Miscellcmeous Intelligence. 159 



vent anyone having a moderate acquaintance with the biological 

 sciences from reading it with profit. l. b. m. 



2. Prmciples of Agricultural Chemistry ; by G. S. Fraps. 

 Easton, 191'7 (The Chemical Publishing Co.). 2d edition. Pp. 

 501. — A volume dealing with the principles and practices of 

 scientific agriculture from the standpoint of the chemist. It 

 includes such topics as the essentials of plant life, soils, ferti- 

 lizers, the composition of feeds, and the feeding of farm animals. 

 Most of the subjects are dealt with in exceedingly^ summary 

 fashion, so that no one could profit adequately by the perusal of 

 the book without considerable preliminary training in the sci- 

 ences of chemistry and biology. Historical matter is introduced 

 into some of the chapters. The treatise serves as a guide rather 

 than an exhaustive presentation of a very large group of modern 

 agricultural themes. It is unfortunate that the term "proteid," 

 now generally abandoned in favor of "protein," has been retained 

 in the new edition. l. b. m. 



3. The Secretion of the Urine ; by Arthur R. Cushny. 

 London, 1917 (Longmans, Green and Co.). Pp. ix + 241. — No 

 one familiar with the author's contributions to physiological 

 literature need be told that a volume by Professor Cushny on 

 kidney functions is almost certain to present something of more 

 than conventional interest. The present is one of a new series of 

 monographs on physiology intended, as the editor. Professor 

 Starling, expresses it, not to give an exhaustive account of previ- 

 ous writings, but rather to afford " an appreciation of what is 

 worth retaining in past work, so far as this is suggestive of the 

 paths along which future research may be fruitful of results." 

 Accordingly we find Cushny departing from the traditional con- 

 troversy on the theory of renal secretion and advocating what he 

 terms " the modern view," in which considerations of physical 

 chemistry and physical physiology are employed to combat so- 

 called vitalistic hypotheses. Something of the viewpoint may be 

 inferred from this quotation: " One part of the kidney filters off 

 the plasma colloids, another part absorbs a fluid of unchanging 

 composition. The kidney exercises no discrimination, but con- 

 tinues these activities through life, just as a muscle exercises no 

 discrimination. The kidney loses somewhat in dignity and 

 romance when it is thus represented as merely a hard-working 

 organ, which is admirably fitted to remove the waste products of 

 the blood, but which is so devoid of judgment that in some con- 

 ditions it acts to the prejudice of the organism b}^ removing the 

 diluent instead of the poison " (p. 56). The chapters cover the 

 following topics: anatomy and histology of the kidney, the chief 

 constituents of the urine and their concentration, the work, 

 gaseous metabolism and blood supply of the kidney, theories of 

 renal secretion, direct evidence on the functions of the tubules 

 and glomerulus, blood supply and kidney secretion, the reaction 

 of the urine, the action of diuretics and other drugs, glycosuria, 

 perfusion of the kidney, albuminuria, notes on nephritis and other 



