1122 General Notes. [ November, 
presentation involve so much difficulty as that now considered. 
Dr. Draper wisely takes particular pains to expound clearly the 
received ideas concerning the structure and properties of matter; 
and especially useful, for the most part, are the frequent state- 
ments and applications of the facts of molecular mechanics. 
The general division of the subject into Matter and Energy is 
admirable for purposes of teaching, and perspicuity of treatment 
has been attained with marked success. 
It is unfortunate, however, that the author should have repeated 
from the older text-books so much that is erroneous, in his con- 
sideration of the physiology of the subject. There are few physiol- 
ogists of to-day who would not read with astonishment the elabo- 
rate defense of the chemical attraction theory of the circulation 
advanced on p. 308. Again (p. 158), the modern lecturer has annu- 
ally to deny the statement, “ when breathed in the unmixed state 
it (oxygen) stimulates the nervous system strongly and finally 
causes death.” 
No physiological worker now considers fibrin, as such, a con- 
stituent of blood-plasma (p. 193). ; 
e must insist that the whole idea involved in the discussion 
of the relation of animal tissues to oxygen (p. 206) is wrong. 
We were under the impression that since the labors of Helm- 
holtz there was little cause to dispute the conclusion that the 
function of the auditory ossicles was to convey vibrations to the 
internal ear, though Dr. Draper apparently considers the question 
as to their function still open (p. 375). 
It is to be hoped that in a subsequent edition of the work, and 
such will no doubt be quickly called for, these manifest blots will 
be eliminated. 
INFLUENCE OF COCAINE, ATROPINE AND CAFFEINE ON THE 
_ Heart anp Broop-vessets.—Dr. Beyer’s work was performed 
upon the terrapin after the most exact physiological methods. 
Cocaine added to calf’s blood supplied to the physiologically 
isolated heart first causes a slight quickening in the rhythm of the 
t and an increase in the amount of work done as measured by 
x 
