August 23, 19 17] 



NATURE 



50: 



invites attention to the points wherein it differs 

 ;, from previous text-books on the same subject. 

 Although histology, like every other branch of 

 biology, continues to progress, yet in such a 

 limited and well-explored field as human histology 

 a nearer approach to finality has been reached 

 than in any other branch of biology, and there- 

 fore the need for a new text-book is less 

 obvious. 



We may say then at once that Prof. Jordan 

 , and Dr. Ferguson have produced an eminently 

 ' handy text-book. Its bulk has been limited not 

 ■only in the matter of number of pages, but also 

 in the not less important respect of size of page, 

 and its weight is still further reduced by the type 

 of binding adopted, which, oddly enough, re- 

 mbles that which has long been popular in the 

 vase of copies of the Bible. The plan of the book 

 follows the well-known lines familiar in most text- 

 books of histology, viz. the various types of 

 ' tissues are dealt with seriatim and then an ac- 

 count of the structure of the principal organs of 

 the body is given. Since, as we have already 

 noted, there is an evident determination on the 

 ^ part of the authors to keep the size of the book 

 . within modest limits, the essential facts are stated 

 as shortly and succinctly as possible, and although 

 the student is made aware of conflicting views on 

 points where uncertainty exists, yet no space 

 is wasted in prolonged discussion of such 

 disputes. 



What, however, Is more prominent in this work 

 than most similar text-books, and what strikes 

 us as wholly admirable, is the presence of 

 numerous explanations of the functions of the 

 structures described. After all, one main reason 

 why histology is studied is for the purpose of 

 ■elucidating function, and what might easily 

 become a mass of wearisome detail to the 

 student becomes lighted up with interest when 

 he is made to understand what the structures 

 are for. 



A feature of great importance in any text-book 

 of histology is the nature of the illustrations, and 

 in this matter we regret to say that in our opinion 

 the authors have followed a wrong method with 

 regard to many of these. A large proportion con- 

 sist of half-tone reproductions of photographs of 

 actual sections. Such figures are in our opinion 

 most unsatisfactory, for there is inevitably much 

 blurring of outlines. If it be urged that it is 

 important to represent what a student will actually 

 see in the specimen and not the teacher's inter- 

 pretation of it, we may rejoin that this is precisely 

 what photographs do not show. The distinctions 

 produced by differential staining are lost, and no 

 one ever looks at a section without continually 

 turning the fine-adjustment screw of the micro- 

 scope and bringing various levels of the section in 

 turn into sharp relief, whereas the best photograph 

 reproduces clearlv only the structures that lie at 

 a single level. The large proportion of the photo- 

 graphic figures seriously detracts from the merits 

 of the book. On the other hand, the insertion of 

 a considerable number of simple outline explana- 

 XO. 2495, VOL. 99] 



tory diagrams, such as those of the embryonic 



development of the pancreas and the descent of 



the ovary, are of great assistance. As is perhaps 



natural in American authors, the references cited 



relate too exclusively to the results of .American 



workers. On the whole, however, the clearness 



I of the descriptions, the emphasis of essential 



I points, and the neglect of secondary details 



j combine to make this in our opinion a valuable 



text-book. 



E. W. M. 



OUR BOOKSHELF. 



A Pocket-book for Chemists. By T. Bayley. 

 Eighth edition. Edited by R. Ensoll. Pp. 

 xvi-i-425. (London: E. and F. X. Spon, Ltd., 

 1917.) Price 75. 6d. net. 



The "Chemist's Pocket-book" by T. Bayley, 

 of which the last and seventh edition was published 

 in 1900, has served for many years as a useful 

 laboratory companion. In this new issue, edited 

 by R. Ensoll, the contents of the previous edition 

 have been rearranged, much obsolete matter has 

 been omitted, and a number of tables have been 

 added. 



The subject-matter is grouped under the head- 

 ings of (i) mathematical data; (2) weights and 

 measures ; (3) physical data ; (4) general analysis ; 

 (5) gravimetric analysis ; (6) volumetric analysis ; 

 and (7) miscellaneous. The first three sections 

 contain a comprehensive series of useful data of 

 reference, conveniently arranged in tabular form. 

 In the section on general analysis the methods 

 described^are restricted to the analysis of sugar, 

 wine, beer, spirits, and milk, and to a number of 

 examples of indirect analysis, a selection which 

 seems to bear but little relation to the require- 

 ments of the average chemist. The tables of 

 factors included in the section on gravimetric 

 analysis have been carefully chosen and are well 

 arranged. Some of the methods of standardisation 

 described in the section on volumetric analysis 

 could be revised with advantage, as they are not 

 fullv in accord with those of modern analytical 

 practice. The concluding section, "Miscellaneous," 

 contains a number of data, such as instructions in 

 bending and cutting glass tubing, cleaning labora- 

 tory vessels, etc., which seem peculiarly out of 

 keeping with the proper objective of the book. 

 In future editions the space thus occupied could 

 be advantageously made use of to extend other 

 portions of the contents. This re-issue, which 

 is published in the form of a handbook, has been 

 very carefully edited and is likely to maintain the 

 utilitv of the earlier editions. 

 I ' C. A. K. 



I Food. Bv Dr. A. Hill. ("Manuals of Health," 

 I No. I.) Pp. 64. (London: S.P.C.K., 1917.) 

 i Price gd. 



Food is a subject of predominant interest at the 

 present time, and it is important that sound 

 knowledge concernirig its use and function should 



