148 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Aug 



Stem of Dodder. — When the haustorium has been devel- 

 oped the root dies and connection with the soil ceases. 

 The stem above the haustorium twins around its host and 

 throws out new suckers as it g-rows. It thus establishes 

 itself firmly upon the victim, which it at leng-th destroys. 

 It climbs all indifferently— the clover, the thistle, the 

 nettle or rag--weed, the day-flower and even the poison-ivy. 

 It feeds upon the juice of the latter without acquiring- its 

 properties. The stem makes an interesting- mount. 



RECENT PUBLICATIONS. 



Hemorrhoids.— E. R. Pelton, 19 E. 16th street. New 

 York publishes at 75 cents three lectures by Dr. C. B. 

 Kelsey advocating the humane treatment of this evil by 

 the avoidance of surg-ery and deserves every praise for so 

 doing- — a very nice little book of 68 pag-es. 



Vibration the Law of Life. — This is the title of a new 

 book ($1.25) by W. H. Williams of Denver upon breathing. 

 It is based upon experiences and successes of his own 

 and seeks to give a scientific exposition thereof. All 

 knowledge and all happiness await him who learns and 

 practices the proper breathings. They induce clair- 

 voyance, clairaudience, the healing- of all disease physical 

 and mental. Thoug-h there is absolutely no mention of the 

 phrase "Holy Spirit " in this book, all the results which 

 the early Christians are said to have derived from the 

 Sanctus spiritus, are independently shown by Dr. 

 Williams to be obtainable by a special breathing-. He does 

 not however state the fact that the Greek word " pneuma " 

 and the Latin "spiritus" always meant breath or breath- 

 ing- until later Christians undertook to make them mean 

 Spirit in the sense of Ghost or invisible personality. If 

 " pneuma " which in all other writings means breath were 

 translated literally in the N.T. a wonderful mine of scien- 

 tific knowledge would be unfolded thereby for those who 

 know how to and do persistently practice this special 

 (holy) breathing- which this book describes to a certain 

 extent and of which more is learned from other writers. 



