Fuly 9, 1885] 
FIVE ELEMENTARY TEXT-BOOKS OF 
HYGIENE 
A Manual of Health Science. Adapted for Use in 
Schools and Colleges and suited to the Requirements 
of Students preparing for the Examinations in Hygiene 
of the Science and Art Department, &c. By Andrew 
Wilson, F.R.S.E., F.L.S. (London: Longmans, Green, 
and Co., 1885.) 
The Laws of Health. By W.H. Corfield, M.A., M.D. 
(Oxon.). (London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1880.) 
Principles of Hygiene. Expressly Adapted to the Require- 
ments of the Syllabus of the Science and Art Depart- 
ment, South Kensington. By Albert Carey, F-R.G.S. 
(London: Thomas Murby.) 
Hygiene. Its Principles as Applied to Public Health. 
Adapted to the Requirements of the Elementary and 
Advanced Stages of the Science and Art Department, 
the Sanitary Examinations at the Universities, &c. 
By Edward F. Willoughby, M.B. Lond., San. Sci. Cert. 
Lond. & Camb. (London and Glasgow: W. Collins, 
Sons, and Co.) 
Hygiene: a Manual of Personal and Public Health. By 
Arthur Newsholme, M.D. Lond. (London: Geo. Gill 
and Sons, 1884.) 
“(epee works are partly if not principally intended 
for the use of students of the Science and Art 
Department, South Kensington. It is very essential, 
therefore, that not only should the matter be put in a 
pleasant and readable form, but that there should be no 
serious errors, as students of elementary works cannot be 
expected to recognise errors as such, from any knowledge 
they may possess on allied subjects. In fact they, 
and many others besides, find a difficulty in conceiving 
that what is printed in a book need not necessarily be 
correct. It is also necessary that the chapters should be 
well arranged, with the matter well assorted under head- 
ings, and that nothing of importance should be omitted. 
“A Manual of Health Science,” by Andrew Wilson, 
F.R.S.E., F.L.S., cannot be said to be in agreement with 
the above principles. Many of the chapters are ill- 
arranged, and important points are omitted, especially in 
the chapter on Removal of Waste. It is not by any 
means free from errors, of which we may cite a few as 
specimens : thus on p. 20 it is stated that “ the solids” of 
the gastric juice “amount to over 990 parts per 1000, the 
remainder being water ;” if such were really the case, the 
Juice instead of being a liquid like water, would be a solid 
of a very dense character. Again, on p. 80, “the cistern” 
for drinking water “becomes a necessary article of furni- 
ture in our houses on any system,” whereas the chief 
advantage of a constant supply is that cisterns for drinking 
water are unnecessary. Again, at p. 91, it is stated that 
“each individual exhales about ‘6 cubic foot CO, per 24 
hours” instead of per hour. At p. 112 we find that “ pro- 
pulsion draws foul air out, and aspiration drives fresh air 
in.” There are several other misstatements, but the above 
will suffice. An unnecessary amount of space is devoted 
to soaps and hair-washes. The notice of a soap of a 
particular manufacturer in a work of this class is, we 
think, undesirable as having somewhat the character of 
an advertisement. The illustrations, which are numerous, 
are very good. 
NATURE 
221 
“The Laws of Health,’ by Prof. Corfield, M.D., is a 
very valuable little work, and although not originally in- 
tended to form a class-book for the Science and Art 
Department, is admirably adapted for this purpose. It 
contains nearly all that it is necessary to know in a very 
small compass, and bears throughout the impress of the 
high scientific attainments and practical knowledge of the 
author. The chapter on Small-Pox and Vaccination is 
especially good, and its arguments very convincing. 
“The Principles of Hygiene,” by Albert Carey, F.R.G.S., 
is only of use for the first or elementary stage in Hygiene 
of the Department, although it is not so stated in the 
preface. The book is without illustrations, a great draw- 
back to elementary students ; and a good deal of space is 
devoted to matters of only secondary importance. It is 
therefore but moderately suited for the class of readers 
for whom it was written. 
“The Principles of Hygiene,” by E. F. Willoughby, 
M.B., S.Sc.C. Lond. & Camb., is intended for the use of 
students of all three stages of the Science and Art De- 
partment. It is also very well suited for the preparation 
of candidates for the University Examinations in Public 
Health. We can speak highly of this work, which con- 
tains sound and useful information on every subject 
necessary for the above courses, and is weli up to the 
latest improvements and most generally received opinions 
in the science of which it treats. In our opinion it is 
perhaps better adapted for the advanced and honours 
students than for the elementary, as some parts intended 
for the latter are somewhat needlessly complex. The 
chapter on Vital Statistics is likely to be extremely useful 
to the University candidates, this somewhat difficult 
subject being here ably and intelligently treated. 
“ Hygiene, a Manual of Personal and Public Health,” 
by A. Newsholme, M.D. Lond, is very well suited for 
students in the elementary and advanced stages. They 
will find here all that they require to know in an easily 
assimilable form. We do not, however, agree with Dr. 
Newsholme in thinking the “Banner” system of drainage 
one to be recommended, and our opinion coincides with 
that of several practical sanitarians. In every other 
respect the subject is ably treated by the author, and his 
work deserves a wide circulation amongst the science 
teachers of the country. 
OUR BOOK SHELF 
Euclid, Book I.; with Notes and Exercises for the Use of 
Preparatory Schools and Candidates preparing for 
Naval Cadetship and Sandhurst Preliminary Examina- 
tions. By Braithwaite Arnett, M.A. (Cambridge: 
Deighton, 1885.) 
As the examinations for which this work is intended to 
prepare pupils rigidly require what are called Euclid’s 
proofs we have here merely an edition mainly on the 
lines of Simson’s text. This text is so presented that the 
pupil may see how to write out his “ props” in such a way 
as shall please the examiner. Everything is done that can 
be done by another to secure success. That the pupil may 
not be physically incommoded more than is absolutely 
necessary the text is so printed as to involve the minimum 
of exertion. 
On the sinister page of the open volume behold the 
text printed as the dreaded examiner desires to see it 
broken up, each new step in the reasoning claiming a 
fresh line, the figure correctly drawn (a really important 
