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Chambers’s house and used to try experiments on "thegirls" in electro-biology, otherwise hypnotism. These ex-

periments were, however, says Lady Priestley, nothing tothose which Simpson used to try with chloroform. Simpson,"with some of the liquid simply poured on a handkerchiefwould have half a dozen of us lying about in various stagesof sleep. Our mother feared nothing." Later in life the

Priestleys became very intimate with Pasteur and his wifeand they had a considerable share in making his work

appreciated in this country.Among other interesting people with whom Lady Priestley

came in contact was Mrs. Loudon, the widow of J. C.

Loudon, the botanist and writer on agriculture. He must

have been a man of iron will, for Lady Priestley relates howowing to rheumatic ankylosis and a subsequent fracture ofthe humerus which did not unite he found the affected arm

so in the way that he determined to have it amputated.When the day came the arm was amputated (there were noanesthetics in those days), and after the stump had beendressed he was about to step downstairs, as a matter ofcourse, to go on with his business." He was only persuadedwith great difficulty to go to bed.Loudon was the hero of the delightful story of the

Waterloo Beeches, which as Lady Priestley does not mentionit, we will, to quote the immortal Mr. Barlow, "now proceedto narrate." One day when Wellington was sitting in theHouse of Lords he received a note from Loudon to the

following effect:-MY LORD DUKE,—It would gratify me extremely if you would

permit me to visit Strathfieldsaye at any time convenient to yourGrace, and to inspect the " Waterloo Beeches."

Your Grace’s faithful servant,J. C. LOUDON.

The Waterloo Beeches," we may add, were those plantedjust after the battle as a memorial. Wellington read theletter twice over and misread the signature as C. J. London.He then replied as follows :-My DEAR BisHop OF LONDON,—It will always give me great pleasure

to see you at Strathfieldsaye. Pray come there whenever it suits yourconvenience, whether I am at home or not. My servant will receiveorders to show you as many pairs of breeches of mine as you wish; butwhy you should wish to inspect those that I wore at the battle ofWaterloo is quite beyond the comprehension of

Yours most truly,WELLINGTON.

When My Dear Bishop of London " (C. J. Blomfield)received this epistle he was not unnaturally somewhat

astonished. He showed it to the Archbishop of Canterburyand the other Bishops, who were as much exercised by it as ifit had been an Education Bill. The Bishop of London saidthat he had not written to the Duke for two years. How-

ever, explanations eventually came about and the mysterywas cleared up.We will take our leave of Lady Priestley’s book by saying

that if anyone is tired of the burning questions of the day hewill find relief and mental refreshment in reading this

pleasantly told chronicle of an age which has gone for ever.

LIBRARY TABLE.

The Truth and Error of Christian Science. By M. CARTASTURGE. London: John Murray. 1908. Pp. 185. Price2s. 6d. net. -The general nature of the claims of " ChristianScience," more especially in regard to the efficacy of mentalhealing, is fairly well known, but the reasoning or philosophyon which these claims are based, as set forth in the writingsof Mrs. Eddy, is probably less familiar. Miss Sturge, afterlong, sympathetic, and patient study of the published bookson the subject, and after association with some of the

genuine followers of the cult, has subjected the statementsand views of "Christian Scientists" to a logical analysis andto a temperate and unbiassed criticism. The labour involvedmust have been considerable, since she has been at special

pains to discover the general principles and to expressthem clearly ; whereas the writings of Mrs. Eddy aboundin contradictions and are generally lacking in sequence.Miss Sturge points out that those statements ofthe Christian Scientists " which are true present no

novelty, but are such as are generally taught inChristian doctrines or are affirmed by philosophers.The inconsequential character of Mrs. Eddy’s deduc-tions is well illustrated by Miss Sturge in a brief epitomeof the chief doctrines of "Christian Science." From themain principle that All is God is reduced the generalisa-tion that All is Mind, and further that mind alone is real.Matter is therefore regarded as non-existent, and the entirematerial world is the creation of what Mrs. Eddy callsMortal Mind, whatever that may be, for Miss Sturge is un-able to find a coherent definition of it. Since the material

world is a delusion our bodies are non-existent and disease

is therefore equally a delusion, although, curiously enough, asMiss Sturge points out, there must be a condition of bodilyhealth, since Mrs. Eddy’s book, " Science and Health,"has for its object to teach us how to maintain it. The

subject of "mental healing" is considered at some lengthand in this connexion the importance of suggestion as atherapeutic agent in appealing to some of the subconsciousor subliminal activities of mind is emphasised, althoughMiss Sturge indicates that she does not mean to imply that"Christian Scientists" may not draw power from some higheror spiritual planes, as they claim to do, but the onus certainlylies with them to establish the proof of this. We can

commend this small book as a thoroughly temperate andcritical exposure of the glaring inconsistencies and

exaggerated claims of this strange modern form of

mysticism.Landmarks and Surface Markings of the Human Body. By

Louis BATHE RAWLING, M.B., B. C. Cantab., F. R. C. S. Eng.,Assistant Surgeon, Demonstrator of Practical and OperativeSurgery, late Senior Demonstrator of Anatomy, at St.Bartholomew’s Hospital; late Assistant Surgeon to the

German Hospital, Dalston ; late Hunterian Professor,Royal College of Surgeons of England, &c. Third edition.London: H. K. Lewis. 1908. With 31 illustrations. Pp. 96.Price 5s. net.-The demand for this little book havingnecessitated the publication of a third edition the authorhas taken the opportunity of increasing its value by theaddition of several illustrations. He has wisely refrainedfrom altering the text which therefore remains the same asin the previous edition. The new illustrations besides beingwell conceived are beautifully executed and materially assistin elucidating the text. The book as it stands fills a long-felt want and we wish it a continuance of the success whichit has so deservedly gained.A Synopsis of Surgery. By ERNEST W. HEY GROVES,

M.S., M.D., B.Sc. Lond., F.R.C.S. Eng., Assistant Surgeonto the Bristol General Hospital; Surgeon to the CosshamHospital ; Senior Demonstrator of Anatomy at the UniversityCollege, Bristol. Bristol: J. Wright and Sons, Limited.

1908. Pp. 486. Price 7s. 6d. net.-Nearly every studentwho has read a text-book of surgery feels the need as his

examination draws near for some way of revising his know-ledge, and for such a one this book should prove useful. It

appears to-contain all that is necessary in a synopsis and thephraseology is not too condensed. No synopsis should beused in place of a treatise on surgery, for the explana-tions are necessarily omitted or very brief, but such a

book as this may legitimately be employed for revisingknowledge. So far as we have examined it, it is accurate,but a few misprints occur, such as " bacillus coli commune.’’The final chapter on Surface Markings is likely to proveuseful.