EE 
Feb. 6, 1873), 
» 
~ eal and mineralogical features which characterise volcanic 
phenomena. For although mechanical force is admitted 
to be convertible into its equivalent in heat, which heat 
my in its turn set in operation chemical action, still no 
such forces, either alone or combined, can transmute one 
chemical element into another, or bring about the forma- 
tion of products having at all times a definite chemical and 
mineralogical constitution, out of the incongruous materials 
likely to be met with on the sides of such faults, or cracks, 
or contraction. Our present knowledge of the mine- 
ral characters of the earth’s crust does not entitle us to 
entertain the supposition that the substance of the rocks 
immediately contiguous to fissures of this character occur- 
ring in so many different parts of the globe, could in all, 
or even in other than solitary instances, when fused by 
the action of mere heat, afford products identical with 
those of known volcanoes. On the other hand, nothing 
is more certain, from the examination of volcanic 
products, than that, no matter from what part of the 
world they be derived, whether from volcanoes situated 
near the north or south poles, in the islands of the Pacific 
or Atlantic oceans, or from the craters of the Andes or the 
Apennines, they are all identical in chemical or mineralo- 
gical constitution—a result which indicates forcibly that 
that they must be derived from some one common source, 
and not be mere local accidents, as Mr. Mallet’s hypo- 
thesis would require us to assume. For these and other 
reasons which we need not bring forward on the pre- 
sent occasion, it does not seem probable that this hypo- 
thesis will receive the adherence of either chemist, mine- 
ralogist, or geologist. 
In conclusion, attention might here be directed to the 
disadvantages which, in a pecuniary point of view, the 
British student labours under when making himself ac- 
quainted with foreign science by means of translations. 
The original pamphlet of Prof. Palmieri in Italian, and its 
translation into German by the eminent chemist, Ram- 
melsberg, were procured here in London for the small 
sum of eighteenpence each, whereas English translations 
of scientific works, got up, however, in superior paper, 
wide margin, and elaborate covers, can rarely (if ever) be 
obtained under several times the cost of the original 
works, DAviID FORBES 
OUR BOOK SHELF 
Human Physiology the Basis of Sanitary and Social 
Science. By T. L. Nichols, M.D. Pp. 479; woodcuts. 
(Triibner, 1872.) 
THE title “ Human Physiology,” which alone appears on 
the back of this book, is misleading, and even the title as 
given above would scarcely prepare a reader for what he 
will find. The preface, however, gives fair warning. 
_ “ Physiology,” writes Dr. Nichols, “the science of life, 
has been handed over to the medical profession, which 
has an unfortunate interest in the popular ignorance of 
sanitary laws ; while metaphysicians, moralists, and theo- 
logians have confused rather than enlightened our ideas 
“as to the moral nature of man and his consequent social 
requirements.” This seems rather hard on the doctors, 
who have certainly done all that has yet been done in 
preaching the laws of health and in getting them carried 
out, both by public supervision or compulsion and by pri- 
vate influence ; but the whole volume is an exemplifica- 
tion of the latter part of the melancholy result, whether 
due to those designing persons who study metaphysics, 
Ween are 
“« 
NATURE 
261 
morals, and theology or to some other cause. Dr. Nichols 
is an ardent advocate of the numerous theories which 
blind and bigoted Science has consistently and universally 
refused to accept, to the great disgust of circle-squarers, 
anti-Newtonians, popular “ scientists,” and Social-Science- 
mongers. The first section of the book treats of prevent- 
ible mortality, poverty, ignorance, drunkenness, and 
prostitution ; the second of matter, force, and life, includ- 
ing adverse criticism, on the feeblest grounds, of the doc- 
trines of evolution and of materialism, with some remarkable 
“proofs of immortality.” The third part gives a popular 
account of the human body, with some of the oddest illus« 
trations ever printed. The fourth treats of the laws of 
generation, including chapters on love and marriage, 
hereditary transmission, and problems of the sexual rela- 
tion. This section is, perhaps, the best in the book, and 
its subjects are handled with freedom and modesty, while 
the conclusions are sensible enough. The fifth, part on 
health, disease, and cure, contains a good many useful 
and obvious remarks on the value of cleanliness, exercise, 
and temperance, together with a number of utterly unsup- 
ported or demonstrably false propositions, The last part, 
is devoted to the discussion of morals and society, in 
which important questions in political economy, ethics, 
agriculture, are stated, benevolent wishes for all classes 
of mankind are expressed, and the questions left much as 
they were found, 
In a book of this kind the reader is not surprised to en- 
counter the old and new dogmas of phrenology, vege- 
tarianism, clairvoyance, homceopathy, animal magnetism, 
anti-vaccination, and cure by Psychic force. But though 
unscientific and sometimes anti-scientific, the author would 
deserve credit for putting before the public information 
which, however trite, is too little acted on, if his assertions 
of the wonderful cures he has made by hydropathy at 
Malvern, and the quotation from “a little book,” by Mrs. 
Nichols on the same subject, did not suggest a doubt 
whether in his case singleness of motive can be admitted 
in excuse of ignorance. LANSP 
Se 
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 
[The Editor does not hold himself responsible for opinions expressed 
by his correspondents. No notice is taken of anonymous 
communications. | z 
Dr, Bastian’s Experiments 
Mr. LANKESTER asks me several questions relating to the 
experiments by Dr. Bastian, reported by me in NATURE a few 
weeks ago. In reply I beg to say that new Cheddar cheese was 
used. The cheese was not weighed, but the quantity added to 
the contents of each flask probably did not exceed two grains. 
The turnip infusion was filtered before it was introduced into the 
flasks : the filtrate was limpid. After boiling, the liquid was 
somewhat turbid, and contained visible particles. 
Feb. 3 J. BuRDON SANDERSON 
Eyes and No Eyes 
Mr. Ray LANKEsTER’s letter has reminded me of a little 
experiment of my own which converted me to Bastianism. I 
had some turnip and cheese flasks which Dr. Bastian had been kind 
enough to prepare in my presence. I took them home and in 
due time examined the contents in a good microscope, using what 
I thought adequate power. I saw nothing, and went triumphant 
to Dr. Bastian to report my failure, taking the flasks with me. 
Dr. Bastian looked at the fluid, smelt it, and told me he would 
eat his hat if it was not full of life. I thought he would have to 
eat his hat. He put a drop under his microscope and told me 
tolook. It was full of small Bacteria. I wasa good deal puzzled 
at first, but after a little discussion I found out why I had failed 
to see what was in the fluid. Without going into details, I may 
say that the short result was that I had been rather a muff with 
the microscope. May not this explain some other failures ?— 
not Mr, Lankester’s, of course, QUERY } 
