M 



AY 4, 1888.] 



SCIENCE. 



215 



Practical Geography for Schools. By ALFRED HuGHES. Oxford, 

 Clarendon Pr. 12". (New York, Macmillan, 60 cents.) 



The present volume, which is the first part of a geography 

 for schools, has for its object, not the explanation of geographical 

 phenomena, for such is not given in any instance. The data of 

 geography are considered as given and as explained, and they are 

 used for the purposes of teaching geometrical drawing, arithmetic, 

 and the elementary ideas of geometry. By this method the author 

 hopes to impress the data of ordinary descriptive geography, by 

 constant use, upon the mind of the pupil. The book deals only 

 with mathematical geography, and many examples are given for 

 computing distances between two places, differences of time, alti- 

 tudes of the sun and of stars. As for these purposes the latitudes 

 and longitudes of places must be known, the pupil will acquire by 

 practice a considerable amount of knowledge in this line. But, 

 although this may be true, we cannot recommend the author's 

 methods. We assume that the book is not intended for teaching 

 geography, as it does not try to prove any of the facts that are 

 mentioned in it. The geographical problems of mathematical 

 geography are far too difficult for boys. The author recognizes 

 this fact, and claims as an advantage for his methods, that little or 

 no mathematical knowledge is necessary before children can mas- 

 ter all the methods explained in his work. But this advantage is 

 reached only by an extreme laxity of definitions, and by applying 

 wrong geometrical proofs : therefore the pupil will have to unlearn 

 at a later stage the greater part of what has been taught to him 

 according to the plan of the book. Here is an example. One of 

 the very first chapters of the book teaches how to draw lines of lati- 

 tude and longitude suitable for a map of any part of the earth's 

 surface. First it is said, without an attempt at explanation, that it 

 is impossible on a flat piece of paper to draw correctly lines that 

 themselves exist on the round surface of the earth. Then a rough 

 approximation to a rectangular projection in which the real length 

 of the parallels is preserved, is described as the only method of pro- 

 jecting maps, without any farther explanation than that the paral- 

 lels and the central meridian have their real lengths ; while it is not 

 shown that the meridians and angles are greatly distorted. In 

 computing distances, the author assumes, adding a brief remark 

 that it is not quite correct, that the distance along the parallel of 

 latitude is the distance between two places. All through the book 

 this looseness prevails. If we agree that the teaching of geometry 

 should train the faculty of logical reasoning, we must object to the 

 methods advocated in this book. From the standpoint of the geog- 

 rapher, there is nothing in it that might not be attained just as 

 satisfactorily by other methods which discard these unnecessary 

 mathematical considerations, that are beyond the grasp of chil- 

 dren of that age for which the book is intended. 



A Laboratory Manual of Chemistry. By OsCAR Oldberg and 

 John H. Long. Chicago, W. T. Keener. 8°. $3.50. 



This manual is intended for students of pharmacy and medicine, 

 and presents a well-chosen course of experiments, the object of 

 which is to give acquaintance with the properties of the more com- 

 mon elements, and to show the syntheses of the more important 

 chemical compounds and pharmaceutical preparations. A short 

 course in qualitative analysis, special examples of quantitative 

 methods, modes of assay of a few important drugs (notably the 

 alkaloids), and a sketch of the chemical and microscopical examina- 

 tion of urine, constitute important features of the work. In the di- 

 rections for compounding, quantities are usually expressed in pro- 

 portionate parts, but occasionally absolute weights and measures 

 are employed. When such is the case, it is a pleasure to note that 

 it is the metric system of which use is made. The pharmaceutical 

 and chemical names appear side by side. 



The work is well arranged, and admirably adapted to the use of 

 the class of students for whom it is especially intended. 



Skeleton Azotes upon Inorganic Chemistry. Part I. Non-Metal- 

 lic Elements. By P. de P. Ricketts and S. H. Ru.ssell. 



. New York, Wiley. 8°. $1.50. 



In the words of the authors, " It is not intended that this work 

 shall take the place of a text-book, and the authors claim no origi- 

 nality beyond the general arrangement. Much matter has been pur- 



posely omitted for the student to supply in his own way. It is 

 believed that by employing these ' Skeleton Notes ' as a framework 

 upon which to build, the beginner will be aided in following lec- 

 tures, and learn to study chemistry in a systematic manner." 



