502 



NATURE 



\Sept. 25, 1879 1 



To the first class belong the history of mineral deposits, 

 of crystalline rocks, both eruptive and metamorphic, and 

 of the different forces producing vulcanicity. 



Among the phenomena belonging to the second cate- 

 gory are the formation of pebbles, sand, and clay, as well 

 as. sundry other effects of trituration and transport. The 

 distortions and ruptures of the earth's crust, such as the 

 production of faults and joint-systems, also belong to this 

 division, which includes the origin of the schistosity and 

 cleavage of rocks, the distortion of fossils, and certain 

 peculiarities in the structure of mountain chains. Lastly, 

 the author treats of the temperature developed in rocks by 

 mechanical action. 



Among the more striking and instructive experiments 

 for which science is indebted to M. Daubrde, are those in 

 which glass tubes partially filled with water are incased in 

 tubes of iron, also containing water, and subjected for 

 lengthened periods to a high temperature at a pressure of 

 above one thousand atmospheres. ]3y this treatment not 

 only was the glass decomposed, but crystalline quartz 

 presenting all the characteristics of natural crystals of 

 that mineral was produced. Crystals of pyroxene were 

 obtained by the same means, and fragments of wood 

 similarly treated were converted into anthracite. 



The formation of various crystallised zeolitic and other 

 minerals, such as chabazite, christianite, and calcite, in 

 the masonry of the Roman baths at Plombiires and the 

 deposit of mammellar opal by their waters, teach the 

 importance of time as a factor in such transformations. In 

 this case the different minerals, instead of being rapidly 

 produced at a high temperature have been slowly deve- 

 loped at a low heat and without appreciable increase of 

 pressure. Numerous coloured illustrations are given as 

 seen under the microscope, of thin sections of Roman 

 bricks inclosing zeolites in their cavities, and attention is 

 directed to the fact that in one instance at least the struc- 

 ture of the mass has been rendered distinctly fluidal by 

 pressure applied to the clay in making the original 

 brick. 



The production of numerous well-crystallised metallic 

 minerals by the action of the waters of Bourbonne-les- 

 Bains upon a quantity of Roman bronze coins and on some 

 ancient lead piping, which had been for centuries sub- 

 jected to its action, is an equally curious and instructive 

 fact. These waters issue from theeirth at a temperature of 

 58° C, and contain soluble matter to the extent of from 

 seven to eight grammes per litre. This consists of alka- 

 line chlorides, bromides and sulphates, chlorides and sul- 

 phates of calcium and magnesium, alkaline silicates, and 

 traces of arsenic and manganese. In addition to these 

 substances various others are present in subordinate 

 quantities. 



Among the well-crystallised minerals resulting from the 

 action of water upon the metals and alloys present, 

 cuprite, redruthite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite, phosgenite, 

 anglesite, galena, and iron pyrites were recognised and 

 examined. 



The investigations bearing upon the history of volcanic 

 phenomena, which demonstrate that an infiltration of 

 water can take place through a porous medium in spite of 

 a high steam-pressure operating in a contrary direction, 

 are both valuable and suggestive, and the experiments on 

 such mechanical questions as the causes of the contortion 



of strata and of the faults and jointings in rocks, throw 

 much new light upon those obscure questions. 



In its complete form M. Daubrde's treatise will repre- 

 sent the life-work of a trained and careful investigator in 

 an almost untrodden direction, and will form the first 

 text-book on experimental geology. The portion now 

 published cannot fail to be read by geologists with great 

 interest and profit, and we trust the time is not far 

 distant when experimental geology will have become a 

 generally recognised branch of geological investigation. 



J. A. P. 



OUR BOOK SHELF 



Annual Record of Science and Industry for 1878. 

 Edited by Spencer F. Baird, with the assistance of 

 eminent men of science. (New York : Harper Brothers ; 

 London : Triibner, 1879.) 



It again becomes our pleasant duty to call the attention 

 of our readers to the excellent annual record of science 

 edited by Mr. Baird, Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution. We think the editor has done wisely in discon- 

 tinuing the division of the record into two parts, for 

 hitherto the summary of progress has been followed by 

 abstracts of papers. At present the second part has been 

 merged into the first, so that summary of progress in the 

 various branches of science now includes a large amount 

 of detail ; each summary being prepared by some recog- 

 nised authority in the United States. As we have had 

 occasion to remark before, the division on the physics of 

 the globe, prepared by Mr. Cleveland Abbd, with the 

 assistance of Prof. Rockwood, is, in our judgment, the 

 most important contribution to the volume. The com- 

 pilation and classification of the facts presented in this 

 summary must have been a work of great labour, and the 

 thanks of all physicists and meteorologists are due to Mr. 

 Abbd for having so admirably carried out the task he has 

 undertaken. 



The summary of physics and chemistry seems to us 

 somewhat incomplete ; there is no reference, for example, 

 to the new forms of stereoscope invented by Mr. Grubb, 

 nor to the remarkable memoirs published by Mr. Johnstone 

 Stoney during the past year in the Transactions of the 

 Royal Dublin Society ; in fact, the omission of all men- 

 tion of the active work done by this flourishing society is 

 a serious oversight of the editor. 



The value of the summary of physics and chemistry 

 would also be much enhanced if, instead of abruptly be- 

 ginning each paragraph with the name of the investigator, 

 the nature of the investigation were put first, and a refer- 

 ence given in each case to the publication where fuller 

 details could be found We trust that this last — a most 

 important point, which is carried out in some of the re- 

 ports, will next year be extended to all. 



Greater editorial care seems also required in bringing 

 about a more uniform system of classification throughout 

 the volume, and the omission of repetition — take for 

 example Prof. Jevons' paper on Pedesis, which is twice 

 described in detail on pp. 216 and 376. Why, too, 

 amongst British journals of pure and applied science are the 

 Quarterly Journal of .Sctence, the Telegraphic fournal, 

 the Electrician, and Engineering omitted, whilst Iron is 

 included ? 



We make these remarks in no captious spirit, but with 

 the real desire to augment the usefulness of this work. For 

 the same reason we would urge the paramount importance 

 of having, in addition, an English and a Continental 

 editor. It is impossible for a work of this kind to be 

 otherwise thoroughly done, nor can a proper appreciation 

 (often lacking in the volume before us) be shown, of the 

 relative merit of the investigations scattered over the 



