526 



NATURE 



[October 27, 1910 



familiarity can only be obtained when these data are 

 directly utilised by the student in the actual construc- 

 tion of equilibrium models. This demands the expen- 

 diture of considerable time, but the results obtained 

 are incomparably better than those which follow from 

 the manipulation of prepared models. On the other 

 hand, the cardboard models are to be preferred to the 

 plane projections which form the usual text-book 

 method of graphic representation. From this point 

 of view the series of models may be found to be 

 useful, anl would have been more so if the explana- 

 tory matter in the accompanying text had been 

 considerably extended. 



AMATEUR ASTRONOMY. 

 The Amateur Astronomer. By Gideon Riegler. Trans- 

 lated by G. A. Clarke. Pp. 319, with 112 illustra- 

 tions. (London : T. Fisher Unwin, 1910.) Price 

 3s. 6rf. net. 

 ■TAESPITE the host of astronomy books which has 

 i-^ appeared in recent years, there may be room 

 for a well- written, concise guide-book for the beginner 

 in practical work ; but, even if there is, we fear that 

 the volume under review does not fill it adequately. 



The author first deals with the questions of site, 

 instruments, books, &'C., and then proceeds to give 

 a series of notes on the characteristics of the in- 

 dividual objects observable with a modest equipment. 

 Thus the constellations are taken, and the peculiarities 

 of selected individual stars described. Then the same 

 form of treatment is given to double-stars, star-clusters 

 and nebula, and variable stars, followed by a chapter 

 describing solar features. In the chapter on the inoon, 

 which comes next, a large number of individual craters, 

 plains. &c., are described, but, in the absence of a 

 complete map, the beginner will find, despite the 

 inclusion of undefined latitude and longitude, that 

 some of the smaller features figured are not easy to 

 locate. Chapters on the planets, comets, and meteor- 

 ites and shooting stars complete the tale. 



The general scheme of the work is not unattractive, 

 but grave faults mar its execution. Simple points 

 are treated discursively, whilst more difficult ones, 

 on which the amateur should have clear, if elementary, 

 information, are passed over with one or two imposing 

 terms. .\n example or two will serve to show that 

 if would have been better to omit many items alto- 

 gether; dogmatic statements may convince the be- 

 ginner, but the greatest care should be taken to 

 convince him rightly. 



For example, oxygen and cadmium (p. 154) are 

 not exceptionally prominent elements in the sun, and 

 certainly do not provide the crucial difference between 

 its spectrum and that of .Aldebaran ; nor is mercury 

 an outstanding feature of the latter. But worse 

 follows, for we are informed that, while hydrogen is 

 not represented in the spectrum of Betelgeuse, thallium 

 is such a prominent feature " that its lines stand out 

 quite plainly, in spite of the great distance of the 

 star " ; the italics are ours. There are only two or 

 three pages of spectroscopical details, but it is a great 

 pity that they vvere ever published. 

 NO. 2139, VOL. 84] 



Other matters, apart from spectroscopy, could be 

 quoted to the same effect, but the above will probably 

 suffice to show that the book is marred by serious 

 faults, dangerous for the beginner. 



It only remains to add that the work often bears 

 the impress of translation ; long and involved sentences 

 are not uncommon, and such inversions as "6 magni- 

 tude," " 4'5 magnitude," used almost throughout, are 

 annoying. 



\\'. E. ROLSTO.N. 



OUR BOOK SHELF. 



.4 Guide for Medicine and Surgery, compiled for 

 Nurses. A Handbook for Nurses. By Sydney 

 Welham. Pp. ix + 230. (London : Mills and Boon, 

 Ltd., 1910.) Price 35. 6d. net. 

 In order to do their work satisfactorily, nurses re- 

 quire some knowledge of the principles of medicine 

 and surgery. This is fully recognised in every 

 modern hospital, and due provision is made for in- 

 struction of the nursing staff in the elements of 

 anatomy, physiology, pathology, medicine, and 

 surgery. Courses of lectures on these subjects are 

 arranged and the nurses are encouraged to supple- 

 ment lectures by reading. There is no doubt that a 

 small handbook, such as the volume under review, 

 will be found very useful for purposes of reference, 

 although it makes no attempt to replace the recog- 

 nised text-books. The style is simple and direct, the 

 type is clear, the index is admirable, while a glossary 

 of medical terms, a list of Latin phrases commonly 

 used in prescriptions, with many other practical 

 tables, diet scales, reqipes, &c., greatly enhance the 

 value of the book. It is eminently practical and 

 convenient. 



It would be ungracious to criticise a small volume 

 which deals with every branch of medicine in 230 

 pages on the ground that it did not contain original 

 matter. It succeeds in giving a great deal of infor- 

 mation, and the views expressed are in accordance 

 with modern thought. In a short preface the author 

 disclaims any attempt to teach nursing, but, never- 

 theless, many of his hints will be useful even to 

 nurses of considerable experience, while it will be of 

 real value to young probationers. It will help them 

 to understand the cases that come under their care, 

 it will enable them to follow clinical instruction in 

 the wards, and it will serve as a handbook on which 

 they can rely for assistance in practical emergencies, 

 and also when they are preparing themselves for 

 examinations. 



The Death-dealing bisects and their Story. By 

 C. Conyers Morrell. (iManchester : H.A.W. Offices, 

 7 Brazenose Street, 1910.) Price i^. net. 

 This little book is one of the many which have been 

 recently published for the purpose of instructing the 

 laity regarding recent discoveries in connection with 

 insects and disease. It is one of the best of them, 

 and possesses a good style without being too diffuse. 

 The connection of mosquitoes, tsetse-ffies, ticks, and 

 fleas with malaria, elephantiasis, sleeping-sickness, 

 tick fever, and plague are described in a manner 

 which will appeal to laymen. We miss the name of 

 Bruce in connection with trypanosomiasis, and 

 though the excellent Campagna experiment of 1900 

 was useful for advertisement, it can really scarcely 

 be cited as conclusive proof of the mosquito theory 

 of malaria. 



The author seems to be rather optimistic as to 

 the results of sanitation in West Africa, regarding 



