Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 51.djvu/284

274 The law of the union of gases is extremely repugnant to the author; "even if proved by ten thousand mathematical calculations, it is yet a natural impossibility, because these calculations are based upon false axioms."

Under the head of the Universal Mechanism the laws of motion are discussed. The property of inertia in matter and the first law of motion are said to be "absolutely false," while the author promises to "entirely annihilate" the force of gravitation. Instead of these, he gives us centrality, "a power of conservation whose impulse is to keep an atom or a body in its peculiar state or form." Inertia is accordingly "nothing else than centrality holding each physical object in its chemical bond. . . . Centrality is an active force, while the force of motion is passive." Another argument is furnished to show that "chemical combination has only to do with the qualities of objects." Even if the laws of gravitation were correct, "it would be a natural impossibility that the moon should have an elliptical motion around the earth."

Those who prefer the idealistic to the scientific method of explaining the mysteries of the universe will find the book of interest.

The results of over two hundred experiments on phenomena connected with the X rays have been collected in a volume by Edward P. Thompson. The book is designed for students and workers in electricity, hence no attempt has been made to render it attractive to the general reader. Many of the experiments were made before Röntgen's famous discovery was announced, some dating back to the time of Faraday, so that those who made them of course had no idea of their connection with the X rays. Among the special points that the experiments bear upon are the action of a magnet on the cathode light, photo-electric dust figures, mutual repulsion of cathode rays in the discharge tube, behavior of cathode rays outside the discharge tube, effect of the X rays on various chemicals, and penetrating power of the X rays. We note the following well-known names among the investigators whose work appears in the volume: Faraday, Davy, J. J. Thomson, Crookes, Lenard, Röntgen, Edison, Tesla, and Lodge. The text is illustrated with a large number of reproductions of skiagraphs and other pictures.

The authors of Curiosities of Medicine have been working a very fruitful field, and doubtless could have gathered an even larger harvest. Although medical journals are constantly reporting curious cases of abnormal formation or of recovery after injury, the present volume appears to be the first systematic collection of such material. To the physician a knowledge of such cases may often be of service in indicating what hope there may be for ameliorating similar abnormal conditions that may occur in his practice. To the layman the collection is one of startling and often rather painful interest. Instances of children born joined together, of which the Siamese twins have long been the traditional type, are well represented. With these are classed persons with supernumerary limbs, heads, and other organs. Minor abnormities present a wonderful variety, including albinism, excessive hairiness and hairlessness, elastic skin, horny growths, large or small heads, harelip, congenital absence of limbs, deficient or supernumerary fingers and toes, tails, extra breasts, and malformations of the internal organs. Abnormal forms and functions in the generative organs afford a large volume of curious material. Celebrated giants and dwarfs and other anomalies of size furnish material for a chapter, and there is a group of records of extraordinary longevity. Idiosyncrasies with regard to sound, vision, smell, taste, touch, foods, drugs, etc., endurance of fasting, power of contorting the body, endurance of pain, supernormal strength, etc., make up a long list. Many cases of recovery from unusual forms of injury to various parts of the body are recorded here, and there is much interesting material under the head of anomalous types of disease. The concluding chapter is a record of historic epidemics. A full general index and a bibliographic index are