3 00 Analyses of Boohs. [May, 
The question here arises, why do the continents appear to 
begin at the North Pole in preference to the South ? Has the 
bulk of the dry land always existed in the Northern Hemisphere 
and the bulk of the ocean in the Southern ? Or have we here a 
case of alternate fluctuation, as suggested by Adhemer and 
others ? We do not know that the compatibility or incompati- 
bility of this hypothesis with the phenomena of organic distri- 
bution has ever been exhaustively studied. 
The Mason College Magazine. Vol. II., No. 2. Birmingham : 
Cornish Bros. 
We notice here a very important address on the “ Progress of 
Chemistry,” delivered by Prof. Tilden at the Inaugural Meeting. 
After a survey of the rise and progress of the science, and after 
noticing the modern pre-eminence of Germany in chemical re- 
search, the speaker asserted that “ England is now in a fair way 
to retrieve her fallen fortunes. Abundance of good work is being 
done. ... In the matter of instruction we are very little behind 
the Germans, and we are very rapidly gaining upon them.” He 
then enumerates the college laboratories which have been 
ereCted and fitted up of late years. He continues : — “ We have 
all these opportunities of teaching and learning chemistry, and 
yet we are not satisfied. What more do we want ? ” His reply 
is good as far as it goes, but imperfeCt, the main point being 
omitted. He answers : — “ Among other things we want more 
money for material and appliances, more students, more leisure 
for the professors, more sympathy from the governing bodies in 
our work alike of teaching and research, more intelligent recog- 
nition of the usefulness of chemical knowledge by chemical 
manufacturers.” But is this the sum-total of our deficiencies ? 
Prof. Tilden himself shall supply the answer, though he fails 
fully to see it. He says : — “ If we go into the iron- and steel- 
works of the North of England, into the dye-houses and print- 
works of Yorkshire and Lancashire, mto the alkali-works of St. 
Helens and on the Tyne, we find the laboratories literally swarm- 
ing with Germans, who are holding the situations which ought 
to be occupied by Englishmen. How long this state of things is 
to exist is a question which is entirely within the power of young 
English chemists to determine.” 
We have no need to point out what a fearful indictment the 
lecturer has here drawn up against the Science and Art Depart- 
ment. But we must ask ourselves whether it is within the power 
of young English chemists to render this invasion of aliens 
henceforth impracticable ? To do this we must glance at the 
