematical instrument serving to solve 
a number of questions from the change of the slider by inspec- 
tion.” 
’ “ Octahedral, having eight egual sides.” 
“Y-level, in surveying, an instrument for measuring alti- 
tude and distance.” : 
The chemist may learn some new facts and methods as well 
as of some bits of useful apparatus from the following: 
“Amber . . . Its component parts are carbon, hydro- 
gen, oxygen, and ashes.” 
“¢ Air-lamp, a pneumatic machine, formed by the combina- 
tion of inflammable air and electricity, which, by turningastop- 
cock, produces a flame that may be restrained or continued at 
pleasure.” 
“ Aurigraphy, the art of writing, in which diluted gold, in- 
stead of the common ink, is nsed.”’ 
‘“‘Klaidic acid, an acid, the result of the action of nitrate of 
mercury.” 
“Te, in chemistry a termination affixed to those acids which 
contain in combination the highest known quantity of the acid- 
ifying principle.” 
“Physeter, a filtering machine, consisting of a tub with an 
air-tight perforated stage.” 
