NAT 
ORE 
97 
THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1902. 
THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE ENCYCLO- 
P.EDIA ERITANNICA. 
Britannica. Vol. xxv. Pp. xiii + 786. 
Australia.) Edited by Sir Donald 
Wallace, K:@iRHS  KGV.0:, A. T. 
Hadley, President of Yale University, and Hugh 
Chisholm, B.A. (London and Edinburgh: A. and C. 
Black ; London: The 7Zimes Office, 1902.) 
HE critical student familiar with the ninth edition of 
the ‘“ Encyclopzedia Britannica” would have no 
difficulty in detecting a change of intellectual attitude 
upon examining the volume before us. When the articles 
were prepared for the ninth edition, in the seventies and 
eighties of last century, scholastic traditions had a greater 
influence in determining the point of view than they have 
to-day. The result was that early periods of history and 
early developments of the arts and sciences received 
far more attention than modern views and methods. The 
significance of the present was disregarded in the con- 
templation of the past, while the promise of the future 
was mostly left out of consideration altogether. This 
retrospective spirit pervaded very many of the articles, 
and may be said to represent the characteristic style of 
a generation educated upon literary ideals. Knowledge 
was regarded as a structure to be observed in various 
aspects—as material for philosophy—rather than as 
Encyclopaedia 
(Aachen to 
Mackenzie 
_ something to which continual additions should be made, 
which alter the character of the whole edifice. 
Many changes have occurred during the quarter of a 
century which has elapsed since a large part of the ninth 
edition was written. The centre of gravity of the intel- 
lectual world has for some years been changing its 
position, and is now much closer to science than it was, 
though the humanities have not ceased to exert their 
influence against the movement. There is still a strong 
disposition to resent any attempt to disturb a balance 
which has been preserved for so long. Science is 
considered as a useful servant, which adds to the comforts 
of life by the practical applications to which it leads, but 
the pursuit of natural knowledge is not usually considered 
so dignified and inspiring, or worthy of honour, as art, 
or literature, or music. In fact, science in England is a 
drudge to be tolerated, but her pretensions to a position 
upon the councils of State, or to rank among essential 
subjects in education, are scarcely countenanced. A man 
ignorant of the elements of science, and contemptuous of 
the value of the study of nature in the formation of 
character, may, even in these days, arrogate to himself 
the right to define its limits ; and he may depend upon 
the support of all who wish to preserve the old studies 
from the influence of the progressive school. It is the 
familiar story of conflict between old and new knowledge, 
or, to use another simile, between ancient and modern 
faiths. The priests of the traditional shrine look with 
disdain upon the altar erected to science, and warn 
orthodox worshippers against its influence. But mental 
developments create new attitudes of mind, and unless 
the guardians of ancient views adapt themselves to 
new circumstances, they are in opposition to the whole 
spirit of progress. 
NO. 1700, VOL. 66 } 
| In the new volume of our national encyclopzedia, it is 
satisfactory to observe the change that has occurred to 
| bring the work in touch with current scientific results 
and opinions. The articles upon scientific subjects are 
numerous, as well as being substantial statements upon 
the state of various branches of natural knowledge— 
from the points of view both of the student and the prac- 
tical man. Among the subjects dealt with are every im- 
| portant country or region with names between Aachen and 
Australia ; inadditionto accumulators, acetylene, achro- 
matic objectives, acid and alkali manufacture, acoustics, 
Adams, adulteration, aéronautics, ether, agriculture, 
agricultural machinery, air-gun, Airy, alge, algebra, 
algebraic forms, alloys, aluminium, amphibia, amphi- 
oxus, anatomy, angiosperms, antelope, anthozoa, anthro- 
pology, anthropometry, appendicitis, aquarium, aqueduct, 
arachnida, argon, armour, assaying, astronomy and 
atmospheric electricity. 
It will easily be understood that adequate notice of 
these contributions could not be given in a review ; 
so all we can do is to describe a few of the subjects 
surveyed. 
The ten pages devoted to “ Accumulators ” contain a 
clear account of the principles and structure of several 
typical cells. In an excellent section on*the setting up, 
forming and discharge of cells (p. 29), the word “hygro- 
meter” is an obvious mistake for “hydrometer.” Failures, 
their remedy and avoidance, are illustrated from a number 
of charge and discharge curves from actual experiments. 
The chemical reactions receive due attention, and, finally, 
the uses of cells in central station work and trams are 
shortly discussed. It is, however, surprising to find no 
mention of Salomon’s work in the references to the 
literature of the subject. 
Under “Acetylene,” a concise account of the stability 
of the gas under various conditions is followed by a short 
description of the “ingot” and “run” methods of 
making carbide, a good résumé on the purification of the 
gas, and a few words upon generators and burners, 
which might with advantage have been extended. 
A short article on ‘“‘ Achromatic Lenses” mentions the 
recent success of Jena glass and Abbe’s experiments. 
Under ‘Acid and Alkali Manufacture,” in addition to 
the well-worn description of sulphuric acid plant, we find 
an interesting account of the “contact” method for pro- 
ducing SO, followed by some details upon the conden- 
sation of hydrochloric acid from the salt cake process, 
and subsequently some valuable judicial statements upon 
the position of the Leblanc process and the inroads of 
electrolytic methods. 
Under the heading ‘‘ Acoustics,” we have an investiga- 
tion of the change in form of sound waves of finite 
amplitude, effects of temperature and wind, short descrip- 
tions of KGénig’s tuning fork, McLeod and Clark’s stro- 
boscopic methods and Lord Rayleigh’s phonic wheel, 
the electrically maintained tuning fork, sensitive flames 
and jets. Brief investigations are given of Fourier’s 
theorem and the methods of determining the specific 
heat ratio of air from the velocity of sound. The section 
on combination tones is of special interest in connection 
with recent researches. 
The article on “ Aéronautics” is of especial interest in 
connection with modern experiments, both on the 
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