664 . 
NATURE 
[May 19, 1923 _ 

The apparatus and methods used are described at 
some length. It is worthy of note that “ with small 
exceptions there appeared to be a total absence of 
any regular mine-rescue organisation along the whole 
German front.” 
In the technical section of the book a large amount 
of information is given on such subjects as disposal 
of spoil, listening instruments, and the work of the 
mine schools. It also discusses the main principles 
which gradually became evident as underground 
warfare developed, the most important of which may 
be summed up in the statement that “the best form 
of defence is attack.” By a strenuous application 
of this idea “‘ the enemy was reduced underground 
by the autumn of 1917 to a state of absolute passivity 
on the entire front.” 

Our Bookshelf. 
Encyclopedia of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery, and 
Obstetrics. Edited by Prof. George H. Wooldridge. 
In 2 vols. Vol. 1: Veterinary Medicine. Pp. xiv+ 
546+xxill. Vol. 2: Surgery and Obstetrics. Pp. 
vill+ 547-1106+xxx. (London: HH. Frowde and 
Hodder and Stoughton, 1923.) 2 vols., 6/. 6s. net. 
To describe this work as an encyclopedia is a little 
misleading. It comprises two volumes, the first of 
which deals with veterinary medicine and the second 
with veterinary surgery and obstetrics, but they are 
distinguished from what are commonly called text- 
books on the same subjects only by the fact that a large 
number of authors have collaborated in their produc- 
tion. The preface expresses the hope that the work 
will be found useful to veterinary students, owners of 
animals, and members of the medical profession, as 
well as to the general veterinary practitioner ; but it is 
obvious that the guiding consideration in the production 
of the work has, quite rightly, been the requirements 
of the practising veterinary surgeon. 
No veterinary work on exactly the same plan has 
previously been published in Great Britain, but it may 
safely be said that as a practical and scientific treatise 
it is superior to any of the previous English text-books 
on the same subjects. In a work to which more than 
thirty authors have contributed, absolute uniformity 
in style and other qualities of the different sections is 
not to be expected, but for the most part the language 
is clear and concise, and the information is up-to-date. 
A notable defect, especially marked in the first volume, 
is that the amount of space devoted to different diseases 
appears to bear no close relationship to the importance 
of the subject. It seems impossible to imagine any 
good reason for allowing seventeen pages to horse- 
sickness, which is a purely African disease, and six 
pages to snake-bite, while tuberculosis is only allowed 
ten pages, and glanders, epizootic abortion, foot-and- 
mouth disease, and rabies together occupy only sixteen 
pages. The value of many of the articles is enhanced 
by good illustrations, and the publishers’ share of the 
work has been well done. 
NO. 2794, VOL. 111] 

Archives de morphologie générale et expérimentale. 
Fascicule 14 (Morphologie expérimentale): Le 
Déterminisme et Vadaptation morphologiques en 
biologie animale. Par Prof. R. Anthony. Premiére 
partie: Déterminisme morphologique et morphogénie. 
Pp. 374. (Paris: Gaston Doir, 1922.) 28 francs. 
Tuts work is an attempt to describe the form and 
structure of animals in so far as they can be shown 
to be determined by morphogenetic factors in the en- , 
vironment. The author begins with generalities about ; 
life, evolution, and variation, sketches the history from 
the earliest times of a rational explanation of mor- 
phology, upholds the Lamarckian doctrine with the 
usual inconclusive arguments, and incidentally places 
the Emperor Julian as a precursor of Lamarck. Thence 
he passes to the description of observations and ex- 
periments on the effect of external factors on structure, 
more especially in molluscs and vertebrates. 
Although there appears to be little in this account 
which is actually new, yet Prof. Anthony has brought 
together a number of interesting facts showing how — 
closely structure is correlated with function—how, for 
example, the shape and size of muscles and the relative ; 
lengths of muscle fibres and tendons are regulated 
according to the motions to be executed, also the shape — 
and internal structure of bones. It follows that in — 
many cases they can be altered experimentally. 
These observations, however, seem to us to prove, 
not that the Lamarckian theory of evolution is correct, 
but that organisms are the products of the interaction 
of the physical basis of heredity with the environment 
in which they develop. This fundamental conception, 
long ago appreciated by the botanist with regard to 
plants, is still but imperfectly understood by the 
zoologist. 
j 
3 
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. 
Memoirs of the Geological Survey. Summary of 
Progress of the Geological Survey of Great Britain and 
the Museum of Practical Geology for 1921, with 
Report of the Geological Survey Board and Report of 
the Director. Pp. iv+189. (Southampton : Ord- 
nance Survey Office; London: E. Stanford, Ltd., 
1922.) 55. net. 
For many years past, geologists who wish to keep pace 
with research in the stratigraphy or petrology of our 
islands have found that they must not overlook the 
annual volumes modestly entitled ‘‘ Summary of Pro- 
gress of the Geological Survey.” The issue for 1921 
contains a paper by E. E. L. Dixon on “ The Retreat 
of the Lake District Ice-Cap,” and the formation of 
fluctuating lakes held up by glacier-dams. The 
relations of kames and outwash-mounds of various 
kinds are considered, and the protruded products of 
sub-glacial melting, where clearly connected with a 
“feeding esker,”’ are well styled “esker deltas.” 
Foreign geologists may be puzzled at the frequent 
occurrence of the name of Lamplugh in a glacial paper 
as that of a village at the foot of Owsen Fell. On 
p. 129, Dr. R. Kidston provides a new example of 
how the determination of the species of Carboniferous — 
plants enables the “ practical man ” to determine the 
horizons of his coal-seams. The lists of species from 
the beds now shown to be Westphalian in the Durham 
