February 13, 1891.] 



SCIENCE. 



97 



than the form now prevalent. The author begins by remarking 

 that "there isno absolutely new form that superstition can assume. 

 It long ago passed its highest point of evolution, so that species of 

 this genus do not now originate. Such varieties as occasionally 

 seem to arise anew and flourish for a while are merely re-appear- 

 ances of the ancient stock, greatly weakened in character and 

 with a decidedly reversionary tendency." He then goes on to 

 explain more particularly some of the magical remedies of earlier 

 times, such as " sympathetic ointments," laying-on of bands, etc., 

 quoting extensively from writers who believed in them as to their 

 wonderful eflficacy. The prevalence of the belief in magical cures 

 is attributed largely to the influence of Paracelsus, who taught 

 that "imagination is the cause of many diseases ; faith is the cure 

 for all." The passages quoted from Paracelsus and others can 

 hardly be read without astonishment, mingled with somethins; 

 like disgust; and we may well rejoice with Dr. Cox that "the dark 

 days of centuries past can never return, and that science has 

 gained a supremacy which can never be lost." 



— A very successful tableau entertainment was recently given 

 in New York, the subjects being taken from illustrations in the 

 current magazines. The idea is a simple one, and if the subjects 

 are well chosen it can be made very interesting. The Century 

 Company has prepared a list of suitable pictures with suggestions 

 for any one wlio wishes to get up the entertainment. They will 

 send it free on request. 



— The course of four lectures on the electro-magnet, delivered 

 before the Society of Arts, London, in February of 1890, by Silvanus 

 P. Thompson, has been published in book form by the W. J. 

 Johnston Company of this city. The volume is published with 

 the direct sanction of the author, wlio has carefully revised the 

 text; and it is the only authorized American edition. It will of 

 necessity take its place as a standard work in the growing litera- 

 ture of electrical science, containing, as it does, in compact form, 



every thing of value on the subject, from the earliest experiments 

 of Sturgeon in 1825, down to the present day. The volume con- 

 tains a full theoretical and practical account of the properties and 

 peculiarities of the electro-magnet, together with complete in- 

 structions for designing magnets for any specific purpose. It is 

 illustrated with 75 engravings, and has a very full index. 



— D. C. Heath & Co., Boston, induced by the success of the 

 Wright's " Nature Readers " for supplementary reading, will soon 

 add to the series a " Fourth Reader." This fourth book will take 

 up the following subjects; Section I., earth-building; Section 11., 

 the solar system ; Section III. will treat of the fauna of the world 

 up to the age of man, various discoveries of their reuiains will be 

 noted, and the interesting studies of fossils and geologic forma- 

 tions will be detailed; Section IV. will treat of those families of 

 living ci-eatures that have their closest affinities with the long- 

 vanished fauna; Section V. will discuss certain of the reptilian 

 family; Section VI. will introduce the mammals of sea and air. 

 The object throughout the book will be not so much to cram 

 the pupil with ideas as to teach how to study and how to 

 observe. 



— Volumes II. and III. of " Open Sesame," edited by Mrs. B. 

 W. Bellamy and Mrs. M. W. Goodwin, have been published by 

 Ginn & Co., completing a useful and valuable series, the first vol- 

 ume of which was mentioned in these columns nearly a year ago. 

 Volume II. is intended for boys and girls between the ages of ten 

 and fourteen, and aims, like Volume I., to at once stimulate and 

 feed the memory, the collection of prose and poetry being well 

 calculated to make children "leai'n to love, and love to learn" 

 good literature. The same remarks will apply with equal force 

 to Volume III., though the selections in it are intended for chil- 

 dren of older growth. The series may be considered a standard 

 collection of poetry and prose for purposes of recitation or refer- 

 ence. 



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