88 



KNOWLEDGE 



[Apbil 1, 1898, 



Some Unri'coiinized Laus of Xalure. By Ig^natius Singer 

 and Lewis H. Berins. Illustrated. (John Murray.) 18s. 

 There are a few pages in this book worth reading ; the 

 remainder produces vexation of spirit. To criticize the 

 book in detail would take up far more space than we can 

 spare, and though it is the duty of a scientific periodical 

 to prick the bubbles of paradoxers, life is too short to 

 explain fully why their destruction is desirable. The best 

 way to deal with a work of this kind is perhaps to leave it 

 alone, when it will die of inanition. We will, however, 

 state briefly some of the reasons why this book is unworthy 

 of the attention of students engaged in the realities of 

 science, selecting our instances from many marked in 

 the course of reading the book. " The current assump- 

 tion is of two kinds of electricities ; but though the two- 

 fluid theory has its rival in what is called the single-fluid 

 theory, it is still the dominant conception." This state- 

 ment is not correct ; the two-fluid theory of electricity is 

 as dead as Queen Anne, so far as scientific men are 

 concerned, yet the authors spend page upon page in 

 killing it. They do not seem to be at all familiar with 

 modern conceptions of electrical phenomena. Bodies 

 weigh less at the Equator than in Polar regions, the 

 reason being that they are further from the centre of 

 mass, and that there is a greater tendency for them to be 

 thrown ofi", on account of the earth's rotational velocity. 

 The authors endeavour to show that the argument 

 derived from considerations of the earth's mass is not 

 admissible, but they entii-ely neglect to consider the 

 levity given to bodies at the Equator in consequence of the 

 earth's rotation. They make erroneous statements as to 

 the periods of vibrations of pendulums, and their theory 

 of the cause of the earth's axial motion is ludicrous. 

 They hold that "no contradiction is involved in as- 

 suming the axis of the earth to be at right angles to 

 its circumsolar path ; and that the obliquity of the 

 ecliptic can be explained by the 'up and down' motions 

 of the earth on its axis." Sunspots are believed to be 

 " planets but a comparatively short distance from the sun, 

 and revolving round it," which absurd theory is enough 

 to put any observer of solar phenomena completely ont of 

 patience. We need not give any further instances of the 

 kind of mistaken ideas with which the volume bristles. 

 No volume that has come before us during the last two 

 or three years more fully justifies the expression that 

 " what is new in it is not true, and what is true ia not 

 new." 



Elrments of the ('oinpardtive Anatomy of Vertehrates, 

 Adapted from the German of Dr. Kobert Wiedersheim by 

 Dr. W. N. Parker. (Macmillan.) This second edition of 

 Prof. Parker's work is based upon the third edition of Dr. 

 Wiedersheim's standard treatise. Faithful translation of a 

 German scientific work is always diftioult and generally 

 undesirable. A much better method is to use the original 

 freely, and to aim at presenting ideas accurately, rather 

 than slavishly following the text. This is the principle 

 which Prof. Parker, with Dr. Wiedersheim's permission, has 

 adopted. As a result we have a book in readable English, 

 and admirably adapted for English students of comparative 

 anatomy. Considerable condensation of the third German 

 edition has taken place in some sections, but new material 

 has been added to others. Prof. Parker's object has been 

 to prepare a short textbook, which, while retaining the 

 original descriptions and arrangement as far as possible, 

 should deal with the more essential and well -ascertained 

 facts of comparative anatomy. He has carried out his plan 

 most successfully, and the only criticism we have to offer 

 is that the treatment is a little unequal, the skeleton being 

 dealt with much more fully than some of the other organ- 



Probably Prof. Parker has his reasons for 

 this, though it will not find favour with all students of 

 morphology. The organ-systems described in order in the 

 book are as follows : (1) the outer covering of the body, or 

 integument ; (2) the skeleton ; (3) the muscles, together 

 with electric organs ; (4) the nervous system and sense 

 organs ; (5) the organs of nutrition, respiration, circulation, 

 excretion, and reproduction. By dealing with the facts in 

 this way the student is led to see clearly that there has been 

 an evolution of organs as well as of animals, and this ia 

 the right aim of the study of comparative anatomy. The 

 remarkably fine illustrations — there are three hundred and 

 thirty-three in all — assist the text in showing the various 

 phases of development of the organs of vertebrates. A 

 valuable bibliogpraphy concludes this excellent work, which 

 will be of great service to medical students as well as to 

 students of comparative anatomy. 



