380 The Microscope. 



In no other way has the physician been more humiliated than 

 that brought about by his experiences in courts of law when called 

 on in cases where his technical knowledge is sought. The inevitable 

 question, "Why do you think so?" and the dissections of the phy- 

 sician's answers to that question should never lead to his discom- 

 fitiu-e, for he should be prepared for just such an ordeal. The fault 

 of all this lies not so much in his ignorance of the law as in that he 

 does not know just what sort of facts will be required of him, nor 

 how best to get them, even if he did know. In the book before us 

 the physician will find all necessary data to enable him, in medico- 

 legal cases, to leave the witness-stand with his self-respect intact; 

 for Dr. Ewell has admirably succeeded in giving a concise resume 

 of the law, and then, more in detail, a clear idea of the line of 

 evidence required. For the physician we can recommend this work 

 as one of the best, and certainly the cleai'est, on the subject. 



Animal Life in the Sea and on the Land ; a Zoology for Young People, 

 by Sarah Cooper. Harper & Bros., New York, 1887. pp, 413. Detroit. 

 John Macfarland. 



" People grow better," says Daudet, "for listening to nature, 

 and those who love her do not lose their interest in men." Certainly 

 helps enough are afforded now-a-days, so that all, from the youngest 

 to the oldest, may know something of nature, with little or no 

 trouble on their part at finding out her hidden truths, ^\e are glad 

 to notice, however, that nearly all recent writers demand that the 

 student shall study nature for himself, using the printed page only 

 as a guide to keep him from falling into error. " It is far more 

 charming to gain this knowledge fi'om the objects themselves," says 

 Miss Cooper in her preface, " than from merely reading about them 

 in books." Taken as such a guide. Miss Cooper's book will fill— not 

 perhaps a "long felt want," — but an important place among these 

 kind of books for the young. Beginning with the sponge — the 

 various classes of invertebrates and vertebrates — the simplest forms 

 of life to the most complex, are traced in gradual development. Each 

 chapter is divided into sections, which bring out the characteristic 

 points to be remembered; thus, for example, in the chapter on Cri- 

 noids are discussed: 1. Where crinoids grow. 2. Why they are 

 called stone-lilies. 3. Crinoids compared to star-fishes. 4. Skele- 

 ton of circular plates. 4. Free-swimming crinoids. 6. An ancient 

 family. 7. Fossil crinoids. 8. How fossils came to be in the rocks. 



