6o6 



NA TURE 



[April 26, 1906 



Physiologie des Menschen. By Dr. L. Luciani. 



German Edition by Dr. S. Baglioni and Dr. H. 



Winterstein. Part v. Pp. 161-320. (Jena : G. 



Fischer.) Price 4 marks. 

 The fifth part of Dr. Luciani 's text-book of physi- 

 ology deals with the mechanical and chemical pheno- 

 mena of digestion in the alimentary canal, with the 

 absorption and storage of the food-stuffs, and with 

 the excretory functions of the intestinal tract. 



The first chapter gives an excellent account of the 

 gastric movements, and of the nerve mechanism con- 

 trolling them. The second chapter deals with the 

 digestion of the various food materials by means ol 

 the pancreatic and intestinal juices, and of the bile. 

 An exceptionally full resume is given of the results 

 following upon' removal of extensive portions of the 

 small intestine in animals and in man. The products 

 and probable significance of bacterial digestion are 

 also fully described and discussed. 



The account of the peristaltic movements of the 

 intestines and of. the nerve mechanism controlling 

 them is well brought up to date, giving briefly the 

 results of the most recent researches in this field. 



The final chapter treats of absorption in the 

 stomach and intestines. The channels and mechanism 

 of absorption of different food-stuffs — carbohydrates, 

 fats, and proteids— are fully described. _ A very 

 interesting epitome is given of the synthesis of the 

 products of proteolysis and lipolysis by means of the 

 intestinal epithelium. The theories with regard to 

 the formation and fate of glycogen in the liver and 

 muscles are critically reviewed. A brief account is 

 also given of the various forms of pathological and 

 experimental diabetes. 



The fifth part of the work well maintains the high 

 standard for accuracy and clearness set by its pre- 

 decessors. J. A. Milrov. 



Seta Artificidle. By G. B. Baccioni. Pp. 231. 



(Milan: Ulrico Hoepli, 1906.) Price L3.50. 

 This is an interesting account of " artificial silk " 

 or " lustra cellulose," an industry which has now- 

 assumed serious proportions ; in fact, the present pro- 

 duction of these new textile threads may be estimated 

 at not less than six tons per day, chiefly manufactured 

 in France, Germany, and Belgium. In the preface 

 it is stated that a Societa Italians della Seta 

 Artificiale in Pavia is the first organisation to under- 

 take developments in Italy. The technology of the 

 industry is briefly outlined in six chapters (pp. 230), 

 attention being chiefly directed to the systems based 

 upon the spinning of collodion (nitrocellulose). The 

 alternative systems, based upon the Cuprammonium 

 and " Viscose " solutions of cellulose, are also de- 

 scribed. 



The work is a compilation from various sources in 

 the technical literature of cellulose, and makes no 

 claim to an original treatment of the subject-matter. 

 Its appeal will be chiefly to specialists. 



The book is original' as to binding, for which a 

 silk fabric is employed — as a covering to the humble 

 " board " — the weft of which is a lustra-cellulose 

 yarn. 



Zwolf Vorlesungen iiber die Natur des Lichtes. By 

 Dr. J. Classen. Pp. x + 249; diagrams. (Leipzig: 

 G. J. Goschen, 1905.) Price 4 marks. 

 These lectures consist in a series delivered in the 

 winter of 1904-5 in Hamburg to a popular audience. 

 The theme of the lectures is the development of the 

 wave-theorv, culminating in the special form of this 

 theory which postulates the essential identity of 

 luminous and electromagnetic waves. The lectures 



NO. 1904, VOL. 73] 



were illustrated experimentally, and a special feature 

 in connection with them is the care taken in devising 

 experiments of a simple and attractive kind. 

 Although they were delivered to a lay public, it must 

 not be supposed that they are popular in the bad 

 sense. They are infused throughout with the scien- 

 tific spirit ; there is no sacrifice of accuracy on the 

 altar of simplicity. The subject is dealt with in a 

 way which must have proved very welcome to the 

 non-professional listener who had some very elemen- 

 tary knowledge of it and desired to have the funda- 

 mental experimental facts brought before him in a 

 consecutive way. Geometric propagation, dispersion 

 of colour, interference and diffraction phenomena, 

 double refraction and polarisation, electric oscilla- 

 tions and their quasi-optical properties, the explan- 

 ation of the demonstrated relations between electrical 

 conductivity and the optical properties of metals — 

 these, in brief outline, are some of the chief pheno- 

 mena which are expounded. Each experiment is de- 

 scribed with the help of a diagram. 



We have little but praise for this somewhat un- 

 pretentious volume. We note only that the devices 

 attributed here (as usual) to Lecher and Blondlot 

 are essentially the same as that employed previously 

 by Sir O. Lodge in the investigation in which he was 

 engaged when Hertz published his demonstration of 

 the possibility of producing electromagnetic waves. 



A la Poursuite d'unc Ombre. By Prof. Moye. 

 Pp. 98. (Montpelier : G. Firmin, 1905.) 



In the seven chapters contained in this volume Prof. 

 Moye gives a popular account of the observations 

 made bv the Societe astronomique Flammarion de 

 Montpelier, at Alcala de Chisbert, during the total 

 eclipse of the sun on August 30, 1905. The eclipse 

 party consisted of eleven persons, who made a series 

 of valuable observations of the corona and the chromo- 

 sphere with portable telescopes, spectroscopes, and 

 cameras, and with the naked eye. 



In addition to the account of the actual observ- 

 ations, the author discusses eclipse phenomena in 

 general at some length, and gives the results obtained 

 bv previous observers since the commencement of de- 

 tailed eclipse work. A number of drawings and photo- 

 graphs illustrate his remarks. 



To anyone unfamiliar with solar eclipse work who 

 desires to make a general survey of all the associated 

 phenomena, and the methods employed in observing 

 them, the book will afford a useful introduction to 

 the subject, and will give him just an insight into 

 the present theories concerning the different portions 

 of our luminary. 



Ueber Vererbungsgesetze. By C. Correns. Pp. 43 

 (Berlin : Gebriider Borntraeger, 1905.) Price 1.50 

 marks. 



Although only six years have elapsed since De Vries 

 re-discovered the laws of heredity originally pro- 

 pounded by Gregor Mendel, Abbot of Briinn, in 1866, 

 the subject has received so much attention — and in 

 this country especially valuable work has been carried 

 out — that many accounts of the general principles 

 have been written. Prof. Correns, one of the fore- 

 most workers on the subject, publishes in this 

 brochure the substance of a lecture delivered at 

 Meran, dealing almost entirely with the botanical 

 side. The account does not go far beyond Mendel's 

 propositions, but the subject of cryptomerie is ex- 

 plained wit!, the help of an excellent coloured plate 

 of flowers of Mirabilis, and the writer refers to 

 Galton's theory and the extent to which characters 

 mendelise, i.e. develop according to Mendel's laws. 



