JANUARY 21, 1904] 
NARORE 
267 
PHYSIOLOGY AND ALCOHOL. 
Elementary Physiology and Hygiene. By Prof. Buel 
P. Colton, M.A. Heath’s Modern Science Series. 
Pp. viii+317. (London: D. C. Heath and Co.) 
Price 2s. 6d. 
HIS book has obviously been written to supply 
the wants of the American schoolchild, and 
consequently 
“the subject of alcohol has been treated very 
thoroughly and in full compliance with the laws of | his preface admits the manufacture of new words, 
the various States.” 
‘Throughout the book the effects of alcohol and 
cther narcotics have been discussed in close connection 
with the accounts of the functions of the body.” 
“A number of authoritative quotations have been 
made, so that the pupil may know that the statements 
has not ‘“‘had Latin,’’ appearing to forget that such 
words have become part of the language, and that it 
is a drastic procedure to coin many new and uncouth 
words to save his readers the labour of acquiring a 
knowledge of the Latin plural forms. This knowledge 
they ought already to possess at school before they 
have reached the stage of studying physiology and 
hygiene, unless school work is becoming very inverted 
and chaotic. ; 
In addition to inventing new plurals, the author in 
| again on the plea of simplicity, and further examples 
made are supported by the most eminent authorities | 
of the world on these subjects.”’ 
The above quotations from the author’s preface show 
that it has been a pleasure to him to comply in his 
book with the law enjoining that all text-books of 
physiology used in American State schools must con- | 
tain a description of the effects of alcohol upon the 
body. 
So thoroughly has this instruction been carried out | 
that it appears on reading the book as if in many 
cases the very brief descriptions of the physiology of 
the different tissues had been written chiefly as intro- 
ductions in order to make clear the dire effects of 
alcohol, which are subsequently described in each 
case. 
There is a denunciation of alcohol in every chapter, 
and its ill effects upon every tissue in the body, from 
the bones to the brain, through the whole gamut of 
the muscles, blood, circulation, respiration, digestion 
and excretion, are specially described in words usually 
chosen from well-known authors; and then, as if feel- 
in> that this alone were not sufficient, the author adds 
a chapter, written in great part by himself, dealing 
entirely with alcohol and its disastrous effects upon 
the body. 
Truly this book must be appalling reading to the 
American schoolchild whose parents may be in the 
habit of making even moderate use of alcoholic 
drinks, until time has eventually brought the con- 
vincing comfort that the parents do not suffer so badly 
as might have been expected from the descriptions of 
the text-book. 
It is a pity that the picture is so overdrawn, both 
for the sake of the effect upon the mind of the child 
and the valuable reformation of the parent which 
might have been effected through the child. 
It is most desirable that every adult in every country 
should know the evil results upon the system of 
over-indulgence in such a powerful drug as alcohol, 
but it is highly questionable whether any good result 
can follow the drawing of such lurid pictures as are 
found here for the perusal of boys and girls at school. 
The style of the book is not beautified by the use 
of the English instead of the Latin plural, so pro- 
ducing such monstrosities as pleuras, ganglions, 
ciliums, villuses, and papillas. The author states that 
this has been done to avoid puzzling the student who 
NO. 1786, VOL. 60] 
of this practice are to be found in the text, such as 
aur-vent and vent-art valves on p. 52. 
The book contains a smattering of popular physi- 
ology and a very small amount of elementary hygiene, 
but it appears to the reviewer to be a volume which 
ought specially to attract temperance lecturers 
search of ‘‘ material’? for their discourses. 
BENJAMIN MOORE. 
in 
A BOOK OF ENGLISH SPORTS. 
English Sport. Edited by A. E. T. Watson. Pp. ix+ 
361; illustrated. (London: Macmillan and Co., 
Ltd., 1903.) Price 12s. 6d. net. 
N this handsome volume, illustrated by a large 
number of exquisite coloured plates (many of which 
are photographs), the editor has managed to compress 
into a comparatively small size an interesting and 
accurate account of all the chief English sports. All 
the articles, each of which is written by a recognised 
authority on his special subject, have previously 
appeared in the Badminton Magazine, but since the 
series was compiled with a view to subsequent republi- 
cation in book form, there is not that lack of connection 
and completeness—to say nothing of overlapping— 
which is sometimes noticeable in collections of this 
nature. To particularise the names of the different 
contributors would be unnecessary on the present 
occasion, but a glance at the table of contents will be 
sufficient to convince the reader that the editor has 
been especially fortunate in obtaining the cooperation 
of such a number of names well known in the sporting 
world. 
To review in detail a worl: of this nature comes more 
within the province of journals devoted specially to 
field and other sports, and we shall therefore, while 
commending the volume to the best attention of those 
whom it more immediately concerns, content ourselves 
with a few brief references to points more or less inti- 
mately connected with natural history. 
All lovers of British animals cannot fail to find much 
matter of interest in the article by Viscount Ebrington 
on hunting the wild red deer in Devon and Somerset, 
of which his lordship, in his capacity as master of 
the hunt, probably knows more than any man living. 
Those who read this article must be convinced what 
an excellent lesson in ‘‘ nature teaching ”’ is afforded 
by the cultivation of the power of minute observation 
essential on the part of all those concerned in discover- 
ing the whereabouts of the quarry. In the article on 
harriers ancient and modern by the late Earl of 
