54 
iology. It is not correct to say with our author 
that the cerebellum is ontogenetically developed 
from a simple cell plate. There is abundant 
evidence that the cerebellum is essentially a 
paired organ, and this, too, is in harmony with 
its function. The curious method of supplying 
its surface where the bulk is increased, as in 
mammals, by lateral diverticles deserves pass- 
ing mention. 
The English translation is neatly printed, 
though there are a few mistakes which greater 
care would have avoided. Figure 38, for ex- 
ample, is wrong side up, and thus the descrip- 
tion is belied. 
The translation is far from faultless, though 
for the mosi part intelligible. Weare prepared 
to find that a translator should be so influenced 
by the idiom of the original as to produce a 
somewhat halting English style, and it often 
happens that the translator’s own style leaves 
something to be desired, but there is no excuse 
for translating Gehorgrube as oral pit, as Dr. 
Hall has done. Fasersystem appears as ‘ tract’ 
in a connection where it is important to dis- 
tinguish between theseterms. ‘ Dicht anlegen’ 
is translated ‘ lie close beside.’ 
On page 16 the author is made to say ‘all 
vertebrates,’ where the original says ‘ all lower 
vertebrates,’ and proceeds to make an important 
distinction between lower and higher verte- 
brates. 
We do not wish to enter upon the field of 
vexed neuronomy, but regret that the translator 
was not satisfied with ‘neurite’ or ‘ axis cyclin- 
der,’ as used by the author, and substitutes the 
less satisfactory ‘neuraxon,’ which Dr. Edinger 
did not use at all. ‘Fundament’ for ‘Anlage’ 
is to us an unpleasant word, to say nothing of 
its ambiguous sound. ‘Proton’ is sufficiently 
well known. It seems strange that in an Eng- 
lish work we should need to puzzle over the 
terms of direction ‘up and down,’ ‘ back and 
forward,’ etc. Minor inaccuracies like ‘ man- 
tel’ for ‘ mantle’ in one place are probably slips 
in proof-reading. 
On the whole, then, while we congratulate 
ourselves on this addition to the resources of 
the teacher of neurology, we hope that a later 
edition may remove these causes for irritation 
to the instructed reader. C. L. HERRICK. 
SCIENCE. 
[N. S. Von. X. No: 237. 
The Characters of Crystals, an Introduction to 
Physical Crystallography. By ALFRED J. 
Moses, E.M., Pu.D., Professor of Mineral- 
ogy, Columbia University, New York City. 
New York, D. Van Nostrand Company. 
1899. Pp. 211. 
This little volume contains the principles of 
modern crystallography and descriptions of the 
instruments and methods used in the determina- 
tion of the various physical characters of crys- 
tals. The advanced student in mineralogy and 
crystallography will find it of much assistance, 
because it presents in a concise form, omitting 
unnecessary detail, the subjects treated of in 
the larger foreign text-books on physical erys- 
tallography. 
The contents are divided into three parts, 
the first dealing with the geometrical charac- 
ters of crystals. In the classification of the 
thirty-two types of crystals the author has fol- 
lowed Professor Groth, and has wisely retained 
the same descriptive names for the classes and 
forms. The common methods of measuring 
crystals are well described, but a more com- 
plete description of the use of the two-circle 
goniometer would have been better, since this 
instrument will undoubtedly be used in the 
future by the advanced worker more than the 
ordinary goniometer ; also in the chapter on 
crystal projection no mention is made of the 
gnomonic projection, the value of which Pro- 
fessor Goldschmidt has so well demonstrated. 
This projection possesses so many advantages 
over Miller’s that it, in connection with the use 
of the two-circle goniometer, should be under- 
stood by every mineralogist. 
An excellent course in optical crystallography 
is given in the second part of the book. The 
causes of the various optical phenomena and 
the latest methods for the determination of the 
optical characters of crystals are explained 
briefly, yet clearly enough for the student to 
readily understand this difficult subject. 
The third part treats of the general physical 
characters, such as the effects of heat, magnet- 
ism, electricity, ete., on crystals. The author 
appends a synopsis of an advanced course of 
crystallography as given at Columbia Univer- 
sity. The book is well illustrated by crystal- 
drawings and by cuts of instruments, and fre- 
