328 Scientific Intelligence. 



of which such a prolific crop has sprung up of late years. 

 Velocity is treated as a vector, but the distinction between speed 

 and velocity is in several cases somewhat carelessly disregarded. 



4. The Constitution and Functions of Gases, the Nature of 

 Radiance, and the Law of Radiation. By Severinus J. Cor- 

 rigan. St. Paul, 1895, pp. 128, and Supplement, pp. 46. — This 

 is a restatement and enlargement of the author's hypothesis of 

 the constitution of matter, first given in Astronomy and Astro- 

 physics, Nos. 101 and 102 (1892). Two equal atoms are assumed 

 to revolve in a circle about the middle point of the line joining 

 them. The orbital velocity of atmospheric atoms of normal pres- 

 sure and temperature is found to be 550,521,646 miles per second. 

 A great number of atomic couples are regarded as forming a 

 spherical shell, or hollow ball, and this constitutes a molecule of 

 any gas. In a normal atmospheric molecule the number of atoms 

 is found to be 2*8943 XlO 14 . The luminiferous ether is a rarified 

 gas. From such a hypothetical constitution of gases the author 

 develops the laws of radiation of light and heat. 



5. Algebra for Beginners, by H. S. Hall and S, R. Knight ; 

 revised for American schools by Prof. F. L. Sevenoak. (Mac- 

 millan & Co. Price 60 cts.) — A text-book designed to meet the 

 wants of those who do not require a knowledge of algebra beyond 

 quadratic equations. 



6. An Introduction to the Algebra of Quantics, by E. B. 

 Elliott. Clarendon Press, 1895, 8°, pp. viii, 423. — The students 

 of higher algebra will feel specially grateful to Professor Elliott 

 for his systematized treatment of the additions made to this 

 branch of mathemalics by Cayley, Sylvester, Salmon, Clebsch, 

 Faa de Bruno, Gordan, and others during the last fifty years. 

 Though entitled an Introduction, it really calls for a considerable 

 preliminary knowledge on the part of the reader, such as would 

 be gained, for example, from Burnside and Panton's Theory of 

 Equations. 



7. Problems in Differential Calculus, by W. E. Byerly. (Ginn 

 & Co.) — An excellent collection of problems designed to accom- 

 pany Prof. Byerly's Differential Calculus, but valuable in connec- 

 tion with any such treatise. It includes also problems in simple 

 integration and in mechanics. 



8. Plane and Solid Geometry, by Professors W. W. Beman 

 and D. E. Smith. (Ginn & Co.) — The work covers the subjects 

 in geometry taught in the best American High Schools. There is 

 a good index, also a biographical table, and a table of etymologies. 



9. Computation Rules and Logarithms with Tables of other 

 Useful Functions ; by Silas W. Holman ; pp. xlv, and 73. 

 (Macmillan & Co., 1896.) — The Introduction of this book gives in 

 detail precepts for securing a required degree of accuracy in 

 computations without unnecessary expenditure of labor. Four 

 and five-figure tables of logarithms of numbers, of logarithmic 

 sines, tangents, etc., follow. The arrangement is well adapted 

 for instruction, and for subsequent use in work not requiring 

 unusual accuracy. It is rare that six or seven-figure tables are 

 needed in actual practice. 



