NovEMBER 26, 1896] 
figure, schematised after the manner which was current 
in the old days, but not always on that account the less 
actually true as a representation of the parts which it 
was the business of the author to describe. And we 
need not complain of the continued presence of these 
well-worn delineations, for they not only have served, but 
still serve their purpose, nor do they any longer stand 
alone as in the old days, but side by side with them there 
now appear representations as true to nature as the skill 
of the artist and of the engraver can produce, and ex- 
hibiting the intricacies of structure of cells and tissues 
such as only the most modern microscopes and methods 
have been able to reveal. 
The first volume of this edition of “ Kélliker’s His- 
tology,” which appeared as long ago as 1889, and is 
itself twenty-two years subsequent to the publication of | 
the previous edition, deals with cell-structure, with the | 
simple tissues, with the structure and formation of the 
bones, of muscles and of the integument. The second 
volume, consisting in all of 874 pages, is devoted entirely 
to the finer structure of the nervous system! From 
which statement, combined with the reputation of the 
author, it will be rightly inferred that the volume is 
indeed a compendious account of the structure of this, 
the most important, system in the body, such as has never 
previously been in the hands of the student. And what 
‘constitutes the most remarkable fact regarding this part 
of the work, is that it is an actual record of personal 
‘observations, not as with most works of the kind, mainly 
a vechaugé of the observations of other people. Need- 
less also to add, that the methods used are of the most 
modern description, and that the illustrations are both 
clear and abundant. If Kolliker had néver written any- 
thing besides this monograph of the structure of the 
nervous system, his reputation would have been suffi- 
ciently made. What that reputation is, with the un- 
remitting work of sixty or more years superadded to this 
achievement, is known to the whole world. 
The second book. upon our list is one of an entirely 
different type, and, it may be added, of a type which we 
are accustomed to associate with French rather than 
with German authors. It gives a clear and succinct 
account, firstly, of the chief modern histological methods, 
secondly, of the structure of the cells and tissues, and 
thirdly, of the organs of the body, the whole being 
illustrated by excellent drawings, which are entirely 
new, and which give a stamp of originality to the work. 
Moreover, the reproduction of the drawings leaves little 
or nothing to be desired, and with the exception of one 
‘or two, which only purport to be diagrams, it will at 
once appear that they are on the whole extremely good 
representations of structure. If there is any fault to be 
found, it is in the somewhat meagre manner in which 
the central nervous system is dealt with. On the other 
hand, it must be admitted that to deal with this at any 
length, would necessarily have carried the dimensions of 
the book beyond what may be justly regarded as the 
limit of an ordinary text-book for students; which is 
the standard aimed at in the work before us. 
The third book is one of a much more ambitious 
character, as the title sufficiently indicates. The aim of 
the author is to give a comparative account of the 
minute structure of every organ of the body in the whole 
NO. 1413, VOL. 55] 
NATURE 
| 
| 
range of Vertebrata. Since the classical work of Leydig 
appeared forty years ago—a work which may still be 
referred to by the student with manifest advantage—no 
adequate attempt has been made to provide a compara- 
tive account of the structure of the body, and the litera- 
ture of the subject is so enormous, and the amount of 
material that would be required to be studied so pro- 
digious, that no one person could by any means ade- 
quately expect to cope with it. It is but fair to say that 
this is recognised by the author, who, in his preface, 
refers to the probable necessity of the work being taken 
up and continued by others. The present instalment 
deals with the comparative anatomy of the stomach 
alone, in a volume of 543 royal octavo pages. Beginning 
with the structure of this organ in fishes, it continues with 
it through various amphibia, reptiles, birds and mammals, 
concluding with man! The book is mainly a compilation, 
but the fullest references are everywhere given; and 
therefore, although it lacks the interest which more 
originality would have conferred upon it (in which 
respect it differs conspicuously from Leydig), there can 
be no doubt of its value as a book of reference for all 
who are working either at the histology or physiology of 
the organ dealt with. About thirty pages are occupied 
alone by the titles of works referred to, and this will give 
some idea of the extensive literary researches which the 
author must have made in order to render the work as 
complete as it is. -The illustrations are of two kinds, 
viz. figures on wood or zinc throughout the text, with a 
certain number of lithographed plates at the end of the 
book. Neither the author nor the publisher has spared 
pains to render the work excellent of its kind, and it is to 
be hoped that future instalments may each require far 
less time to produce than the seven years which the 
author admits that he has devoted to this present part. 
It is certainly not a little remarkable that after the 
lapse of many years without the appearance of an im- 
portant work on histology in the German language, three 
books, such as these, so different from one another, but 
all in their way important, should have appeared almost 
simultaneously. The fact may probably be taken as a 
sign of the revival of active interest in general histology, 
most of the interest of histologists having of late been 
centred upon the structure of the cell and the relations 
of the cells of the nervous system to one another. 
E. A. SCHAFER. 
ASPECTS OF GARDENING. 
A History of Gardening in England. By the Hon. 
Alicia Amherst. Second edition. Pp. xiv + 405. 
(London : Bernard Quaritch, 1896.) 
1G NTIL attention is specially drawn to the subject, 
the variety of the interest attaching to gardens 
and to gardening is not realised. One man estimates 
his garden by the amount and quality of the produce it 
yields for his table. Another finds his esthetic sense 
satisfied by the flowers it contains. The exercise and 
recreation afforded by garden pursuits are keenly appre- 
ciated by yet another class; whilst to the naturalist 
cultivated plants are living beings, replete with all the 
interest begot of the study of the phenomena and 
functions of life. 
