June 10, 1904.] 



SCIENCE. 



)7 



index, it is true, but in a misleading way, for 

 when one turns from them in the index to the 

 corresponding numbers in the scheme of 

 classification one finds ' rhythm. ' entered under 

 * hearing ' and ' fatigue ' under ' sense of 

 movement.' Certain other subjects within 

 the sphere of modern general physiology are 

 not sufficiently elaborated. For example, all 

 the tactic irritabilities, the literature of which 

 is already large and constantly increasing, 

 are grouped under one entry — ' 0150 Influence 

 of Environment (Chemotaxis, Galvanotaxis, 

 etc.. High Altitudes, etc.)' — and are not men- 

 tioned specifically in the index. ' Secretion ' 

 as a general physiological phenomenon occurs 

 nowhere, and there is no entry for ' internal 

 secretion.' Some of the defects here men- 

 tioned are due to the fact that the basis of the 

 scheme of classification is essentially mor- 

 phological. The physiological literature of a 

 particular organ can readily be found: not so 

 readily the literature of a particular physio- 

 logical principle. Though excellent in its de- 

 tails, the scheme of classification is too short- 

 sighted. It is not yet too late to remedy this 

 great defect. Let the numbering of the gen- 

 eral groups, ' Physiology of the Organism as 

 a Whole, 01,' and ' Physiology of the Cell and 

 of Unicellular Organisms, 02,' be changed to 

 '02' and '03' respectively; then let there be 

 inserted a new group numbered ' 01 ' and en- 

 titled ' General Physiological Phenomena.' 

 This group, properly elaborated, would con- 

 tain at least many of the general subjects 

 referred to and would facilitate the introduc- 

 tion of very valuable cross references. In 

 future volumes this change, or an equally ap- 

 propriate one, ought to be made, if the cata- 

 logue is to fulfill its high purpose. 



The actual work of cataloguing seems to be 

 well done. The cross references are muner- 

 ous, both within the present volume and to 

 volumes of the catalogue devoted to other 

 sciences. There is a surprisingly small num- 

 ber of typographical errors. The typography 

 is clear and of sufficient variety to facilitate 

 the search for data. There is a natural curi- 

 osity on the part of the reader to know how 

 near the list of titles approximates to com- 

 pleteness. A search within its pages for the 



articles published during 1901 in five repre- 

 sentative journals of different countries, shows 

 the following percentages of omissions : Jour- 

 nal de Physiologie et de Pathologie generalej 



1 per cent.; [English] Journal of Physiology, 



2 per cent.; Archives Italiennes de Biologic, 



3 per cent. ; Pfliiger's Archiv fiir die gcsammte 

 Physiologie, 24 per cent.; American Journal 

 of Physiology, 48 per cent. Our own country 

 thus compares most unfavorably with those of 

 Europe. Not only, however, are the contents 

 of the American journals incompletely cata- 

 logued, but the list of our journals is incom- 

 plete, comprising in the present volume only 

 nineteen in number, and omitting such well- 

 known periodicals as the Journal of Compara- 

 tive Neurology and Psychology, the Journal of 

 Medical Research and the Psychological Re- 

 view. Since each regional bureau is respon- 

 sible for the literature of its own country, a 

 critic is at first tempted to lay these faults at 

 the door of the Smithsonian Institution. 

 Their real cause, however, must be sought 

 further back. Although duly and repeatedly 

 petitioned for assistance, our government, un- 

 like those of many of the European countries, 

 has given no support to the work of our re- 

 gional bureau; the expense has been assumed 

 gratuitously by the Smithsonian Institution, 

 which, however, has been greatly embarrassed 

 by lack of funds. It is gratifying to know 

 that this institution has recently been enabled 

 to make more extended provision for the work. 

 This will allow the deficiencies of the present 

 volume to be made up subsequently, and will 

 insure greater thoroughness in the future. 

 Professor Langley invites any suggestions 

 which will lead to the improvement of the 

 catalogue. It is to be hoped especially that 

 American physiologists will call his attention 

 to such additional journals as publish either 

 frequently, or even rarely, articles on physio- 

 logical topics. In doing this it should be 

 borne in mind that the physiology of the cata- 

 logue includes physiological chemistry, phar- 

 macology, experimental psychology and ex- 

 perimental pathology. The literature of bac- 

 teriology is catalogued in a. separate volume. 



Americans can helpfully cooperate in still 

 another manner, namely, by subscribing foi 



