JUNE 13, 1884.] 
individual and family; for Mr. Galton, more 
than any one else, has brought home to us the 
fact of our close dependence upon our ances- 
tors for our traits of body, mind, and character. 
Mr. Galton’s two small volumes provide most 
admirably for the facts in individual cases. 
The thicker of the two, the life-history album, 
will undoubtedly be the most widely used. It 
provides for the systematic record of the prin- 
cipal facts which may serve to indicate the 
constitutional character and the course of 
development of an individual from birth to 
seventy-five years of age. Directions, admir- 
able in clearness and simplicity, are prefixed 
to the volume. The first of the blank tables 
that follow is for a brief genealogical record ; 
the second, for the description of the child at 
birth. The remainder of the record is divided 
into five yearly periods. For each period the 
headings and blanks are repeated, so that 
the same qualities may be traced through all 
their changes. The data to be entered are of 
four kinds: first, physical characteristics, the 
stature, complexion, acuteness of the senses, 
etc. ; second, other peculiarities, bodily endur- 
ance, recent trial of mental power, artistic 
capacity, resemblance to relatives; third, 
photographs in profile and full face; fourth, 
any other observations, including especially 
the full medical history. ‘There are also charts 
on which to record graphically the growth ; 
and these charts also give the curves of aver- 
age growth for males and females. At the 
end of the volume are a few pages for records 
of the wife (or husband) and children. An 
appendix gives tests for vision. 
Only those having experience can appreci- 
ate the study and thought which have been 
expended upon this remarkable album, — the 
product of a noble and wise philanthropy. 
Parents who earnestly desire their children’s 
welfare will gradually learn to recognize the 
necessity of profiting by Mr. Galton’s guidance 
in preserving a knowledge of their children’s 
lives, for the plan which he has formulated can 
hardly be improved at present. Such knowl- 
edge is valuable to the child, not only as indicat- 
ing its constitutional tendencies, but also often 
as giving warning of incipient disease, and as 
SCIENCE. 
735 
revealing the influence of change in residence, 
occupation, diet, or habits, upon health. More 
valuable still will the accurately kept album be 
when the child becomes a parent. 
‘‘ For mental and physical characteristics, as well as 
liabilities to disease, are all transmitted more or less 
by parents to their children. ... The world is begin- 
ning to perceive that the life of each individual is 
in some real sense a prolongation of those of his 
ancestry. His character, his vigor, and his disease 
are principally theirs. . . . The life-histories of our 
relatives are, therefore, more instructive to us than 
those of strangers: they are especially able to fore- 
warn and encourage us, for they are prophetic of our 
own futures.”’ 
The thinner volume is designed especially to 
further the science of heredity by gathering 
histories of families. Itis arranged to contain 
brief records of the principal traits, bodily and 
psychic, of a person, and the person’s parents, 
oerand-parents, great-grand-parents, and chil- 
dren. ‘Those who are able to do so, can render 
a valuable service, not only to themselves, but 
also to knowledge, by filling out accurately a 
record of their family faculties, and transmit- 
ting a duplicate to Mr. Galton, who will use it 
as a confidential document for statistical pur- 
poses only. That he will draw most valuable 
deductions from such materials, those who know 
his earlier researches are convinced beforehand. 
The album of family faculties has the same gen- 
eral plan and excellences, and deserves the 
same general praise, as the life-album. 
Of the laws of heredity, but little is really 
known; but, when they are better and more 
generally understood, a great revolution must 
ensue in human society. Mr. Galton is laying 
the foundation of a thorough knowledge of 
heredity ; and, because imagination hastens to 
conceive the future changes that may result, 
we are inclined to designate Mr. Galton’s two 
recent publications as the most important 
books of the year. But in such matters, 
wisdom may be boldness in theory, but must 
be conservatism in practice: therefore let us 
diligently gather knowledge of heredity, and 
meanwhile postpone the anticipated revolution. 
To all persons we earnestly recommend the 
faithful use of the two volumes we have re- 
viewed. © 
INTELLIGENCE FROM AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC STATIONS. 
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS. 
U. 8. geological survey. 
Fulgurite from Oregon. — During Mr. Diller’s re- 
connoissance of the Cascade Range in the summer of 
1883, Mr. E. E. Hayden collected from the summit 
of Mount Thielson, one of the sharpest and most pre- 
cipitous peaks in the Cascade south of the Columbia, 
specimens of fulgurite, the product resulting from the 
