The Relation of Mechanics to Other Departments of Knowledge.

[PRESS NOTICES.]

"The appearance of a translation into English of this remarkable book should serve to revivify in this country [England] the somewhat stagnating treatment of its subject, and should call up the thoughts which puzzle us when we think of them, and that is not sufficiently often.... Professor Mach is a striking instance of the combination of great mathematical knowledge with experimental skill, as exemplified not only by the elegant illustrations of mechanical principles which abound in this treatise, but also from his brilliant experiments on the photography of bullets.... A careful study of Professor Mach's work, and a treatment with more experimental illustration, on the lines laid down in the interesting diagrams of his Science of Mechanics, will do much to revivify theoretical mechanical science, as developed from the elements by rigorous logical treatment."—Prof. A. G. Greenhill, in Nature, London.

"Those who are curious to learn how the principles of mechanics have been evolved, from what source they take their origin, and how far they can be deemed of positive and permanent value, will find Dr. Mach's able treatise entrancingly interesting.... The book is a remarkable one in many respects, while the mixture of history with the latest scientific principles and absolute mathematical deductions makes it exceedingly attractive."—Mechanical World, Manchester and London, England.

"Mach's Mechanics is unique. It is not a text-book, but forms a useful supplement to the ordinary text-book. The latter is usually a skeleton outline, full of mathematical symbols and other abstractions. Mach's book has 'muscle and clothing,' and being written from the historical standpoint, introduces the leading contributors in succession, tells what they did and how they did it, and often what manner of men they were. Thus it is that the pages glow, as it were, with a certain humanism, quite delightful in a scientific book.... The book is handsomely printed, and deserves a warm reception from all interested in the progress of science."—The Physical Review, New York and London.

"Mr. T. J. McCormack, by his effective translation, where translation was no light task, of this masterly treatise upon the earliest and most fundamental of the sciences, has rendered no slight service to the English speaking student. The German and English languages are generally accounted second to none in their value as instruments for the expression of scientific thought; but the conversion bodily of an abstruse work from one into the other, so as to preserve all the meaning and spirit of the original and to set it easily and naturally into its new form, is a task of the greatest difficulty, and when performed so well as in the present instance, merits great commendation. Dr. Mach has created for his own works the severest possible standard of judgment. To expect no more from the books of such a master than from the elementary productions of an ordinary teacher in the science would be undue moderation. Our author has lifted what, to many of us, was at one time a course of seemingly unprofitable mental gymnastics, encompassed only at vast expenditure of intellectual effort, into a study possessing a deep philosophical value and instinct with life and interest. 'No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en,' and the emancipated collegian will turn with pleasure from the narrow methods of the text-book to where the science is made to illustrate, by a treatment at once broad and deep, the fundamental connexion between all the physical sciences, taken together."—The Mining Journal, London, England.

"As a history of mechanics, the work is admirable."—The Nation, New York.

"An excellent book, admirably illustrated."—The Literary World, London, England.