November 19, J 891] 



NATURE 



51 



tailed specific descriptions are attempted, the work is 

 rendered more useful than a mere list would be, by the 

 introduction of keys, by means of which all the Indian 

 species can be discriminated. There are also some 

 critical remarks upon disputed questions of specific dis- 

 tinction, which the large series of specimens at the 

 au'hor's disposal has enabled him to throw light upon, 

 such as the identity of Ovis poll of the Pamir and the 

 so-called Ovis karelini of the Thian Shan. Under the 

 heading Elephas indicus, we note that Mr. Sclater refers 

 to Schlegel's having pointed out in a well-known memoir 

 (of which a translation appeared in the Natural History 

 Revieiu, vol. ii., 1862) certain distinctions between the 

 true Indian elephant and that inhabiting the islands of 

 Ceylon and Sumatra {Elephas sumatranus, Schlegel), and 

 he repeats the characters assigned to the two supposed 

 species or varieties. Although no fresh evidence is 

 brought forward in favour of Schlegel's views, it is not 

 likely that Mr. Sclater would, without good reasons, reject 

 Dr. Falconer's elaborate refutation of them, published in 

 the succeeding volume of the same Review. Dr. Falconer 

 was such a great authority on elephants, and his argu- 

 ments for the specific unity of the Asiatic forms have been 

 so generally held to be sound, that Schlegel's two species 

 can only be rehabilitated by a careful comparison of a 

 considerable series of specimens undoubtedly natives of 

 both localities. Perhaps Mr. Sclater may have an oppor- 

 tunity of doing this while in the East, and thus definitely 

 settle a question of considerable zoological interest. 



W. H. F. 



A TEXT-BOOK OF CHEMICAL PHYSIOLOGY 



AND PATHOLOGY. 

 A Text-book of Chemical Physiology and Pathology. By 



W. D. Halliburton, M.D., B.Sc, M.R.CP. (London: 



Longmans, Green, and Co., 1891.) 



IN spite of the fact that several standard works on 

 the subject of physiological chemistry exist, both in 

 German and English, the need has nevertheless been 

 universally felt of one that should at the same time 

 present a review of the present condition of the subject 

 from an impartial standpoint, and give some account of 

 the methods of research employed. 



Hoppe Seyle's works have been of immense service, 

 but suffer from being onesided, and representing only 

 the views and methods of the Strassburg school. The 

 only work in English which promised to be universal in 

 its scope — namely, that by Gamgee — is unfortunately still 

 unfinished. 



Prof. Halliburton, who is justly celebrated for his 

 work in all departments of physiological chemistry, has 

 attempted to fill this gap in our literature, and with a 

 large measure of success. 



The first fifty pages of the book are taken up with an 

 account of the apparatus and analytical methods chiefly 

 employed in physiological chemical research. The only 

 fault we have to find with this part of the book is that there 

 is not enough of it. In a book intended as a guide to those 

 who would work practically at the subject one hundred 

 and fifty pages might well be devoted to these subjects, 

 seeing that so many workers boldly attack the chemical 

 NO. 1151, VOL. 45] 



problems of physiology with scarcely any practical know- 

 ledge of chemical analytical methods. 



The second part treats of the chemical constituents of 

 the organism, concluding with two chapters on fermenta- 

 tion and ptomaines, the chapters on the latter and on 

 proteids being especially good, and presenting an excellent 

 resume oi our present knowledge of these subjects. 



The next section is taken up with an account of the 

 tissues and organs of the body. Here the author is 

 thoroughly at home, and can speak with the authority ot 

 many years' practical work at the subject. It is rather 

 difficult, however, to see on what principle he includes 

 respiration in this part, especially as the subjects of 

 alimentation, excretion, and general metabolism have 

 each a part to themselves ; unless it be, that it is so 

 intimately connected with the physiology of the blood. 

 In this chapter a student might be led astray by seeing 

 the table of relations between the tension of the gases in 

 venous blood and of those in the alveolar air. The im- 

 portant thing to know is the tension of gases in arteri.nl 

 blood ; and by giving those in venous blood in juxta- 

 position to those in the alveolar air, the author glosses 

 over the difficulties presented by the question of gas 

 interchange in the lungs. In this connection, too, he 

 does not notice Bohr's important work on the subject 

 (mterchange of gases in the lun^s), although he gives a 

 full account of the Danish physiologist's researches on the 

 combination of hremoglobin with COo. 



In the latter part of the book no reference is made 

 to Altmann's views on fat absorption, or to Ehrlich's sug- 

 gestive work on the oxidative processes taking place in 

 living tissues. 



But a few errors of omission are inevitable in a work 

 of this size and scope, and Dr. Halliburton wins our 

 admiration for the completeness and correctness of his 

 book, which everywhere shows signs of the care with 

 which the proof-sheets have been revised and brought up 

 to date. The accounts of recent analytical methods and 

 work render it invaluable in a physiological laboratory, 

 and it will be repeatedly referred to by students who desire 

 more than a superficial knowledge of the subject. In 

 Germany it has already found favour with physiologists, 

 and is considered the best work on the subject. The 

 fact that it is being translated into German, under the 

 auspices of Prof. KUhne, is of itself sufficient recom- 

 mendation for any work ; and there is no doubt that in its 

 new dress it will command as much success in Germany 

 as it has already commanded in England. 



E. H. Starling. 



OUR BOOK SHELF. 



Praktisches Taschenbuch der Pholographie. By Dr. E. 

 Vogel, Assistant in the Photochemical Laboratory of 

 the Technical High School of Berlin. (Berlin ; Robert 

 Oppenheim, 1891.) 



This is a small volume, of some 200 pages, but it is 

 full of useful information for working photographers, 

 whether amateurs or professionals. Under nine sec- 

 tions the author treats of all the subjects likely to be 

 required by the manipulator of the camera, from the 

 purchase of his apparatus onward through every detail 

 essential for successful work. The value of the book is 

 greatly enhanced by numerous illustrations, which are 



