BOOK NOTICES. 



511 



Scientists," but if we were to judge by the con- 

 tents of the present number, which is made up 

 principally of astronomical articles of a high 

 scientific character, we should say that it was 

 rather a jourQal for experts. The first article, 

 "On the diameter of the Satellites of Mars," 

 certainly evinces first-rate mathematical ability 

 on the part of its writer, while that upon 

 •' 'Kecent Double Star Observations," taken in 

 connection with those on the same subject in 

 previous numbers, would do credit to any scien- 

 tific journal in the country. 



Women's Secrets, or How to be Beautiful, 

 translated and edited from the Persian and 

 French, with additions from the best English 

 authorities, by Lou. Capsadell, New York. 

 The Author's Publishing Co, 1876. pp. 60. 

 Price, 75 cents. 



Despite the ad captandum title of this little 

 work it contains many very valuable and use- 

 ful statements, hints and suggestions to ladies 

 in regard to the all important subjects of "pro- 

 longing the freshness of youth and perpetuating 

 the roseate charms of womanhood," not by 

 means of cosmetics and lotions, but by applying 

 the rules of physiology and hygiene in all the 

 acts and duties of life. These rules are given 

 in an easy style, and if followed out will un- 

 doubtedly go far towards accomplishing the 

 object. In addition, there are instructions for 

 the toilet, rules for raising beautiful children, 

 for eating, for sleeping, for bathing, for produc- 

 ing fat and for producing leanness, warnings 

 against the destruction of beauty, and finally, 

 instructions for remaining beautiful. For sale 

 by H. H. Shepard. 



Application of Organic Acids to the Ex- 

 amination OF Minerals, by H. Carrington 

 Eolton, Ph. D. Reprinted from the annals 

 of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 

 1, 1877. 



The author of this paper, who was elected 

 General Secretary of the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Sciences, (and not Vice 

 President, as the punctuation of our notice in 

 the September number of the JrlEviEW makes 

 us say), advocates the use of organic acids in the 

 decomposition of minerals for the purpose of 

 analysis, on the ground that they are more read- 

 ily and safely transported during field explora- 

 tions, and that our preconceived notions of their 

 weakness as regards minerals are erroneous. 



His experiments were made upon carbonates, 

 sulphides, oxides, sundries and silicates prin- 

 eipally, with citric, tartaric and oxalic acids 

 but a few tests were made with malic, fornic' 

 acetic, benzoic, hydrogallic and picric acids. Of 

 the solid acids, solutions saturated in the cold 

 were used; of the liquid acids, ordinary com- 

 mercial products,'and the tests were conducted 

 with a view to their possible application in field 

 work. It is impossible (o do more than to give 

 briefly the results of a large number of interest- 

 ing experiments, in which the action of organic 

 acids upon various minerals is compared 

 with that of hydrochloric acid. They are 

 claimed to be about as follows : They not only 

 decompose a considerable number of minerals 

 belonging to various groups but also possess a 

 remarkable selective power as regards the de- 

 gree of this decomposition. Many of the reac- 

 tions are simple, quickly applied, characteristic 

 and sensitive ; they may be used in distinguish- 

 ing minerals nearly related and probably in 

 separating minerals mingled in one specimen. 

 In addition, the author suggests that the chem- 

 istry of geological changes may be more fully 

 and clearly understood by considering the value 

 of the organic acids in the work of disintegra- 

 tion and consolidation. The subject is a very 

 interesting one and demands the attention of 

 mineralogists and geologists. 



Contributions to the Treatment of Pul- 

 monary Phthisis, by Dr. W. Gleitsmann, 

 reprinted from New Orleans Medical and 

 Surgical Journal, July, 1877. 



This is a pamphlet written in the interest of 

 a Sanilarum located at Ashville, N. C, and 

 managed by the writer. His main points are 

 that air, exercise and cold water, all of the 

 proper quality, are the essentials in the care of 

 consumption, and that these requisites are to 

 be found at A.shville in a greater degree of 

 perfection than almost anywhere else. 



Transactions of the Kansas Academy of 

 Science, Volume V., Topeka, Kansas, 1876 ;. 

 pp. 14. 



Though rather late in appearing, the trans- 

 actions, reports and papers of the ninth an- 

 nual meeting are very interesting and instruc- 

 tive, and the mechanical work very hand- 

 somely done by the state printer. 



