Sept. 1st, 1887.] 



SCIENTIFIC NEAVS. 



167 



change ought to be resisted, and when this attempt may prove 

 successful. For such a work there is, we should think, not 

 merely room, but most pressing occasion. 



Mr. Piatt's undertaking is ot a quite different character, as it 

 will appear from the headings of its chapters — Causality, 

 Acquisitiveness, Capital, Free Labour, Employes, Technical 

 Education, Production, Distribution, and Progress. 



He is essentially an economist of the Adam Smith type, and 

 hence he takes too narrow a view of the world. He is a phreno- 

 logist, admiring George Combe and the " Constitution of Man." 

 He accepts the doctrine of evolution, especially as far as the 

 " survival of the fittest " is concerned. But it may be questioned 

 whether he keeps steadily in view how the fittest to survive in 

 an impure atmosphere are the vilest. He preaches the gospel 

 of success, contending that if either man or book fails to com- 

 mand appreciation, the fault lies in him or in it, and not in the 

 times, in circumstances or surroundings. Evidently he does not 

 believe that pearls ever are or can be thrown before the swine. 

 But what if we apply his test to phrenology ? 



We are pleased to see the author recognise the deadly effects 

 of Puritanism on the arts and art-industries. The glass- 

 stainers were swept away by the Puritan revolution, as well as 

 the sculptors, painters, and musicians. Mr. Piatt might have 

 added that literature, science, and philosophy, have suffered, and 

 are still suffering from the same cause. If we are inferior to 

 some of our neighbours in designing, the blame rests with 

 " Praise God Barebones " and his like. Though we find m this 

 volume much which we cannot fully accept, we still regard it as 

 one which may be profitably studied. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



" Metal Plate Work." By C. T. Millis. London : E. and F. N. 

 Spon. 

 A systematic and thoroughly practical guide for workers in 

 this subject, with good illustrations. Forms one of the Finsbury 

 Technical Manuals. 



"Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh — Session 

 1885-86.'' 

 Valuable papers covering a wide range of subjects. 



" The Journal of Microscopy and Natural Science ; the Journal 

 of the Postal Microscopical Society," July 18S7. London : 

 Bailliere, Tindall and Co.\. 

 Papers on Dimorphism in Fungi ; Eyes of Molluscs and 



Arthropods, etc. 



"Transactions of the Mining Association and Institute of Corn- 

 wall" (Camborne), 1S87. 

 Chiefly of local interest. 



" The Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry," June, 1S87. 

 Technical articles and descriptions of new patents. 



"Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers." 

 With other selected and abstracted papers. Vol. Ixx.xix. 

 Several of the papers are of general interest, such, for instance, 

 as those on Printing Machinery, Salmon Ladders, Gas-power v. 

 Steam-power. As usual, the editing and illustrations are 

 excellent. 



"Journal of the Society of Telegraph Engineers and Electricians." 

 No. 67. Vol. xvi. London : E. and F. N. Spon. 

 Chiefly technical, but papers on Underground Telegraphs and 

 Driving of Dynamos with Short Belts are of general interest. 



"The Scientific Proceedings of the Royal Dublin Society." Vol. 

 v. (N. S.) Vol. iii. (Series II.) 

 Include many valuable papers on various subjects. Several 

 on geology ; one on the Fossil Fishes of the Chalk of Mount 

 Lebanon, in Syria, being admirably illustrated. 



"The Moloch of Paraffin." By Charles Marvin. London: R. 

 Anderson and Co. 

 Deals chiefly with the dangers attending the use of nearly 

 every description of paraffin lamp. 



SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS AND EXHIBITIONS. 



International Congress of Geologists. — In view of the 

 meeting of the International Congress of Geologists, to be held 

 in London next year, the Nomenclature Committee of the 

 Congress will assemble at Manchester during the forthcoming 

 meeting of the British Association. A scheme has recently been 

 put forward for the purpose of securing uniformity on questions 

 of nomenclature and classification. 



