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DECEMBER 14, 1916] 
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NATURE 
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shock, asphyxia, strychnine convulsions, inhala- 
tion anesthetics, and so forth. The acidosis throws 
increased work upon the organs by which the 
neutralisation of acid is accomplished, and diseases 
ensue. Prof. Crile’s practical point is Jn general 
terms an application of the principle of the conser- 
vation of energy to the organism, especially 
through the exclusion of harmful stimuli. Along 
this path he was able as a surgeon to “perfect 
the shockless operation,” and he is enthusiastic 
as to similar therapeutic methods of dealing with 
the manifold “conditions resulting from the over- 
excitation of the ‘ Kinetic System,’ whether by 
psychic, traumatic, infection, foreign protein, or 
.drug stimulation.” 
(3) Throughout the book we feel the influence 
of the significant idea that health and disease 
alike must be studied in their evolutionary setting, 
for the intricate system of adaptive arrangements 
and responses has been wrought out in the course 
of an age-long “drama of adaptation.” “In the 
distribution of contact ceptors, of chemical 
ceptors, of the mechanisms for overcoming pyo- 
genic infections and for blood-clotting; in the 
distribution of pain areas and of special reflexes 
we have—a phylogenetic summary of the evolu- 
tion of man.” That all this attainment and regis- 
tration of adaptations has been effected by a 
succession of mechanisms, i.e. systems adequately 
described by mechanical formule, we are unable 
and we have found nothing in this 
vigorous volume to incline us to transfer the 
author or ourselves from the category of organism 
to any other. 
OUR BOOKSHELF. 
Raymond: or Life and Death. With Examples 
of the Evidence for Survival of Memory and 
Affection after Death. By Sir Oliver J. Lodge. 
Pp. xi+403. (London: Methuen and Co., 
Ltd.) Price 10s. 6d. net. 
Lizut. Raymonp Lopce was killed by shrapnel, 
near Ypres, in September, 1915. In this volume, 
which is at once scientifically important and 
humanly touching, we are given in part i. a selec- 
tion of letters which show Raymond’s fine and 
attractive personality; in part ii. some of the 
evidence which indicates his continued existence 
and occasional communication; and in part iii. Sir 
Oliver Lodge discusses the philosophy of the 
subject, with large tolerance but full conviction. 
Survival is reasonable enough. Life is not a 
form of energy. It guides or directs energy, but 
there is no sound reason to believe that it goes 
Out of existence when it ceases to manifest 
through a particular body. 
Of part ii., which more specially concerns a 
scientific journal, the most striking incident is the 
_ one referring to a photograph which was said— 
through two sensitives—to have been taken, 
though the family knew nothing about it, and 
learnt nothing for some months. This photo- 
graph was described very minutely. It was said 
to consist of a group of soldiers, numbering a 
NO. 2459, VOL. 98] 
dozen or more men, some standing and some 
sitting; Raymond would be found at the front, 
sitting down, with a stick, and a man was said. 
to be leaning on him or trying to lean on him; 
vertical lines would be prominent at the back, 
and of the figures the most prominent would 
be that of a man whose name began with B. 
Ultimately the photograph (taken in Flanders) 
came to light, and all the details corresponded 
with the description received. As given in full in 
the book, this incident is very impressive, and it 
is supported by many others of varying degrees of 
evidential weight. 
The volume is inevitably of an intimately 
personal nature, but a restrained and _ scientific 
temper is maintained throughout, and contentions 
are supported by facts. It will probably be con- 
sidered the most important psychical book since 
Myers’s great work on Human Personality; and 
it is unique in the sense that it is the first large 
book of its kind to be published by a man of 
science of the first rank. Je: AS ise 
Elements of Military Education. By W. A. 
Brockington. Pp. xvi+363. (London: Long- 
mans, Green and Co., 1916.) Price 4s. 6d. net. 
Ix his prefatory note the author says: ‘This 
book is intended primarily for use in public and 
other secondary schools. which have O.T.C. and 
cadet contingents; . .. hehce the attempt to 
show the relation of some parts of military educa- 
tion to the ordinary school curriculum.” © In this 
attempt he has been remarkably successful, and 
he will have earned the thanks of those who are 
trying to adapt school education to present cir- 
cumstances. The book is, therefore, to be recom- 
mended to headmasters and others as well as to 
the officers of cadet contingents. 
The author has taken from the official manuals 
(either by quotation or reference) just those parts 
which are suitable for elementary military train- 
ing, and has omitted the less essential details. 
But he has done more than this, for he has added 
much sound advice both to officers and cadets. 
Thus at the end of a chapter on minor tactics he 
has given ten pages of memoranda of common 
errors remarked by examiners for Certificates A 
and B of the O.T.C. 
The book shows a certain lack of balance, some 
portions of the work being treated in full detail, 
while others are inadequately dealt with. Thus 
one page on the chemistry of cordite, three pages 
on the elementary mechanics of projectiles, and 
seven lines on the purification of water by chemical 
means are either too many or too few. Also, the 
chapter on map-reading is too condensed to be 
read without reference to‘other books—in which 
case much of the detail is unnecessary. 
No account is given of the applications of elec- 
tricity in the field, a subject which is being taught 
in many schools; and space might have been 
given to the physiology of respiration and the 
effects of poisonous gases of different types. The 
excellent “Handbook of Artillery Instruments ” 
might have found a place in the list of military 
books. C. L. Bryant. 
