76 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
defective. That on medicine and medical statistics, by Dr. Aitken ; that on 
seismology, by Mr. Robert Mallet, F.R.S. ; that on botany, by Dr. J. D. 
Hooker, F.R.S. ; that on terrestrial magnetism, by Sir Edward Sabine, F.R.S. ; 
that on astronomy, by G. B. Airy, P.R.S. ; and that on hydrography, by 
Admiral G. H. Richards, F.R.S., are all excellent of their kind. But those 
on zoology, geography, ethnology, and some of the others, are not at all as 
advanced as we should like. In our opinion, the work is too small, and we 
cannot but believe that a larger and more important work on the same 
general plan would be of great advantage to the young medical man, whether 
in the army or navy. As the book is, it is a very capital one, and deserves 
great praise. In conclusion, we may mention that it is published by autho- 
rity of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. 
SHORT NOTICES. 
The Amateur's Flower-Garden , by Shirley Hibberd. London: Groom- 
bridge, 1871. Although we do not very much approve of the plans of 
arranging a garden which Mr. S. Hibberd suggests, we admit that we are 
in the minority, for the great mass of people adopt the plans, or something 
like them, which he recommends. This fact, and the circumstance that he 
gives abundant information about the garden and its plants, must contribute 
to make the present work a very popular one. It is essentially addressed 
to the amateur, and its numerous woodcuts and very excellent coloured life- 
size illustrations will, we doubt not, make it a very popular book. It is 
•elegantly turned out by the publishers. 
The Mysteries of the Vital Element, by Robert H. Collyer, M.D. 2nd 
edition. London : Renshaw, 1871. It is a pity that Dr. Collyer has 
written so much on the subject he has taken up. He writes to show us 
that he was really the discoverer of chloroform, but he has thoroughly 
mystified his case by the alarming amount of matter he has brought to bear 
upon it. Supposing we admit him to have been the discoverer, what then? 
If he had not been in existence, it would still have been discovered, and that, 
too, about the same time. Why did he not follow up his original discovery, 
instead of travelling about every part of the world. We give him the credit 
of discoverer; but we would ask him to go a little further, and deserve 
something better. We should not like to put down the multitude of deaths 
that have arisen from the use of chloroform. Dr. Collyer thinks he will do 
something with nitrous oxide. We hope he may, but we have not very 
much hope. It is useful for short operations, but we fear it can never be 
made safe for long and serious ones. 
Notes on Comparative Anatomy , by William Miller Ord, M.B., Assistant 
Physician to St. Thomas’s Hospital. London : Churchill, 1871. Dr. Ord 
proposes to divide this book into three parts, and to give one in each of 
three successive years. The plan is a good one, and likely to be attended 
with successful results. The work is essentially a syllabus of lectures, and 
for this reason is more a work for the lecturer than for his students. At all 