Brussels Intern.\tional Exhibition. — An International 

 Exhibition of Science and Industry will be held at Brussels next 

 year from May to October, when premiums will be awarded to 

 the amount of ^20,000, and articles to the value of ^^40,000 will 

 be bought for prizes in the lottery authorised by the Belgian 

 Government. The Commissioner's office is at II, Place de 

 Louvain, Bruxelles. 



Geneva Horological School. — The silver medal offered to 

 the students of the Geneva Horological School for excellence 

 of work has been won by Walter Vokes, son of Mr. E. J. 

 Vokes, of Bath, who is a member of the British Horological 

 Institute. 



Paris Brewing Exhibition. — The leading brewers in France 

 are preparing an exhibition of beer and of the products and 

 apparatus used in brewing, which is to be held in Paris this 

 autumn. The brewing trade has of late years increased very 

 much in importance, as, owing to the inroads of the phylloxera 

 and the mildew, the consumption of wine has to some extent 

 been replaced by that of beer. The French brewers hope that 

 this exhibition may lead to the institution of a school of brewery 

 similar to those existing in Germany and Austria. 



New York Electrical Exhibition. — Under the auspices 

 of the New York Electrical Society, an Electrical Exhibition will 

 be held in New York from 28th September to 3rd December of 

 this year, and as no electrical exhibition has previously been held 

 in that city, it is expected that it will attract much attention. 



The Iron and Steel Institute. — The annual autumn meet- 

 ing of the Iron and .Steel Institute will this year be held in 

 the Owens College, Manchester, commencing on Wednesday, 

 14th September. An inlhiential local committee has been 

 formed for the reception and entertainment of the Institute, and 

 the following papers on interesting subjects have been promised : 

 Testing Machines ; Recent Metallurgical and Mechanical Pro- 

 gress; The Basic Open Hearth Process; Apparatus for Con- 

 tinuous Moulding ; Electric Light Installations for Factories ; and 

 the Manufacture of Ordnance at the Roj'al Arsenal of Trubia. 



Geneva Society of Arts. — Thissociety offers prizes for the 

 best treatises on watch mainsprings. The competition is inter- 

 national, except that Swiss residents alone can obtain money 

 prizes in addition to the silver and bronze medals and diplomas, 

 which will be awarded without regard to nationality. Papers, 

 drawings, and models are to be delivered at Geneva before the 

 30th November next. 



Berlin Physical and Technical Institute. — This Institute 

 is being formed, not for teaching but to facilitate research, the 

 curators being always accessible, as experts, to assist investi- 

 gators. Professor Helmholtz has been appointed President, and 

 the Institute is to be opened in April of next year. 



Chronometer Tests at the Greenwich Observatory. — 

 We learn from the Horological Journal that Mr. Uhrig has 

 followed up his success at the last annual trial by again taking 

 the premier position. Mr. Mercer comes second, and Messrs. 

 C. Frodsham and Co. third. Messrs. Johnson and Son, of Derby, 

 who take the fourth and fifth places, are said to be new com- 

 petitors. The first six instruments were purchased by the Ad- 

 miralty. 



The Whitworth Scholarship. — -The chief Whitworth 

 Scholarship of ^200 has this year been gained by Mr. James 

 Whitaker, engineer student, I5urnley. Among the others a 

 scholarship of ^150 has been gained by Mr. R. N. Blackburn, 

 engineer apprentice, Liverpool ; one of ^loo by Mr. B. G. 

 Oxford, engineer apprentice, Liverpool; and one of ^100 by 

 Mr. B. H. Crookes, engineer student, Liverpool. 



Motors for Electric Lighting. — The Council of the So- 

 ciety of Arts are prepared to award four gold medals and four 

 silver medals for prime motors suitable for electric light instal- 

 lations. The medals will be awarded on the results of practical 

 tests. The competition will take place in London about May or 

 June, 1888, and entries must be sent in by the 31st December, 

 1887. 



