186 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
immensely before this volume. Like one who does not understand tbe 
nature of bis task, be is led away by any great name. For instance, in tbe 
present volume, Professor Villemin is allowed to take up nearly one-sixtb 
of the space with an account of French anatomy and physiology, while 
there is hardly a line on German work, which is about six times as vast, and 
much more of which ought to be in this treatise. When we tell our readers that 
Dr. Dobell relates the progress which this country has made during a whole 
year in anatomy and physiology, normal and morbid, in chemistry, and the 
whole of the practice of medicine and surgery in about 200 pages, we have 
said enough to show the intense vanity and the extreme ignorance exhibited 
by such a scheme. The book has really very little value, save and except 
to the author, who, notwithstanding the advice we offered when the first 
volume appeared, seems still desirous of showing the world another one. 
Doubtless many medical men think it a really good book ; but those who are 
familiar with the real amount of work in the several departments, both at 
home and abroad, must regard it as the most imperfect, incomplete, and 
vain record of the labours of the profession. 
SCIENCE GOSSIP.* 
H ARDWICKE’S “ Science Gossip” has completed its sixth volume, and 
we must compliment its editor, Mr. M. C. Cooke, M.A., upon the result. 
Mr. Cooke has done good work, and the public appreciate his labours, as we 
are very glad to proclaim. Indeed, in this volume it is hard to see that anything 
is neglected which could interest the reader. Every conceivable subject in 
general natural history is dealt with, and that too well and fully, while at 
the same time those who care for 11 gossiping natural history ” will find it 
abundantly in the “ Notes and Queries,” which abound in interesting jottings 
about animals and plants. Of the many valuable and interesting papers, 
there are one or two to which we would call attention. One of them is 
called “ The Towing Net,” and is from the pen of Major Holland. It con- 
tains a miscellaneous store of knowledge, conveyed in a style most praise- 
worthy. We do not say that it is excessively scientific, but it is, we think, 
just the species of paper for “ Science Gossip.” Another very excellent 
paper is one entitled “ Eggs of Butterflies and Moths.” Unhappily the 
author’s name is not given ; but we cannot pass it by without noticing that 
it contains a mass of information, conveyed just as such knowledge should 
be conveyed. We have looked in vain for faults; all through the journal 
strikes us as a perfect one, and one which distances competition by the mar- 
vellous price at which it is published. 
* Hardwicke’s u Science Gossip.” An Illustrated Medium of Interchange 
and Gossip for Students and Lovers of Nature. Edited by M. C. Cooke, 
M.A. London : Hardwicke, 1871. 
