38 



KNOWLEDGE. 



[Febecaby 1, 1898. 



some relation to subsequent events. With regard to cases 

 of secondary consciousness, when two distinct individu- 

 alities are represented in one person, they are due to 

 mental aberration, and furnish subject for inquiry by 

 students of neurology rather than by psychical researchers. 

 Hallucinations of various kinds may also often be found to 

 have their origin in disorders of the optic nerves. 



The Reliquary mid lUustrate/l ArchienhMjist. Vol. III. 

 1897. (Bemrose.) 12s. net. Another annual volume 

 of this luxurious quarterly has been forwarded to us. 

 The illustrations, which constitute the principal attrac- 

 tion, will afford an immense treat to those who delight 

 in antiquarian research. A noteworthy feature is the 

 inclusion of a plate depicting a corner of Chancery 

 Lane as it appeared in the year 1798. We are informed 

 that Isaac Walton lived in one of these houses from 1627 

 to 1644. The frontispiece is a plate giving a presentment 

 of His Satanic Majesty- -the Prince of Darkness — as he 

 is represented at Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. Other 

 features are no less absorbing ; and. of course, the iUustra- 

 tions are accompanied by articles written by experts on the 

 several subjects, the whole forming a most artistic book. 



Problems of Xiitiire : I!eseiircliis ami Discoveries lii/ (riistar 

 Jaeger, M.D. Edited and Translated by Henry G. 

 Schlichter, d.sc. (Williams & Norgate.) This selection 

 from the papers of Dr. Jaeger — better known by his 

 hygienic clothinp; than for his scientific work — are worth 

 publication. The papers cover a variety of subjects in 

 zoology, physiology, anthropology, etc. ; and though they 

 were first published between twenty and thirty years ago, 

 many of the ideas contained in them have been justified 

 by discoveries made since their appearance. The essays 

 on Darwinian principles reveal a mind familiar with organic 

 life in many aspects, and acute enough to solve some of 

 the problems involved in it. They would have been given 

 additional value if not only the date of publication, but 

 the organ of publication, had been given at the head of 

 each. 



SHORT NOTICES. 



Practical Physiology. By Alfred F. Blaisdell, M.D. (Ginn& Co.) 

 Illustrated. 58.* Of all works on physiology that we have perused 

 none seem to approach nearer to the ideal text-book than this one. 

 Physiology as a science is usually taviglit in schools as a mere 

 catalogue of (acts, and very little attention is, as a rule, devoted to its 

 usefulness from the hygienic point of view. One may learn all about 

 the heart, brain, and skeleton of the human body, and yet not be a bit 

 wiser as to the way in wliicli diseases of the human subject may be 

 combatted or prevented. Dr. Blaisdell steps into this breach, and 

 supplies abundance of advice for every emergency. Numberless 

 experiments are given, and chapters on accidents and first aids to 

 injured persons are included. The illustrations, two hundred in 

 number, are excellent. 



Reform of Chemiral and Physical Calculations. By C. J. T. 

 Hanssen. (Spon.) Illustrated. One great drawback in the interest 

 of chemists and physicists for the last hundred years has been the 

 non-uniformity of the standards of calculations adopted by different 

 nationalities. An attempt is here made to minimize tliis confusion 

 by adopting a method of calculation which avoids long rows of 

 decimal fractions — rliscordaut values attributable to the variation of 

 the acceleration of gravity in different latitudes. The idea is to 

 establish a chemical and physical observatory on the west coast of 

 Italy, and to take as standards the results of observations made 

 there. The international weight of oxvgen— a cubic metre of which 

 weighs, at lat. 45°, 1-429U9 k^'., and at lat. 52'', 1-4,3003 kg.— at this 

 place comes out to a very simple figure ; and as hydrogen is proposed 

 to be the unit adopted, the exact weight of one cubic metre can be 

 ascertained. The author calls places of the same latitude the "circle 

 of international gravity," which will be to chemists and physicists what 

 Greenwich is to astronomers. 



The Story of Germ Life— Bacteria. By H. W. Conn. (Newnes.) 

