180 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY. [September. 
NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
A Course of Elementary Practical Fiistology. By William Fearnley. MacMillan & Co. 
New York. 1887. Flexible cloth. (pp. 363; pls. 45). 
There are so many text-books on histology that a reviewer is somewhat puzzled when 
he takes up a new one for examination. They fall into several classes, to wit, those 
which treat only of very narrow and special topics, ¢..g., ‘ Bacteriology,’ ‘ Urinalysis,’ 
etc., subjects which come within the range in a wide meaning of the term. ‘Then there 
are the histologies which treat of the product particularly. Stricker’s ‘Manual’ or 
Quain’s ‘Anatomy’ are such; so, also, Foster & Langley’s ‘ Practical Physiology.’ 
Then there is a large number of works of varying length upon histology in which the 
greatest stress is laid upon the method of treatment and but little on the subject studied, 
which is to be sought in some such works as those of Quain or Stricker. It has always 
seemed to us that these latter and others of their class failed of greatest usefulness be- 
cause, though they described histological structure with the utmost thoroughness and 
most satisfactorily, they do not tell the reader how he may prepare tissues for himself. 
In the work before us the author appears to have attempted to supply the books needed 
to supplement the descriptive histologies and to have done it in the most satisfactory 
manner in which it has been done up to the present time. After a large amount of 
space (pp. 167) devoted to the details of microscopy there follows the best and most 
novel portion of the book, a set of very practical notes, occupying 40 pages, touching 
upon the points necessary to receive special attention in preparing material for study. 
These apply to the easiest mode of securing the material, cautions needful to secure 
the material in good condition at points where heed might not otherwise be given. 
Also, they give specific direction as to fluid for hardening, time during which they must 
remain in hardening fluid, proper washing fluid, recipes for all fluids ; in fact, the direc- 
tions are so clear and minute that we do not see how they can fail to be of very great 
assistance to the worker. 
The second part of the work is occupied by 150 pages of topics, with space beneath 
for notes on observation. These could, with the addition of specific references to places 
where the objects referred to are treated at length, have been made much more useful 
to the student. Thus, on page 287, the true salivary gland, the true mucous gland, and 
the muco-salivary gland are all three to be cut and studied. A reference to them in the 
place where they are best treated would have been helpful. Among the formule we 
notice a very brief treatment of dissociation fluids. This process, we are convinced, is 
one which should receive more attention than it at present does in competition with the 
method by sections, and yet in nearly all text-books it is but lightly touched upon. 
The work throughout is very satisfactory ; the writer is a worker and understands the 
wants of workers, and has given us a valuable addition to the numerous text-books on 
histology. For its very clear typography, strong paper, flexible covers, and convenient 
shape, uniform with ‘ Practical Biology’ and ‘ Practical Physiology,’ and many others, 
the publishers deserve the thanks of all students who will handle the book at all con- 
stantly. 
Exchanges. 
[Exchanges are inserted in this column without charge. They will be strictly limited to mounted objects, and 
material for mounting. } 
Diatoms Synedra superba in situ upon alga (Ceramium rubrum) in exchange for good mounted slides in 
animal histology. HENRY L. OSBORN, Hamline, Minn. 
Wanted, earths, recent diatoms, and miscellaneous objects for mounting. Only first-class material offered or 
desired. M. A. BOOTH, Longmeadow, Mass. 
Publisher’s Notices.—All communications, exchanges, etc., should be addressed to Henry Leslie 
Osborn, Hamline University, Hamline, Minn. 
Subscriptions, and all matters of business, should be addressed to the Business Manager, P. O. Box 
630, Washington, D. C. The address of Mr. R. Hitchcock is Osaka, Japan. 
Subscription price $1.00 PER YEAR strictly in advance. Add subscriptions begin with the Fanuary 
number. A pink wrapper indicates that the subscription has expired. 
Remittances should be made by postal notes, money orders, or by money sent in registered letters. Drafts 
should be made payable in Washington, New York, Boston, or Philadelphia, to the order of the Business 
Manager. The regular receipt of the JouRNAL, which is issued on the 15th of each month, will be an acknowl- 
edgment of payment. - 
The first volume, 1880, is entirely out of print. The succeeding volumes will be sent by the publisher for 
the following prices which are net:—Vol. II (1881) complete, $1.50; Vol. III (1882), out of print; Vol. 1V 
(1883) complete, $1.50; Vol. V (1884) complete, $1.50; Vol. V (1884), Nos. 2-12, $1.00; Vol. VI (1885), $1.50; 
Vol. VII (1886), $1.00. 
