76 Scientific Intelligence. 



ideas. For example, on page 5, the following sentence occurs: 

 ■"It is found that the temperature of melting ice expressed in 

 centigrade degrees on the thermodynamic scale is about 273-7° C. 

 on the thermodynamic scale." h. s. U: 



9. The Mystery of Matter and Energy; by Albert C. Cre- 

 hore. Pp. xii, 161. New York, 1917 (D. Van Nostrand Co.).— 

 The avowed object of this little book is an attempt to state what 

 the problem of the structure of matter really is, in the hope that 

 the mere statement will arouse enthusiasm and prove to the reader 

 the fundamental, all-embracing character of the problem, includ- 

 ing in the final analysis all other physical problems. The text 

 has been kept entirely free from mathematical symbols in order 

 that it may be useful to the general reader as well as to the 

 specially trained scientist. The subject-matter involves, among 

 other topics, the discovery and properties of electrons, the 

 electromagnetic theory of light, X-ray phenomena, the gravita- 

 tional problem, the principle of relativity, and the scientific 

 contributions of J. J. Thomson, Lorentz, Planck, Michelson, 

 Millikan, etc. 



After reading the book through the writer of this notice came 

 to the following conclusions. The text is largely built up from 

 the mathematical papers written by the author. In the absence 

 of the mathematical analysis the reader is forced to accept the 

 statements and deductions made, without being able to check the 

 validity of the hypotheses involved or the steps in the analysis. 

 The impression produced may be concisely expressed by saying 

 that the text seems to be "dangerous" for the general reader. 

 This adverse criticism applies particularly to the discussion of 

 gravitation. Moreover, in a few instances the text is confusing. 

 For example, on page 14 may be found : ' ' The electron is always 

 associated with a negative charge of electricity, . . ." On 

 pages 18, 19, and 71, on the contrary, positive electrons are 

 introduced either directly or by implication. h. s. u. 



II. Geology. 



1. The Structure of the Himalayas, and of the Gangetic 

 Plain, as Elucidated by Geodetic Observations in India; by 

 R. D. Oldham. Pp. 153 ; figs. 13. Memoirs Geol. Surv. India, 

 Vol. 43, pt. 2, 1917. — This is the most important memoir which 

 has been published on the bearing of the geodetic evidence to 

 the geologic structure of northern India and the Himalayan 

 mountain system. The geodetic evidence of the existence of a 

 condition of isostasy in the crust was first established in India, 

 more than half a century ago, but has recently been elaborated 

 by Major Crosthwaite. The Himalayas, the greatest mountain 

 system of the globe, is also one of the youngest and perhaps 

 the best adapted to show the relations of compressive and eleva- 



