Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 40.djvu/287

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LITERARY NOTICES.
275

physical sense, but as condensed, emphatic utterances of the theological truth—in this case of God the Creator—which in the mind of the author predominates over the scientific truth. The labors of modern geologists do not affect the truths, before announced, in regard to the creation of the world, for the simple reason that they refer not to the workman, but to the physical characters of the work. "This distinction now begins to be understood, and will be so more and more, as the truths of religion and the truths of science are seen to be of different orders, sometimes apparently blended, but never actually confounded. . . . Three thousand years ago or upward, Theology in the Eastern world stood unconfounded with science, and men heard from her, and were satisfied with the response; that 'in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth'—that 'God said, Let there be light, and there was light '; and they heard the number of the days of creation also, and were satisfied; and similarly, in our times, it may be affirmed that Science stands on her own ground, unoccupied by theology, and expounds facts and establishes conclusions, no longer fearing or being feared; and men are now, in regard to science, what they used to be in regard to religion—free and unembarrassed, serving bat one master. And this is the more worthy of observation when we recollect the history of the intervening period—how science has been confounded with religion, and religion with science, to the detriment and dishonor of both. . . . It is only when each pursues that order and series of truths which are peculiar to each that any mutual benefit can arise; but, when they encroach on each other's provinces, the most baleful effects ensue." The presentation of this branch of the subject, and the chapters on The Origin and Perpetuation of the Natural Races of Mankind, and Unity in Variety of the Human Race, are followed by studies of certain particular nationalities.

An Introduction to Natural Philosophy. By Denison Olmsted, LL. D. Fourth revised edition, by Samuel Sheldon, Ph. D. New York: The Baker & Taylor Company. Pp. 465. Price, $2.75.

It is nearly half a century since Olmsted's Philosophy was first published, and although the progress of modern knowledge in this period has made four revisions necessary, the name and plan of the author arc still deemed worthy of being retained. For the present revision the whole book has been carefully gone over, the chief efforts of the editor being spent in rewriting the parts treating of Electricity and Magnetism. The subjects Force, Energy, Work, Wave-motions, Organ-pipes, Spectrum Analysis, and Interference of Light-waves have also been almost entirely rewritten. Extended description of apparatus has been avoided. A few striking experiments have been described, but the choice of demonstration has been left largely to the instructor. Many new drawings, chiefly in outline, have been made. The work is adapted to college students. It would be improved by the addition of an alphabetical index.

The Chapters on Electricity, written by Prof. Samuel Sheldon for the above treatise, are also published separately (Baker & Taylor Company, $1.25). This volume is intended for use in those colleges which devote but thirty or forty hours to the subject, and the principles presented in it are those which the author thinks every liberally educated person should know. It has been the desire of the author to present each part of the subject in its most modern dress. This desire, however, has been tempered by a consideration of the intended functions cf the book.

Chemistry of the Carbon Compounds, or Organic Chemistry. By Victor von Richter. Authorized translation by Edgar F. Smith. Second American from the sixth German edition. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston, Son & Co. Pp. 1040. Price, $3.

This work is sufficiently detailed to meet the wants of advanced students of organic chemistry, and to serve as a reference-book for practical chemists. The present edition differs considerably in its arrangement and size from the first edition. The introduction contains added matter upon analysis, the determination of molecular weights, recent theories on chemical structure, electric conductivity, etc. The section devoted to the carbohydrates has been entirely rewritten, and presents the most recent views in regard to their constitution. The sections relating to the trimethylene, tetramethylene, and penta-