Jantjakt 21, 1910] 



SCIENCE 



115 



Martian study not enjoyed by any one else- 

 where. 



Suppose, then, that Mr. Lowell invite two 

 or three other well-known expert students of 

 planetary detail — say, for example, Mr. E. E. 

 Barnard, of the Yerkes Observatory; Mr. W. 

 H. Pickering, of Harvard College Observa- 

 tory, and Mr. E. M. Antoniadi, of I'Observa- 

 toire de Juvisy — to come to Flagstail and join 

 him in observing Mars at its next opposition. 

 Would not astronomers and the public gen- 

 erally accept as objective realities any surface 

 markings observed, either visually or photo- 

 graphically, by all four of these experts? 



These experts might perhaps also undertake, 

 during their residence at Flagstaff, to verify 

 the remarkable and intricate network of mark- 

 ings on the planets Venus* and Mercury" which 

 have been seen at the Lowell Observatory, and 

 only there, so far as I am aware, and which, to 

 the uninitiated, present many points of resem- 

 blance to the " canal " system on Mars. The 

 fact that all the members of the Lowell Ob- 

 servatory staff are able to see so many of these 

 markings which, apparently, are invisible from 

 other stations, would seem to lend additional 

 interest to my suggestion. 



Great as have been Mr. Lowell's services in 

 stimulating zeal in planetary studies, in no 

 way, I think, could he add more to the sure 

 advancement of our knowledge in this field 

 than by inviting such a committee of experts 

 to share with him, for a time, the advantages 

 offered by his excellent telescope and favorable 

 atmosphere. E. G. Aitken 



December 8, 1909 



SCIENTIFIC BOOKS 

 The Human Body and Health. An Inter- 

 mediate Text-book of Essential Physiology, 

 Applied Hygiene and Practical Sanitation 

 for Schools. By Alvin Davtoson, M.S., 

 A.M., Ph.D., Professor of Biology" in Lafay- 

 ette College. New York, American Book 

 Company. 



* For the markings on Mercury see Popular 

 Astronomy, Vol. IV., p. 360, 1897; for the mark- 

 ings on Venus, The Popular Science Monthly, Vol. 

 LXXV., p. 521, 1909. 



This is an aggressive book. It abounds in 

 plain statements that attract the reader and 

 lead him on. 



The author's motive and plan is indicated 

 in the preface as follows : 



A few minutes' reflection in regard to the 

 modern ways of living will fix in the mind of the' 

 sound reasoner the conviction that we are a care- 

 less and cruel people. Nearly one thousand human 

 beings in the United States are dying daily 

 of diseases which science has shown how to pre- 

 vent. Streams are polluted, garbage dumped on 

 the nearest vacant lot, fresh air and sunshine shut 

 out of the houses by double doors and windows, 

 and innocent children fed dirty milk because 

 people do not realize that these acts are respon- 

 sible for many of the four thousand graves daily 

 made in our nation's cemeteries. 



Sanitary science and the public health can be 

 advanced only as they are supported by an intel- 

 ligent public opinion; . . . new ideas are grasped 

 most readily by the young. Parents do not recog- 

 nize that eyesight is being impaired, normal 

 growth prevented, blood poisoned and the body 

 starved because of customs and habits born in 

 ignorance. . . . Anatomy and physiology is of 

 little value to our young folks unless it helps 

 them to practise intelligently in their daily lives 

 the teachings of hygiene and sanitation. . . . 

 Specific facts and full explanations are given 

 showing how disease is caused and how the body 

 may be kept well and strong. . . . 



The contents of the book are as follows: 

 Chapter I., The Human Body as a Living 

 Machine; chapter II., Plants and Animals 

 Eelated to Health; chapter III., The Plan of 

 the Human Body; chapter IV., Food for the 

 Body; chapter V., The Care and Cooking of 

 Food; chapter VI., How Food is Used by the 

 Body; chapter VII., Drink and Health; chap- 

 ter VIIL, Tobacco and other Narcotics and 

 their Effect on Health; chapter IX., The 

 Blood and its Passage through the Body; 

 chapter X., Breathing and its Use; chapter 

 XL, Air and Health; chapter XII., Cleanli- 

 ness and Warmth; chapter XIIL, Clothing 

 and Colds; chapter XIV., The Bones; chapter 

 XV., The Muscles and Exercise; chapter 

 XVI., How the Body is Governed; chapter 

 XVIL, The Care of the Nervous System and 



