REVIEWS. 
261 
paring it with the enduring contraction which is the result of the action of 
rapid alternate currents of electricity. Certainly the phenomena are analo- 
gous, hut by no means identical. The author states that warmth and 
internal motion exist in the muscles during tetanus, but this is not new, for 
ruptured fibres have been seen under the microscope for the last forty years. 
Then we are told that the absolute force in the human muscle is equal to six 
to eight kilogrammes. We presume that the author means energy. But 
there is a struggle between common sense and physics in the calculation. 
Weber proved by experiment that the whole force (energy ?) of the calf 
muscles of man, of both legs, 1 is greater than the weight of the body.’ 
How can a child raise itself on its toes and jump up in the air if this is not 
true ? 
The author states that it is easy to show that chemical processes occur 
within the muscles, but that our knowledge of the chemical constituents is 
very incomplete. He explains Helmholtz’s experiments to prove that mus- 
cular contraction produces warmth, — rather a work of supererogation. The 
rigor mortis is put down to the coagulation of some liquid in the living 
muscle and to the formation of an acid. The book is full of illustrations of 
different methods of demonstrating the relations of electricity and muscular 
action, and it is to be feared that if it is carefully studied people will not care 
much about having to take the useless trouble of explaining vital pheno- 
mena by those of pure physics. 
THE BRAIN.* 
T HIS is a book which ought to be in every library, for it is full of good 
facts and solid physiology, and contains many interesting hypotheses. It 
treats first of the nervous systems of the Invertebrata, and considers the data 
concerning the human brain which are derived from the study of them ; and 
then the brains of fishes, amphibia, reptilia, and birds, are considered in rela- 
tion to reflex action, sensation, ideation, and perception. Instinct is considered 
nascent reason also. After dealing with the nervous centres of the higher 
Vertebrates, Dr. Bastian considers their mental capacities and the relation 
of brute and human intelligence. There is a capital chapter on ‘ Phrenology 
Old and New/ and the book ends with a discussion of the problems relating 
to the localization of higher cerebral functions. It is a well-written work, 
and worthy of the reputation of the author. 
* The Brain as an Organ of Mind. By H. Charlton Bastian, M.A., 
M.D., F.R.S. 184 Illustrations, pp. 708. The International Science Series, 
Vol. XXIX. 8vo. London : C. Kegan Paul & Co. 1880. 
