KEYIEWS. 
291 
The author’s observations on table-turning are also of intense interest, for 
he does not simply give his own opinions on the subject, but he quotes a 
number of passages — many pages of them — from the several writers on the 
subject, and then he shows the utter absurdity of the propositions laid 
down. Those who are interested in this subject cannot do anything better 
than read Dr. Carpenter’s treatise, for therein they will find abundant 
testimony from both English and American writers on the subject of table- 
turning, while they will also find the assertions of the spiritualists examined 
in a perfectly fair manner, and shown to be all of them perfectly worthless 
as scientific statements. Indeed, we have never known a case of belief in 
table-turning which was not satisfactorily exposed and done away with 
when Professor Faraday’s apparatus was employed, and the supposed 
inaction demonstrated to be positive and active movement. 
In every other of the chapters of this book the author is not less lucid 
in his mode of exposing error, nor less exact in his display of facts and 
arguments tending to the elucidation of complex mental phenomena. 
Indeed, if there is an error anywhere, it is in the abundant examples which 
his writing affords of views which few scientific men would take upon 
themselves to refute. But in these lies a large amount of interest, and by 
taking them in hand Dr. Carpenter has, one would think, satisfied even the 
most bitter and least learned of his opponents. In giving Dr. Ferrier’s views 
in an appendix at the end of the volume, we do not know that he has done 
wisely, for after all Dr. Carpenter’s book is one addressed to the general world, 
and Dr. Ferrier’s experiments are only those which, in the present phase of 
the subject, are adapted to such a place as the “ Philosophical Transactions.” 
And we say this not from any want of admiration for the originality of 
Dr. Ferrier’s most important investigations, but from the view that his 
results are as yet but incompletely founded, and that they must be re- 
peated many times before they are sufficiently admitted to allow of the 
conclusions which have been drawn from them being firmly established. 
However, this is a matter of very slight importance, and it can in no way 
affect our criticism of Dr. Carpenter’s essay, which we consider in every 
respect worthy of the reputation of its author. 
DAEWIN’S CORAL REEFS.* 
W E regret very much being unable to offer a full notice of Mr. Darwin’s 
last work, as it did not reach us till towards the last week in 
June. We must therefore content ourselves with a very brief account of 
this, the second edition of a most remarkable essay which first made its 
appearance — before Mr. Darwin was known to the general public — in the 
year 1842 ; reserving till our next number a more full account of this, 
* “ The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs.” By Charles 
Darwin, M.A., F.R.S. With three Plates. 2nd edition, revised. London : 
Smith, Elder, & Co., 1874. 
¥ 2 
