May io, 1906] 



NA TURE 



29 



(roducing a tj'ranny as hateful as that of the Holy 

 Inquisition by their witch-smelling practices. 



As regards the use of herbs, it is pointed out that 

 th(? natives are in the possession of many valuable 

 drugs, .\mongst these they have been for genera- 

 liims in the habit of using a decoction of the leaves 

 of the Cape willow for the cure of rheumatic pains, 

 thus preceding Europe in an appreciation of the 

 curative properties of salicin. .V list of all the diseases 

 to wiiich Kafir man, woman, and child are liable is 

 given, together with their native names, and the 

 remedies which the natives so successfully apply. 

 'I'here is a chapter on midwifery and the rearing of 

 infants, which leaves one surprised that the Kafir race 

 has not long since come to an end by indirect infanti- 

 cide. The extraordinary treatment of newly-born 

 children may act as a kind of spur to the survival of 

 the fittest; it most certainly kills out weakly> children. 

 The newly-born baby is " bled at the point of the 

 lingers for luck ; then held in the smoke of a slow 

 fire till it sneezes or coughs, to show that it is not 

 bewitched. It is then thoroughly rubbed all over with 

 a solution of cow-dung," and so forth. Instead of 

 being allowed to suck at the breast, it is fed at first 

 on sour cow's milk, which is " forced down the throat 

 of the poor little mortal by blowing into its mouth 

 and compelling it to swallow." 



Notes are given as to the operations performed on 

 girls in the initiation schools (the elongation of the 

 \ahia minora), and also in regard to the circumcision 

 of the males. 



The introduction to the book contains a useful 

 summary of Kafir history, but is marked, like nearly 

 all the writing that comes from South Africa, by a 

 curious ignorance of Bantu history north of the 

 Zambezi. H. H. Johnston. 



OUR BOOK SHELF. 

 Sociological Papers. Vol. ii., 1905. Pp. xiii + 312. 

 Published for the Sociological Society. (London : 

 Macmillan and Co., Ltd., 1906.) Price los. 6d. 

 Though hardly equal in interest to its precursor, the 

 present volume contains some valuable contributions 

 tD sociology. First, and foremost in interest and 

 importance, comes a paper on eugenics by Mr. 

 Francis Galton. He argues that man, whether 

 civilised or barbarian, has submitted to restrictions in 

 marriage, and, therefore, that a new restriction in 

 accordance with eugenics may be imposed. Mankind 

 has borne the yoke of monogamy, endogamy, exo- 

 gamy. He has recognised prohibited degrees of kin- 

 ship. Why cannot a new taboo be started? Dr. 

 H addon adduces an argument that is much to the 

 point : the world is becoming self-conscious and 

 mcdern civilisation has at command great resources 

 for bringing about a revolution in men's views and 

 practice. Dr. Max Nordau thinks the proposals un- 

 practical. Modern restrictions would have no religious 

 sanction, and would therefore fail. He would trust 

 more to an improvement of the environment than to 

 eugenics. There are many medical men who, like 

 Dr Max Nordau, think that environment is every- 

 thing. Prof. Tonnies fears that mariages dc con- 

 vcnance and mariages de passion will continue in 

 spite of eugenics. Lady Welby sees the difficulty of 

 considering the interests of the race and at the same 

 NO. 1906. VOL. 74] 



time making the most of the individual. Mr. Galton, 

 whose enthusiasm compels admiration, answers the 

 main objections forcibly. 



Among the other papers are the following : — Civics, 

 by Prof. Geddes (he argues for evolutionary sociology 

 and for a civics exhibition) ; The school in some of its 

 relations to social organisation and to national life, 

 by Prof. M. E. Sadler (he urges that scope be left for 

 "group effort and private enterprise in education ") ; 

 The inlluencc of magic on social relationships, by Dr. 

 E. Westermarck ; On the relation between sociology 

 and ethics, by Prof. Hoffding; Some g-uiding prin- 

 ciples in the philosophy of history, by Dr. J. H. 

 Bridges; Sociological studies, by Mr. J. S. Stuart- 

 Glennic. F. W. II. 



The Heart of a Garden. By Rosamund Marriott 

 Watson. Pp. 162. (London : Alexander Moring, 

 Ltd., The De La More Press, 1906.) Price 7s. bd. 

 net. 

 The title of this book is significant. The reader 

 is not led to expect cultural details or botanical 

 technicalities. To use a vulgarism, " science is not 

 in it." What we have is a record of musings, such 

 as would suggest themselves at each successive 

 season, to one more concerned with the poetry and 

 beauty of nature than with its philosophy. Notwith- 

 standing this, the author shows herself a careful 

 observer and a skilful delineator. Take, for instance, 

 this account of the winter aconite (Eranthis). The 

 writer is descanting on the promise of early spring, 

 and goes on to say ; — 



"And even flowers are not wanting; multitudes of 

 small, gold heads have shyly thrust themselves up 

 through the dark earth, wrapped closely about in their 

 green hoods which, as the sun grows warmer, they 

 will fling back to do service as jaunty fringed capes.''' 

 This is not a botanical description ; nevertheless, 

 there is no mistaking what flower the writer had in 

 view. The lady, with most other people, has her 

 likes and her dislikes, and her ideals are not those of 

 her gardener. Still, that functionary is paid to do 

 certain work, and it is difficult to "see how he can 

 fulfil his duties properly if " milk-white pigeons with 

 the roseate feet " are allowed to gratify their pro- 

 clivities among the sweet peas and the gooseberries, 

 and other culprits are permitted to make havoc with 

 the strawberries. 



Be this as it may, the author contrives to get a 

 continuous feast of pleasure from the garden of which 

 she writes, and by her cheery optimism and the 

 elegance of her narrative affords the reader a share 

 of the gratification she herself experiences. Dainty 

 lyrics enliven the text. Even the pug-dog " Momo- 

 taro " is immortalised, though the invocation to 

 him, " Hued like the full moon of the apricot," 

 strikes us as peculiar. WTiat sort of apricots can 

 they be that possess full moons? In a work of this 

 kind, however, allowance must be made for poetic 

 iiTiaginings. The illustrations are numerous and well 

 executed. The book throughout is pleasantly written, 

 .ind attractive to the eye. 



Methods in Microscopical Research — Vegetable His- 

 tology. By .Vbraham Flatters. Pp. x-l-116. (Man- 

 chester and London : Sherratt and Hughes.) Price 

 21S. net. 

 This work is designed to give a course of instruction 

 in the practical working out of the internal structure 

 of a number of higher types belonging to the vegetable 

 kingdom, and should admirably fulfil this purpose. 

 The earlier portion deals with the general preparation 

 of specimens, collection, fixation, and preservation; 

 instruments and section cutting; staining and aiount- 



