Abstract
IT may be doubted whether this bulky volume is of sufficient value to justify the immense amount of labour that must have been spent in its compilation. There are no less than 95,000 entries of important (and unimportant) historical events, classified geographically, chronologically, and according to their nature, so that the where, when and what of any event can be discovered. The volume is intended to be a universal history, a biographical dictionary, a geographical gazetteer and many other books combined; in short, an omniscient and international Domesday Book. The only parts with which we have any concern are the divisions of science and nature included among several other groups of events recorded for each of the seventy-nine geographical divisions, which are arranged in alphabetical order. Many of the entries appear vague and trivial, and some are misleading, if not actually incorrect. As instances of information which comes under one or other of these criticisms, the following may be cited:—1089, a widespread earthquake is felt; 1737, Dr. James Bradley discovers the variation (sic) of the earth's axis; 1783, Walker produces ice in summer by means of chemical mixtures; 1783, Herschel proves the binding (sic) rotary motion of the stars; 1787, quicksilver is frozen without the aid of snow or ice; 1827, the spectrum analysis is worked out by Herschel; 1848, William Lassell discovers the eight (sic) satellites of Saturn; 1852, Sir William Thompson (sic) discovers the dissipation of energy; 1861, Mr. Thompson, of Weymouth, photographs the bottom of the sea; 1867, nitrous oxide gas (laughing gas) is introduced; 1881, telephotography is invented by Shelford Bidwell; 1890, the bones of a hippopotamus are found imbedded in clay; and there are many others.
Cyclopedia of Classified Dates.
By Charles E. Little. Pp. vii + 1454. (New York and London: Funk and Wagnalls Co., 1900.)
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Cyclopedia of Classified Dates . Nature 61, 513 (1900). https://doi.org/10.1038/061513a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/061513a0