258 Notices of Books. (April, 
be his notions of the anterior and posterior pyramids, of the legs 
of the brain, &c.? 
From this sample of anatomical exposition let us pass to one 
ortwo physiological disquisitions. The following is the answer 
to the question ‘‘ What is the Sensorium ?” 
‘‘ That ideal point of the brain which the older physiologists, 
and some modern school books, call the Sensorium, and regard 
as the seat and abode of soul, is merely a fancy organ which has 
no existence; but the Sensorium of modern physiologists is a 
series of ganglionic centres at the base of the brain, including 
the Olfactory Bulb, or ganglion, and the auditory and optic 
ganglia.” 
The spinal cord is described as ‘‘ the seat of a set of definite 
and combined muscular movements, which are altogether 
independent of sensation and volition ; and it gives to the whole 
muscular mechanism a healthy contraction and tone, which at 
once disappear on its destruction.” 
‘‘Q. What is the reason that certain kinds of animals live in 
the human stomach in spite of the powerful action of the gastric 
juice? 
ah A. On living substances the juice has no power, but it acts 
immediately after death, and it has been found that it sometimes 
dissolves and perforates the stomachs of the dead. Bone, even 
iron, and other metals gradually yield to its action; and there 
are instances of nails and clasped knives having been reduced to 
mere fragments in the human stomach.” 
Lesson 14 is headed ‘‘ Gases in Blood.” ‘The first question 
of this lesson is :—‘‘ How is the colour of the blood affected by 
O and CO,, and why is O constantly supplied and CO, as 
constantly thrown off?” This and the next question, ‘*‘ Why 
is CO, found in the blood, and how is it related to the tem- 
perature of the body?” are answered as though oxygen and 
carbonic acid gases are actually and abundantly mixed with 
the blood ‘‘thrown off,” and circulate with it. In reply to the 
question, ‘‘ What is the exact chemical composition of albuminous 
substances ?” the pupil is told ‘‘that all these substances consist 
of C, H, O, N, S, and that some of them possess P in addition,” 
and further on, that ‘‘ gelatine consists of the same elements as 
albumen, but combined in smaller proportions.” This style of 
actual looseness and inaccuracy, with affected technical pro- 
fundity, prevails throughout, and is calculated, even where no 
actual blunders are made by the author, to convey most erroneous 
ideas to the pupil. 
The author, in his preface, says, ‘‘ We have dealt little in 
general description, or in those ‘bird’s-eye views’ which try hard 
to exhibit all, succeed well in showing nothing. A really earnest 
student who prepares to meet remorseless examiners must see 
the subject not in bird's-eye view but from the plane of the facts 
and circumstances themselves.’ We pity any ‘earnest student” 