SHOET NOTICES. 



A First Year's Course of Experimental Work in Chemistry. By 

 Ernest H. Cook, D.8C. (Arnold.) Illustrated. l8. 6d. ])r. Cook's 

 book contains the usual instructions for conducting an elementary 

 class in practical chemistry. The experiments are well chosen for 

 emphasizing fundamental principles, but the illustrations are rather 

 sparsely distributed. " Very brief accounts are given in the text," in 

 order to judge the better of the student's honesty and care in 

 <ibsr'rvation. Indeed, brevity is here carried to such an extreme, one 

 may safely predict that the student will do little work by following 

 the text unless the teacher is always at his elbow. 



Organic Chemical Manipulation. By J. T. Hewitt, D.8C. (Whit- 

 taker.) Illustrated. 7s. 6d. Books on practical organic chemistry 

 are comparatively rare, and there is room for a good, handy, and 

 cheap treatise on the subject. Dr. Hewitt has, in a measure, met 

 this deficiency, but he has spoiled his chance by a prohibitive price — 

 a price out of all proportion with the dimensions of the book and 

 the cost of first production. Accurately and concisely written, the 

 work is of more than ordinary value to students of organic chemistry. 

 A large section is devoted to quantitative analysis, which the author 

 lorrectly states in the preface has not heretofore been treated as fully 

 as it ought to be. A goodly number of preparations is given, including 

 the fatty and aromatic series, together with a number of rare com- 

 pounds, and the synthesis of organic substances — a new feature in 

 books of this class. Besides the mere preparation of the compounds 

 suitable explanations are advanced of the theory of the reactions 

 which take place ; and, where necessary, diagrams are shown of the 

 apparatus employed, as well as full directions as to quantities of 

 materials to be used in each experiment. 



Observational Astronomi/. By Arthur Mee, F.B.A.8. Second 

 Edition. (Western Mail, Limited.) lUustrated. 28. 9d. A new 

 edition of this admirable work was, of course, to be expected. It has 

 been greatly enlarged, and most of the illustrations are new. Numerous 

 representations of the planets, etc., are shown, as well as thumb- 

 nail sketches of eminent astronomers ; features which impart to the 

 book an interest which is peculiar to itself. In the plate forming the 

 frontispiece is given a drawing of Saturn, by Antoniadi, as it appeared 

 on July 16th, 1S97. A photograph of the great nebula in Orion, 

 by Dr. Roberts, also enhances the value of the work. We have not 

 seen a popular book on astronomy for many a day whicli possesses so 

 raanv and diverse attractions as this one ; and we hope that its 

 circulation may increase in a ratio commensurate with its improved 

 condition. 



The First Book of Scientific Knowledge. By Paul Bert. (Relfe 

 Bros.) Illustrated. 2s. 6d. We are pleased to observe that a new 

 and improved edition of this admirable introduction to the sciences 

 has just been issued. It is sufficient to say of so successful a work, 

 both in France and in our own country, that the publishers have done 

 all that seemed needful to make the volume a solid foundation for 

 more advanced study. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



Poultry fur the Table and Market versus Fancy Fowls. By W. 

 B. Tegetmeier, y.z.s. (Cox.) Illustrated. 28. 6d. 



A New Astronomy. By David P. Todd, pa.D. (American Book 

 Company.) Illustrated. Sl-30. 



The Story of Life in the Seas. By Sidney J. Hickson, P.B.s. 

 (Newnes.) Dlustrated. Is. 



