NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13105, 2 May 1908, Page 7

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

Probably on© of the best Trays of keeping in health is to -worry about it as little as possible, taking care at the samo time to live a simple, natural life. Nevertheless, we have to face the fact that even in a healthful country like New Zealand both these duties are ignored by a large number of people, -who suffer in consequence, and, who euaplj, want putting ia the .-right-way.

in order to taste £h© pleasure of an existence free from the boredom or being "out of sorts." For this reason ■we ■welcome the appearance of such a common-sense guide as Dr. Philip E. Muskett's latest book, entitled "The Attainment of Health and the Treatment of Diseases by Means of Diet." It is undoubtedly ti;ue, as stated by the author in the introduction, that tho colonists of Australia and.New Zealand, although they brought with them many excellent characteristics the Motherland which hare stood them in good stead, have adhered too rigidly to English food customs, and consequently have failed to bring about tho necessary harmony between their diet and tho climate. Indeed, in the matter of meat-eating they have outHeroded Herod. It is appalling to think that tho average Australian consumes over 2331b of meat (over 2cwt) per annum, as compared with 1091b per head in England, while the hardy Japanese content themselves with an average, consumption of 2Jlb per annum. To this huge surfeit of meat in Australia I>r. Muskett attributes the fact that Australia is a land teeming with constipation, fibrositis (muscular rheumatism), "goutiness," indigestion, livc-r disorders, rheumatism of tho joints and uric acid. To this wo may add that it is no wonder the vendors of quack medicines find in this part of the world their most profitable market. Dr. Muskett in the first place would have us reform the national constitution by cutting down> the quantity of food we consume and by replacing a good deal of the meat by fruit, .vegetables, and cereal*. Ho quotes with approval the statement of Sir A\ illiam Roberts that one generation of scientific diototics would produce an influence upon humanity second only to a new creation, of the race. In tne edso of tho;;o who are actually diseased ho shows tliat more is to he accomplished by a suitable diet and the application of conmvonsenso than by the administration, of useful as these iTOHjlit 1» in their place. One very useful hint which is probabiy worhh the price of the book, is that wliich shows the value of hot water takon between meals in certain cases of indigestion and gouty tendencies. He shows tho necessity of .flushing out of the system the "dross" and waste products, and declares that _the most uT.iver.sal of a.ll faults in so far as the health is concermed, is nogJect to take enough water into thte system. The book is written in an interesting strain, and is likely to be far more useful in a household than one of the "Fi.mily Medical Guides" which encourago ignorant laymen, to experiment' with more or less dangerous drugs in cases wihioh call for skilled mrduoal advice. (Sydney aairi Wellington : William Brooks and Co., Ltd., 7s 6d).

In "The Haunters of the Silences." a book of animal life by Charles G. D. Roberts, wo have some fascinating studies in -natural history presented in an original and attractive manner. The arctic silences, the silences of the American desert, the sflcncee of the upper air. and the silences of the deep sea are all explored in. turn by the author, ond he weaves into stories all that is most interesting and profitab c to be to!d about the dwellers in these regions. The book is beautifully printed and bound, with striking illustrations by Charles Livingstone Bull. Wo can imagine no joliaer present for a- boy with a taste for natural history, but it is a work which many grownvins will read with in-tense pleasure. (Boston: L. C. Page and Co.).

Mr Edeii Phillpotts is always a powerful writer, and it seems to us that his latest, novel, "The Mother," is -one of his best- works. Tt is the stary of a mother's love for her son, tho mother being the widow of a Dartmoor farmer, the 6©n~a wayward youth who (rocs poaching, gete into gaol, Init ultimately, thanks to the influence of the mother's life, and still more of her death, steadies down, and "he dees .not prove worthy of his mother in the end, -at anyrate ceases to disgrace her memory. He sums up his position himself in a sentence when ho cays to Miolenskin—one of the author's best rustio types—"Two of the hest women God ever made, and one —one bore mc, and t'other be goinc: to marry mc. I liave-bad a michrv deal more luck than my share, Moleskin." There are some fine descriptions of North Devon scenery in tho book, and the rustic characters are drawn with vigour and fidelity. (Iomlen: Ward. Leek and Co.. Ltd. Christohureh: SLmtw-nn and Williams and Whitcombe. and Tombs. 3s 6d and 2s Gd). .

We have remved from, the pivblidiere, Messrs C Mitchell and Co., advertising agents, of London, a copy of tho "Newspaper Press Directory" for 1908. This is tho 63rd , year of issue. The directory must bo of great use- to business men. for it contains carefully compiled information relating to the newspapers and magazines of the United Kingdom, and to the colonial Press. There arc also specially compiled lists of foreign journals," with recent trade statistics of the countries. The directory also contains some highly interesting special articles. The fiseail changes in and trad© witib the colonies are deal 4 , with at length, and there- is an article on the unification of South Africa. It is a very valuable book. '

The most important book of reminiscences published during tho present season is undoubtedly Sir Henry Drum x - mond Wolff's "Rambling Recollections," in which detailed reference was made Tecesntty in our loading columns. We need only cay here that apart from the political and diplomatic information ' whiich it contains., it is full of good stories and amusing repartees. (London : Ma-emillan and Co., Ltd 7 Two vols. 30a net.)