1872.] Notices of Books. 505 
the work will not be of interest, being a more technical investi- 
gation than those elucidated in Dr. Tyndall’s well-known volumes. 
To recommend the work is unnecessary, but we may say that 
the additions conduce much to clearness. 
On the Mechanism of Accommodation for Near and Distant 
Vision. By R. E. DupGeon, M.D. 
Tuts is an exhaustive pamphlet on the mechanism of accommo- 
dation for near and distant vision, and evidences much careful 
and experimental research, the more praiseworthy and valuable 
as it is the endeavour of a professional man, of much daily ex- 
perience, to throw light upon a difficult subject. 
Hypotheses. By F. J. Finors. New York: Voytits, Ann Street. 
1872. 
Mr. Frvnois’s pamphlet of 33 pages contains as much matter 
for thought as many volumes. Each hypothesis is included in 
a short sentence, and deals with a certain phase of the subjects 
generally classed under the heads of sidereal, sidero-terrestrial, 
terrestrial, intellectual, mental, and social phenomena. We 
quote an illustration from the division of intellectual phenomena. 
“© § Objects have been accepted as self-existent, whilst space 
has been declared to be ‘naught,’ or an abstract notion, which, 
however, is measured by a yard stick. 
‘** Space is therefore to be accepted as just so self-existent as 
any object. 
‘© § The Intellect never has succeeded in analysing an Atom, a 
Force, and a point of Space, into any other elements. 
‘‘ Matter, Forces, and Space are therefore to be accepted as 
the ultimate constituent elements of the Universe, which itself 
constitutes a sphere with diameters of infinite length. 
*‘Forces occupy Atoms, and atoms occupy points of space. 
Forces cause the atoms to change their places in space. Their 
inseparable union and their mutual relation, to be called primor- 
dial affinity, manifest themselves as motion, of which synthesis, 
development, decadence, and analysis of compound forms is the 
result. 
‘‘§ There are three general senses for receiving impressions 
made by the phenomena :— 
‘‘ rt. The sense of sight pre-eminently for Space. 
‘‘2. The sense of touch pre-eminently for Matter. 
‘© 3. The sense of hearing pre-eminently for Force. 
‘« The individual senses of smell and taste are auxiliaries of 
the sense of touch, for Matter. 
‘«*The senses assist each other, so that their combined action 
alone furnishes complete sensations. 
VOL. II. (N.S) 3T 
