INTERNAL SCIENTIFIC SERIES. VOL. LIII.
The Mammalia in their Relation to Primeval Times. By Oscar Schmidt. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Pp. 808, with Fifty-one Woodcuts. Price, $1.50.
This is the last work of the venerable Professor of Zoölogy in the University of Strasburg, the news of his death having arrived since its publication. That there has been a great advance in recent years of our knowledge of the mammalia, especially in relation to primeval conditions, is well known, and Dr. Schmidt in this volume has very ably summarized the most important results of recent research in this field. He published, some years ago, a volume in this series entitled "Doctrine of Descent and Darwinism," which has met with much favor as a contribution to modern philosophical biology. The present book is on the same line of exposition, and is offered by the author as a supplement, rounding up the discussion, while, at the same time, it has the character of a separate treatise. The author says: "It will be found to contain proofs of the necessity, the truth, and the value of Darwinism as the foundation for the theory of descent within a limited field, and is brought down to the most recent times. Within these limits the work is complete in itself; for, although the student of natural history may have become acquainted with interesting fragments of the actual science, still the subject has not before been presented in so comprehensive a manner or in so convenient a form."
Protection versus Free-Trade. The Scientific Validity and Economic Operation of Defensive Duties in the United States. By Henry M. Hoyt. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Pp. 435. Price, $2.
The late official head of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Governor Hoyt, has here elaborated a pretty solid book on the general subject of freedom and restriction in commerce. The author is a protectionist, and has written his volume in the interest of that party. Its tone is controversial and lively, whatever may be said of its arguments, and the adherents of the "Pennsylvania System" will be sure to get great comfort out of its perusal. Governor Hoyt is an antagonist of free trade, and, as free trade is grounded in the principles of political economy. Governor Hoyt is also the antagonist of political economy; that is, a large portion of his book is devoted to discrediting the "so-called science" of wealth. As we understand the Governor, he seems to think that, so far as men's exchanges of property arc concerned, this world was made much too big. It should have been limited, if not to the boundaries of Pennsylvania, then certainly to the boundaries of the United States; and he thinks, too, our policy should be to correct this blunder in world-making by ignoring anything outside these national limits. His idea appears to be that foreign trade is not profitable, and that we can make more money by being shut in among ourselves and ignoring all other nations. The key to the philosophy of his book is found in its concluding words, which arc these, given with the emphasis of italics: "The nearer we come to organizing our competing industries as if we were the only nation on the planet, the more we shall make and the more we shall have to divide among the makers." The reason why it is necessary to break down "political economy" and get it out of the way is thus sufficiently apparent.
The Raising and Management or Poultry. Boston: Cupples, Upham & Co. Pp. 125.
This volume contains a phonographic report of the addresses and discussions that were had at two meetings of poultry experts, in connection with the series of Saturday Farmers Meetings, which were held in Boston May 7 and 14, 1885. The subjects specially considered pertain to the establishment of the best breeds; the qualities of each breed, as an egg and flesh producer; the care and profit of the stock; and the great and increasing value of the poultry interest to farmers and the country.
Scarlet Fever, and Certain Suggestions for its Treatment. By T. Griswold Comstock. M.D., of St. Louis. Pp. 19.
The author in this paper calls attention to certain therapeutical measures for the treatment of the disease, "which, if not entirely new to some of the profession, are but little used by many, and nevertheless are of great value."
