Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 49.djvu/875

Rh and the arguments are overlaid with much verbiage, and this makes the book very hard reading.

The Dictionary of Chemical Solubilities of Prof. Arthur M. Comey (Macmillan, $5) was an undertaking German in laboriousness and American in enterprise, and the finished volume is a monument of able and persevering effort. Although this work is nominally limited to the inorganic substances, exceptions have been made by iocluding in it CO2, CO, CS2, the carbonates, cyanides, ferrocyanides, etc. Prof. Comey acknowledges receiving much aid from the earlier dictionary of Prof. Storer, but he found the material that has accumulated since 1860, the limit of that work, to be far greater than that previously extant. Different results given by different observers have been set down in many cases, with the authority for each, as it would have been manifestly impossible to verify all such conflicting statements experimentally. Under each title the solubility of the substance in water is first given, the date being arranged chronologically in the longer articles. Then follow the specific gravities of the aqueous solutions, and also any data obtainable regarding their boiling points. Following this is the solubility of the substance in other solvents—first the inorganic acids, then alkali and salt solutions, and finally organic substances. While many of the rarer substances are disposed of in a couple of lines, some of the more important occupy several pages: thus ammonia has five and a fourth pages, glass over three and a half, potassium nitrate nearly as much, and sulphuric acid over four. In putting the material together many puzzling problems of nomenclature and arrangement had to be solved, but Dr. Comey's own practical sense has been supplemented by wise counsel, and when the user of the volume reflects that the dictionary plan can give the maximum of convenience only by sometimes disregarding logic and relationship he will agree that these questions have been well decided.

The University of the State of New York has issued Museum Bulletin 14 on the Geology of Moriah and Westport Townships, Essex County. Besides describing the general geology of these townships, this pamphlet gives the latest information on the important iron-ore deposits of that region, and reviews the probable hypotheses as to their origin. It contains a geologic map of the two townships, a map of Mineville iron region, and half-tone views of the mining district and sections of the ore bodies. The bulletin is mailed by the State Library on receipt of ten cents.

The Natural Science Association of Staten Island has performed a commendable service to local geography and history by publishing the collection of Staten Island Names, compiled by William T. Davis, and the accompanying map prepared by Charles W. Leng. Names for natural features of the island and the waters surrounding it, and for ferries, roads, and villages are included in the collection. With each name is given the location of the place to which it was applied, and in many cases a quotation from some old advertisement, deed, or map is added as authority. With some a legend connected with the place is inserted. The list makes a pamphlet of fifty-seven pages, which may be had for 50 cents from Arthur Hollick, secretary of the association, at New Brighton, N. Y.

A new and enlarged edition of Hypnotism, Mesmerism, and the New Witchcraft, by Ernest Hart, M. D., has been issued recently (Appletons, $1.50). The original edition was noticed fully in our number for October, 1893. Dr. Hart's general conclusions in regard to hypnotism are that it is very rarely useful for curative purposes, and is dangerous for platform performances and private amusement. In a new chapter entitled The Eternal Gullible, Dr. Hart gives the confessions of a professional "subject" who had appeared in performances with a number of well-known "professors" in London. An appendix contains some lively controversial letters contributed to the British press by Dr. Hart, Dr. Luys, and Prof. Sidgwick.

With this may be mentioned A Study in Hypnotism, by Sydney Flower, which is a story of a hypnotizer's courtship with one of his subjects (Psychic Publishing Co., Chicago).

Hypnotism and its Relation to Witchcraft, Ghostology, and Mind-cure is the subject of a lecture by J. H. Fisher, which is published as a pamphlet (Seymour & Muir Printing Co., Grand Rapids). Mr. Fisher expresses