The New York herald., 1878-09-23
LITERATURE.
SCIENTIFIC MEMOIRS.

SCIENTIFIC MEMOIRS.
| DR.. John W. Draper's long expected volume OF sci
entihc memoirs has last been published by Harper
Brothers Dr. Draper, as Is well known, has devoted
nearly halt century 10 the experimental nvestiga-
tion OF scentihc topics. the results of which have
been published in various journals, and among the
transactions OF learned societies they have been
largely disseminated In European languages, and
many OF the conclusions they have presented have
been admitted into tho accepted body OF scientific
knowledge 1t is these scattered memoirs that have
been coecIcd into the limits OF ono imposing
volume There has been considerable wedding out and
condensng. and the present book includes only such
as are connected with effects radiations OF
radiant energy. Among many other subjects treated
OF in these pages the reader will find an invesiiga-
ton of tho temperature which bodies become red
hot the OF the light they emit ut different de-
grees the connection between their condition as
TO vibration ana heat 1t Is shown that ienited
solids yield spectrum that Ia continuous not inter-
ruplsd. DR.. Draper showed that the liked lines
might be photographed, doubled their number and
found other at the red end Of the spectrum
The facts thus discovered he applied In an nvestiga
ton OF the nature OF fame and the condition Of the
SUMS surface He showed that under certain crcum-
stances rays antngonize other in their chemical
effect and that the difiracton spectrum has great
advantage over the prismatic which is necessarily
distorted Tho pages offered this volume represent
u very large amount oi work. ''Sometimes" says
the author, 't costs many days to determine fact
that can be stated in line. Such publication,
therefore, he continues, 'assumes the character of
an autobiography since IL is essentially daily narra
tive the occupation Of It's author" In his preface
Dr. Draper gives little sketch OF his career, which
will probably be as new TO our readers as IL has
proved interesting 10
In carly lite had felt strong desire devote my
sell The experimental STUDY OF nature; and hap
peaing TO see glass containing some camphor, por
| lions OF which had caused ia very
beautiful yGtals on the Illuminated side, was
duced to read everything could obtain respecting
the chemical and mechanical influences Of ugni, ad-
neson and capillary attraction. Experiments soon
made IN with these topics are descrb in
| these memoirs. Some OF them used u tues is ior
degree OF Doctor Medicine In the University OF
| Peonsyivnnia MY thoughts were thus directed to
physiological studies ana puoiisDed papers
topics in the american Journal Of Medical Science Inc
pointed, IN 1885, Professor 0f Chemistry Physol-
Ogy In Hampden sidney College. Virginia, an appoint
ment which enabled me to convert experimental in-
vestigatiou, thus far only an amusement into the ap
| proprate occupation OF my life.
Several Of the memoirs contained In this volume
were composed at that time. 10 them indebted,
without any application on my part, Tor appoint
mont 10 the Profess orship OF Chemistry and Pnysol
| / pub!ish work the forces that produce the
organization of plants. The lectures physiology
gave that time improved from year 10 year, and
II length published them treatise phys
| ioiogy. 1t was very favorably received by the
| Profession
| Among new experiments and explorations on phys
| biological subjects contained IN that book may bs
OF the coagulaton OF BLOOD theory OF the circulation
Of the blood, explanation OF the How OF sap. endos
mosis through thin hlms, measure OF tho force Of
osm oss respiration OF hshes, action OF the organic
muscle bres OF the lungs allolropism Of Irving
TENS, observations on the action OF tue skin,
functions vesices and their electrical analo
gies function OF tho sympathetic nerve, explanation
OF certain parts Of the auditory apparatus partcu
arly or the cochlea and seui-circuiar canals; the
theory OF visiop the theory of muscular contraction
From the study ofindivdual man IL Is but step 10
the consideration OF MIN In his social relation, and
this accordingly, been done In the part OF
my work on physiology. But the subject being too
extensive be dealt with satisfactorily in that man.
ner published the materials that had collected In
separate book under the title OF "a History OF the In
teiiectuai Development Of Europe" The object OF
manly to point out that the intellectual pro-
gress OF nations proceeds IN the same the
In lellec,ual develop snt of the indvidual that tho
movement Of botn Is not tortuitous, but under the
dominion OF law that the stages OF personal develop
ment are paralleled by the stages OF social develop
ment and, indeed, As palseontoogy has proved, by
the evolution 0i all animated nature; that there
ascent Of man through well-marxed spochs from the
This book was translated into many languages; in
some OF several editions Of II issued. Por-
tions OF II relating TO Mohammecan science were
| translated into ARABIC.
About this time circumstances led me to deliver
before tho New York Historicai Society course Of
lseiu,es American topics, considsred from q
| similar point Of view These were enlarged and pub
| oil America" This, like the preceding, was extern
siveiy translated ana circulated The train OF
more serious undertakings "Hstory OF tho Ameri-
Civil War;" which mad just then closed. To this,
was no.sa sSi oy .ne earnest M s request Of
VINO very effectively aided me. had tho
inestimabls advantage OF enjoying the friendship
of many whose names have now become Illus
trious In connection with those times. rhe Sec-
rctary OF War gave me access TO the public docu-
ments Doth sides, and to him Indebted for
guidance In tho description Of many OF the most i'm
portans incidents aud the OF national policy.
TO generals had commanded In great battles and
/ Information
they alone could impsr, and IN like manner most
persons eminent In military aud civil fs 1t is often
said that the history of very great social
be correctly written by author
and that must wait until passions have subsidsd
and interests ceased Tor narrative Of the truth. hut
this is not SO. More depends on the impartality OF
tho writer than on tho deadeniog lapse OF time. The
best history will always be writ en- by who has
had the best opportunity OF getting at the fac,swno
has had the privilege Of the friendship personal
scquaintancs Of those VINO have been conspicuous In
tho eveuts
OF Europe without contemplating tho forces have
brought this continent TO It's present social condi-
uon-forces that have never ceased TO be Ia sotIve
opposition Under tne title OF 'As,ory OF the Con.
d Ct Of Religion and Sciences" endeavored TO de-
scribe their warfare This book has passed through
a great many editions In America and'England. II
has been translated into French, Spanish, German,
Russian, Italian, POLISH and servian. II nnds very
many readers IN Eastern Europe, and oil these
transatious several editions have been issued When
thus look back on the objects that have occupied my
attention 1 recognizes how they have been intercon-
nectsd each preparing the way Tor Its successor 1t
Is not true that TOR every person the OF 10
along the line OF least resistance, that this the
movement Of humanity Is like the movement OF ma
ternal bodies.
wo can only wish for Dr. Drspcrs new work the
success of Its predecessors. aud arc quito sure
that will this among all people who are inter.
ested In scientific progress
''pARIs ORIGINALS"
'Paris Originals" is n volume dealing with cnarac-
tsrs most OF whom are peculiar to the guy capital
The book Is written by A. Egmont Hake and Illus
rs,ed with slcnngs by Leon Richeton. Let us glance
through tho pages and what these originals arc.
to tho Drst place shsre Is the chonner The chiffon.