 Illustrated. Is. We have already noticed other books in this handy 

 series, and this one in particular is welcome, as it deals with an im- 

 portant branch of modem medicine. It aims at imparting a clear 

 and popular account of these low forms of life, and, as the author 



remarks in his preface, to enlighten tlie public as to their power of 

 doing good and bad service to mankind. For example, it may interest 

 consumers of the fragrant weed to krow that the different flavours 

 of the various grades of tobacco are probably due to fermentation set 

 up in the curing process by different kinds of bacteria. The inclusion 

 of more illustrations would have enhanced the attractiveness of the 

 book. 



We have received a copy of the Thomton-Pickard 1 898 catalogue. 

 This issue is in no way inferior to previous ones, either in the way m 

 which it is " got up," or in the value and novelty of the matter which 

 it contains. We especially note particulars of a new shutter at a 

 cheaper i-ate than hitherto, and a five-by-four Amber camera. We 

 doubt not that these instruments will maintain the high standard of 

 excellence set up by this firm. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



Photo-aquatint and Photograriire. Bv Tliomas Huson. (Dawbarn 

 & Ward.) Illustrated. 



tStatu-i of Birds in the British Isles and in Devonshire. By 

 H. M. Evans. (Brendon & Son, Plvmouth.) Is. 



An Illustrated Manual of British Birds— Parts II. and III. By 

 Howard Saunders. (Gurney k Jackson.) Illustrated. Is. each. 



A Treatise on Chemistry. By II. E. Roscoe, y.E.S., and C. Schor- 

 lemmer, f.k.s. A'ol. II., Metals. Revised Edition. (Macntillan.) 

 Illustrated. 31s. 6d. 



First Tear of Scientific Knou-ledge. By Paul Bert. Revised 

 Edition. (Relfe Brothers.) Illustrated. 



Ambroise Part- and his Times : 13101590. Bv Stephen Paget. 

 (Putnam's Sons.) Illustrated. 10s. 6d. 



Views on Some of the Phenomena of Xature. By James Walker. 

 (Sonnenschcin.) 38. 6d. 



John Bright. By C. A. Vince, M.A. (Blackie.) 28. 6d. 



Nature Study in Elementary Schools. Bv Mrs. Wilson. (Mac- 

 millan.) Illustrated. 3s. 6d. 



A Triji to Venus. By John Munro. (Jarrold.) Ss. 6d. 



Reader's Shakespeare — The Comedies. Bv David Charles Bell. 

 (Hoddcr & Stoughton.) 3s. (>d. 



What is Life ! Bv Frederick Hovendcn. (Chapman &. Hall.) 

 Illustrated. 6s. 



Notes on Carpentry and Joinery. By Thomas Jay Evans. 

 (Chapman i Hall.) Illustrated. 7s. 6d. 



Experimental Work in Chemistrv. By E. H. Cook. (Arnold.) 

 Illustrated. Is. 6d. 



The Tutorial C/iemisiry. Part II.. Metals. By G. H. Bailey, 

 D. sc. (Clive.) Illustrated. 3s. 6d. 



Geometry for Beginners. By George M. Minchin, M.A. (Claren- 

 don Press.) Illustrated. Is. 6d. 



The Observer's Atlas of the Heavens. Bv W. Peck, F.K.A.s. 

 (Gall & Inglis.) 2l8. net. 



TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE, JANUARY 22, 1898. 



IT is gratifying to learn that those who journeyed 

 to India to observe the eclipse have enjoyed all 

 the opportunities which favourable meteorological 

 conditions can present for the observation of a total 

 solar eclipse, and there is every encouragement to 

 believe that the results of the several expeditions will form 

 a pleasing contrast to the almost universal failure which 

 attended last year's efforts. The sun was gradually 

 blotted out, and a corona of pale sUver and blue appeared. 

 As the eclipse reached its zenith the temperature fell 

 rapidly and the atmosphere became perceptibly chilly. The 

 light during the middle of totality was greater than that 

 from the full moon. The spectacle was magnificent, and 

 excited a feeling of awe and astonishment among the 

 beholders — a scene resembling a landscape under a wintry 

 English sun. 



The general shape of the sun's corona was like that 

 seen in the eclipses of 1886 and 1896 — that is to say, 

 white, downy blooms winging the dark ball of the moon all 

 round its circumference, but larger on each side of the 

 sun's equator than elsewhere. The streamers, the light 

 of which had a thready aspect, extended into space for an 

 apparent distance of four and a half diameters of the 

 moon. The detailed polar structure arranged itself in 

 lines, as iron filings round the poles of a magnet. The 



