98 
POPULAE SCIENCE EEVIEW. 
seen associated with any scientific results, has undertaken the labour of ex- 
plaining all the phenomena which our universe presents. 
Far be it from us to endeavour to follow him through the mystic and extra- 
ordinary process of reasoning which he has adopted. The mental Exertion 
requisite for such an undertaking would be far beyond our poor allotment of 
brain-power. We must therefore relinquish the experiment to those of our 
readers who are possessed of the necessary amount of courage. Tlie book may 
be really a clever one ; indeed, our scepticism as to our own abilities to 
appreciate it leads us to think that it must be a very valuable and hnportant 
production ; but to our unassisted observation it is an embodiment of that 
much-hackneyed quotation, “ Vox et prceterea nihiV’ 
The author has not confined himself to the study of natural objects, as the 
following selected passages from his treatise will adequately prove ; — •“ In the 
body, we have a complex organism of physiorganic and industrial forces^ facul- 
ties, or organs ; in the soul, we have a complex organism of physiinstinctual and 
artistic forces and faculties ; in the mind, a complex organism of physiomental 
and scientific forces and faculties ; in the spirit, a complex organism of physio- 
moral and social passions and emotions. Not four unities, hut one unity, in 
four different aspects of life ; four partially discreet organisms in one atomic 
indivisible molecule or integrality 
A very excitable reviewer might feel inclined to comment severely on the 
above passage. Our disposition is exceedingly mild and gentle ; so the small 
amount of irritation it has generated may be expended in the following 
quotation, — 
‘ Pol. What read you, my Lord ? 
Ham. Words ; words ; words ; 
Pol. But the matter, my Lord ? ” 
THE CHEMICAL PKOCESSES OF THE PHARMACOPOEIA.* 
T his is an excellent little book, containing clearly-stated and accurate 
explanations of the various processes described in the Pharmacopoeia 
for the preparation of medicines. It has been written by a gentleman who 
is, we believe, himself practically conversant with all the reactions described 
in his volume, and we must candidly confess, that from what we have read of 
it, it appears to us to be the most lucid and, at the same time, the tersest and 
most useful companion for the practical pharmaceutist.’ 
VALUE OF WROUGHT IRON.f 
I N this work the distinguished author advocates very strongly the employ- 
ment of wrought-iron beams instead of the cumbersome materials of 
cast iron now in general use. He has brought both practical and mathematical 
arguments to his aid, and by the assistance also of a number of very well- 
* “ The Chemical Processes of the British Pharmacopoeia,” &c. By Henry 
J. Church, M.P.S. London : Hardwicke. 1864. 
t “ Researches on the Application of Cast and Wrought Iron to Building 
Purposes.” By W. Fairbairn, C.E., F.R.S., &c. Third edition. London : 
Longman & Co. 1864. 
