5^8 
Notices of Books. 
[October, 
what Mr. Edison’s invention will accomplish in the future, and 
the extract from a particularly popular article in “ Scribner’s 
Monthly,” are hardly worthy of a place in a serious scientific book. 
As a piece of scientific exposition Chapter XI., on Quadruplex 
Telegraphy, is undoubtedly the best in the book, and is a tan- 
talising proof of Mr. Prescott’s ability to treat of such subjects. 
It is certainly the most thorough description of the wonderful 
improvements which have lately been made in multiplex tele- 
graphy which we have yet met with. 
Electric call-bells and the eleCtric light receive attention in the 
two last chapters of the book. The last subjeCt might, however, 
have been treated of at greater length, seeing the attention it is 
attracting in London and Paris. We should have been glad, 
for instance, to have heard more of Mr. Farmer’s method of ob- 
taining a number of lights from a single source, by using thin 
strips of platinum or indium, and raising their temperatures to 
a point slightly below that of melting. 
The Index is far too small for a work containing so much 
matter. 
In the chapters which are due to Mr. Prescott’s pen alone, he 
proves to us with what lucidity he can treat a scientific subject. 
The work contains over two hundred woodcuts, most of them 
of great beauty, and many of them far beyond anything that has 
yet been accomplished by our English wood-engravers in the 
way of scientific illustrations. Mr. Prescott also adopts the ex- 
cellent plan of repeating a cut whenever it is necessary, instead 
of worrying the reader by frequent cross references. The gene- 
ral “ get up ” of the book is fully worthy the reputation of the 
firm by which it is issued. 
