1889.] MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 215 



NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



The Psychology of Attention. By Th. Ribot. Humboldt Publish- 

 ing Co., 28 Lafayette Place. Paper, price 15 cents. 

 The same distinguished author has already enriched the literature of 

 psychology with three very remarkable works on " The Diseases of the 

 Will," "The Diseases of the Memory," and " The Diseases of Per- 

 sonality." Like them, the present work is a study of very recondite 

 problems of psychology — the nature and workings of the mind of man 

 — presented in language understandable by every intelligent reader. In 

 the series to which it belongs are found illustrations of abnormal psychic 

 states more striking than the " double personality " portrayed in " Dr. 

 Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." 



Chemical lecture notes taken from Prof. C. O. Curtman's lectures 

 at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy . By H. M. Whelpley, 

 Professor of Microscopy, etc. St. Louis, 188S. 12 , pp. 211. 

 This is a second edition in which are added notes on the metals, in- 

 creasing the size about 70 pages. These notes were published prima- 

 rily for pharmaceutical and medical students, but are very useful for 

 reference to those who want an epitome of present knowledge on this 

 subject. Like a dictionary, they contain an immense array of facts 

 and would be about equally dry reading for a winter evening. The 

 table of chemical elements is very valuable, the number ot elements 

 reported being 77, of which Germanium, discovered in 1886, is the 

 latest. The illustrations are by Dr. Whelpley, the printing and bind- 

 ing accurate and neat. This hand-book makes a very desirable refer- 

 ence book for a druggist's laboratory. Dr. Whelpley is one of our 

 leading authorities in microscopy. 



Plato's Protagoras. By James A. Towle. 12 , 179 pp. Ginn & 

 Co., Boston. (Price, $1.25.) 



The Protagoras is perhaps the liveliest of Plato's dialogues. In but 

 few dialogues is the dramatic form so skilfully maintained without be- 

 ing overborne by the philosophical development. Throughout the entire 

 dialogue the pictures of real life are vivaciously drawn. In the frequent 

 changing of the scenes, and the repeated participation of the bystanders, 

 the variety in the treatment of the theme is very marked. 



Noticeable, too, is the number of vividly elaborated characters ; 'the 

 ever genial Socrates, eager for a contest, in which he readily downs his 

 opponents, always holding the respect and admiration of the disdainful 

 Protagoras. Prodicus, overloaded with synonymic wisdom. Hippias, 

 imposing and pretentious. The tranquil Critias and the impetuous 

 Alcibiades. An introduction containing the life of Protagoras and 

 topics of special interest to the student are also included. At the back 

 of the book an appendix, together with Greek and English indexes, 

 is given. The- lines of the text are numbered for easy reference, and 

 at the foot of the text, occupying nearly half of the page, full and com- 

 plete notes are given. 



This volume belongs to the " College Series of Greek Authors." 

 In appearance it makes a very neat and attractive, book. 



