40 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 
boldness of thought, and the painful confusion of new and old that 
characterized the time of the later Renaissance. He was born the year 
following the discovery of America, and lived a life quite as stormy 
and almost as significant as that of the famed Columbus. The latter 
made a great discovery and brought about a great revolution in world 
affairs, industry, and politics; Paracelsus was a not less striking re- 
former in science, elementary medicine and chemistry. 
Dr. Stillman’s book is not offered as any new contribution to the his- 
tory of a man who has been alternately praised and denounced for 
hundreds of years. It is a presentation in Finglish of the essence of 
the long or relatively inaccessible German treatises, and papers, as well 
as a critical examination of attitudes and philosophy as shown in Para- 
celsus’ own writings. The struggle with the antiquated medical men, 
the brief stay at the University in Basel, and the wanderings in various 
armies are presented only as a background for the later work of the 
revolutionary physician. The chemistry of Paracelsus is reviewed, and 
some space is devoted to the forged works that were for many years 
supposed to have antedated the great man’s contested discoveries. But 
to the general reader, who must be considered along with the specialist 
in medicine, the early life of this reformer, his character and beliefs 
regarding his profession, and the manner in which he died are more 
interesting than his exact contributions to either medicine or chemistry. 
Most of us have known of him as a name; the biographical part of Mr. 
Stillman’s book helps us to know of Paracelsus as a man. 
Cy ESE? 
COMPANIONS, FEATHERED, FURRED, AND SCALED. By C. H. Donald, 
F. Z. S. John Lane Company. $2.00. 
Mr. Donald is one of those fortunate people who are able to “make 
friends” with birds and other animals of all sorts and dispositions. 
This ability, aided by a residence in India which allowed him to study 
first-hand the rich wild life of the Himalayas, has enabled him to write 
a book that is both interesting and instructive. Mr. Donald makes pets 
of his animals; he does not “train” them or shut them up in cages. 
Therefore his accounts have more value than mere comments on circus 
animals, or on those confined in zoological gardens. 
The “companions” range from pythons to eagles; from. monkeys to 
bears. And from the first chapter, telling the adventure of Bhaloo, a 
bear cub, to the last, which gives the life story of a little fox, the book 
is full of interesting natural history material. The numerous first- 
rate photographs of the animals which have at one time or another 
come into Mr. Donald’s possession add much to the value of the book. 
Cu Ltk. 