The plan of placing in the hands of students an outline of lecture- 

 notes in order that attention may be given more fully to the gen- 

 eral argument and demonstrations of the lecturer, presents many 

 advantages, and has not wanted recognition these many years. 

 That such a scheme may be useful to the fullest extent, it would 

 seem to be the case that the order of topics in the notes should 

 follow the order of discussion in the lecture, and that this should 

 be a rational one. In this skeleton the chemical elements are taken 

 up in the alphabetical sequence of the initial letters of their names, 

 — an arrangement which certainly is not suggestive of existing 

 relationships, nor likely to aid in the realization of the hope that the 

 beginner may " learn to study chemistry in a systematic manner." 

 The notes under individual heads are brief and orderly, in general, 

 though occasionally inexact. 



The value of such a book must depend, as a matter of course, 

 upon the use made of it by lecturer and student. 



Weather : a Popular Exposition of the Nature of Weather- 

 Changes from Day to Day. By Hon. RALPH AberCROMBY. 

 New York, Appleton. 



This volume considers only the practical questions involved, and 

 is an excellent popular work, easily understood, and maintaining 

 great interest in its perusal. 



The first three chapters are elementary, and treat of weather 

 prognostics which may be made from ' clouds,' ' audibility,' ' visi- 

 bility,' ' whirling dust,' etc., without the aid of instruments. In the 

 advanced portion our author takes up the question of weather-maps 

 (Chapter IV.); meteograms, or records of single instruments at a 

 station (V.) ; squalls, thunder-storms, and non-isobaric rain (VIII.) ; 

 whirlwinds and tornadoes (IX.); diurnal variation of weather (XL); 

 types and spells of weather (XIIL); weather-forecasts (XIV. and 

 XV.). These chapters are especially interesting, and deal with 

 their subjects in a lucid and comprehensive manner. 



Our author has taken advanced ground on many questions, and 

 does not fear to admit our want of a good explanation of phenom- 

 ena. No less than twenty-nine times does he profess this, and in 

 almost all these cases there have been theoretical explanations 

 given by others. An important principle is enunciated at p. 50, — 

 " diurnal changes modify but do not alter intrinsic quality of 

 weather," — and this view is maintained in many places with great 

 force and good proof. Our author, while cutting loose from many 

 erroneous views, yet clings to some to which we must take serious 

 exception. On p. 117 we are told that the clouds indicate great 

 cold in front of storms ; yet at p. 139 the usual view is given, that, 

 owing to heat, the pressure in the upper layers is augmented near 

 a cyclone ; and this latter view is again stated on p. 232. As a 

 matter of fact, later researches have shown that this hypothetical 

 rise in pressure is almost nothing. If we take barometer readings 

 at Mount Washington, for example, during the passage of a cyclone, 

 and reduce them to sea-level, we shall find the fall in pressure at 

 the base only .04" or .05" less than at the summit. 



On p. 126 we read, " To this ascensional movement (in cyclones) 

 undoubtedly must be attributed the rain and cloud which we find 

 there, — rain near the centre, where the ascensional impulse is 

 strongest ; cloud round the outside, where the uptake is less 

 strong." And yet repeatedly our author refers to " non-isobaric 

 rain," or rain remote from just this hypothetical uptake. There is 

 hardly a worse fallacy in meteorology ; and, moreover, no valid 

 proof has ever been advanced of this uptake. There has been a 

 rather good reason for the endurance of this theory in Europe, for 

 there, in the temperate regions, rain falls largely near a cyclone- 

 centre ; in this country, however, most of the rain is far in ad- 

 vance of the storm-centre. Probably ninety per cent of our rain 

 may be fairly considered ' non-isobaric' On p. 221, Tyndall's theory 

 that water-vapor absorbs the quality of heat radiated from the 

 ground is accepted ; and yet it is quite well known and received 

 to-day, that this was refuted by Magnus, who showed that it was 

 only the condensed vapor in the shape of water-droplets, and 

 not the vapor, that produced the effect. On p. 253 the theory is 



