Editoeial Committee : S. Newcomb, Mathematics ; E. S. Woodwaed, Mechanics ; E. C. Pickering, 



Astronomy; T. C. Mendenhall, Physios; E. H. Thueston, Engineering; lEA Eemsen, Chemistry; 



J. Le Conte, Geology; "W. M. Davis, Physiography; O. C. Maesh, Paleontology; W. K. Beooks, 



C. Hart Mereiam, Zoology; S. H. Scuddek, Entomology; C. E. Bessey, N. L. Beitton, 



Botany; Heney F. Osboen, General Biology; C. S. Minot, Embryology, Histology; 



H. P. BowDiTCH, Physiology; J. S. Billings, Hygiene; J. McKeen Cattell, 



Psychology; Daniel G. Beinton, J. W. Powell, Anthropology. 



Friday, March 25, 1898. 



CONTENTS: 



latro-chemistry in 1S97 : De. H. CaeeingtoN 

 Bolton 397 



The Development of Electrical Science {II. ) ; Peo- 

 FEssoE Thomas Geay 402 



A Proposed Building for the Scientific Alliance of 

 Neio York 408 



Zoological Notes : F. A. L 413 



Current Notes on Physiography : — 



The Mississippi Flood of 1S97 ; The Fiji Coral 

 Beefs; TheBIazamas: PeofessoeW. M. Davis.414 



Current Notes on 31eteorology : — 

 Meteorological Observations during the Eclipse of 

 January S£d ; Hann's Klimatologie ; Barometrical 

 Determination of Heights: E. DeC. Waed 415 



Owrrent Notes on Anthropology ; — 



The Aborigines of Western Asia; The Ethnolog- 

 ical Study of Cultivated Plants : Peofessoe D. 

 G. Beinton 416 



Astrophysical Notes : E. B. P, 417 



Notes on Inorganic Chemistry : J. L. H 418 



Scientific Notes and News : — 



The Allegheny Observatory; General 418 



University and Educational News 423 



Discussion and Correspondence : — 



The Terminology of the Neurocyte or Nerve Cell : 

 Dk. F. C. Kenyon. Retinal Images and Binocu- 

 lar Vision: De. Chaeles H. Judd 424 



Scientific Literature :— 



Oppel's Mikroskopischen Anatomic der Wirielthiere: 

 Peofessoe Feanklin P. Mall. Whittaker's 

 Mechanical Engineer's Pocket-book; Reeve on the 

 Entropy-temperature Analysis of Steam Engine 

 Efficiencies: Peofessob E. H. Thueston 426 



Societies and Academics : — 



Anthropological Society of Washington : De. J. H. 

 McCoEMiOK. Geological Society of Washington : 

 De. W. F. Moesell. The Academy of Science 

 of St. Louis : PEOFESSOE William Teelease. 

 Torrey Botanical Club: Edwaed S. Burgess. 

 TJie New York Academy of Sciences, Section of 

 Biology: Gaey N. Calkins 428 



Scientific Journals 432 



Neio Books 432 



MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended 

 for review should be sent to the responsible editor, Prof. J. 

 McKeen Cattell, Garrison-on-Hudson, N. Y. 



lATRO- GHEMISTR Y IN 1897.* 

 Phineas T. Barnum, the prince of 

 America.n showmen, discovered early in his 

 successful career that ' the people like to be 

 humbugged,' and he showed great ability 

 in profiting by this weakness ; it must be 

 said to his credit, however, that he always 

 honorably gave the people full value for 

 their money. This love of humbug seems 

 to be exceedingly strong in respect to the 

 healing of diseases, and in all ages those 

 who practiced the art have taken advantage 

 of man's credulity; it is not necessary to 

 transcribe the contents of that model of 

 condensation, Thomas Joseph Pettigrew's 

 treatise on superstition in medicine and sur- 

 gery (London, 1844), to convince my 

 hearers of this truth. In 1897 we expect 

 better things ; we are prone to believe that 

 the universal education of the masses, the 

 popularization of the facts and theories of 

 science, fit the people to appreciate at their 

 true value the claims of charlatans. Ameri- 

 cans looking reverently to the Old World, 

 where brilliant lights illumine the paths of 

 philosophy and science, hardly expect to 

 find there also the deepest shadows of igno- 

 rance and credulity, yet no higher position 

 can be assigned to the modern adaptation 

 of latro-Chemistry known as ' Electro- 

 Homeopathy. ' Originating in Italy, it has 

 taken root in Germany and flourishes in 



*Eeacl at "Washington Chemical Society, February 

 10, 1898. 



