'A?i/rTi,mtM'}     Reviews  and  Bibliographical  Notices.  143 
The  essay  is  a  powerful  argument  against  vivisection,  and  attempts  to  prove 
that  it  is  neither  necessary  nor  justifiable  for  the  purposes  of  science.  In  an 
appendix  the  author  endeavors  to  disprove  the  arguments  of  Dr.  Carpenter,  one 
of  the  judges,  against  the  position  taken  by  him  (the  author).  A  further  appen- 
dix quotes  the  argument  against  vivisection  made  by  Professor  H.  J.  Bigelow, 
M.D.,  in  his  address  on  "  Medical  Education  in  America/'  which  we  noticed  in 
our  last  volume. 
It  appears  to  us,  that  many  problems  ate  to  be  solved  connected  with  physi- 
ology and  other  branches  of  medical  science,  in  the  investigation  of  which  vivi- 
section cannot  be  avoided.  See  the  paper  published  on  page  115. of  this  num- 
ber, on  the  absorption  of  mercurial  ointment.  &c. 
The  half  yearly  Abstract  of  the  Medical  Sciences,  being  a  digest  of  British  and 
Continental  Medicine,  and  of  the  Progress  of  Medicine  and  the  Collateral 
Sciences.  Edited  by  William  Domett  Stone',  M.D.  Vol.  L1V.  January, 
1872.    Philadelphia":  Henry  C.  Lea.    8vo.  292  pages. 
Braithvmite's  Retrospect  of  Practical  Medicine  and  Surgery.  Cart  LXIV; 
January.  Uniform  American  Edition.  New  York  :  W.  A.  Townsend.  8vo, 
331  pages. 
Half  yearly  Compendium  of  Medical  Scie7ice.  Part  IX.  January,  1872.  Phila- 
delphia :  S.  W.  Butler,  M.D,    8vo.    308  pages. 
The  above  three  publications  contain  the  usual  selections  and  abstracts  of 
papers  on  medical  and  surgical  subjects,  published  during  the  preceding  six 
months. 
T'"'  Hhutoated  Annual  of  Phrenology  and  Physiognomy  for  1872.  By  S.  li. 
Wells,  editor  of  the  Phrenological  Journal  and  Life  Illustrated.  New  York. 
12mo.,  72  p.    Price  25  cents. 
It  contains  short  essays  written  in  a  popalar  style,  on  subjects  indicated  by 
its  title. 
Fireside  Science.  A  series  of  popular  scientific  essays  upon  subjects  connected 
with  every-day  life.  By  James  R.  Nichols,  A.  M.,  M.  D.  New  York  :  pub- 
lished by  Hurd  &  Houghton.    1872.    283  pages. 
This  handsome  volume  contains  twenty-three  essays,  most  of  which  have  ap- 
peared in  the  columns  of  the  "  Boston  Journal  of  Chemistry,''  but  have  been 
revised  and  partly  re-written  before  publishing  them  in  their  present  garb.  The 
aim  of  the  author,  to  present  some  of  the  facts  of  science  in  their  bearing  upon 
hygiene,  the  arts,  agriculture,  &c,  in  a  way  to  interest  and  instruct  Ihose  who 
gather  by  the  fireside,  and  those  who  labor  in  the  workshop  and  the  field,  has 
been  successfully  carried  out,  abstract  reasonings  and  technicalities  being  care- 
fully avoided,  while  on  the  other  hand  the  statements  are  presented  in  a  brief, 
natural  and  lucid  manner,  which  is  sure  to  interest  the  intelligent  reader.  Oc- 
casionally the  descriptions  are  very  graphic;  the  paper,  "Among  the  Coal 
Miners,"  for  instance,  cannot  fail  to  be  specially  appreciated  by  those  who  have 
passed  up  the  picturesque  valley  of  the  Lehigh  to  enter  into  the  valley  of  the 
Susquehannah  below  Wilkesbarre,  although  it  can  scarcely  do  justice  to  the 
beauties  presented  at  every  step,  notwithstanding  the  scenery  is  depicted  with 
evident  delight. 
