Review: Chance and Luck: A Discussion of the Laws of Luck, Coincidences, Wagers, Lotteries, and the Fallacies of Gambling; With Notes on Poker and Martingales [review-book]

1887 Science  
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more » ... ntent at http://about.jstor.org/participate--jstor/individuals/early-journal--content. JSTOR is a digital library of academic journals, books, and primary source objects. JSTOR helps people discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content through a powerful research and teaching platform, and preserves this content for future generations. JSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not--for--profit organization that also includes Ithaka S+R and Portico. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. 43 portance of the discovery, whether for its practical utility or for its application in general pathology." The committee investigated ninety cases treated by Pasteur. Of this number, twenty-four had been bitten on naked parts by undoubtedly rabid dogs, and the wounds were not cauterized, nor otherwise treated in any way likely to have prevented the action of the trirus. Of thirty-one that were bitten, there was no clear evidence that the dogs vere rabid, and in others the bites had been inflicted through the clothes. It is estimated, from experience of the results of bites in other cases,that, llad they not been inoculated, not less than eight among these ninety persons would have died. Not one of them has shown since the inoculation any signs of hydrophobia. The committee thinks it certain that the inoculations practised by M. Pasteur have prevented the occurrence of hydrophobia in a large proportion of those who, if they had not been so inoculated, would have died of that disease. And his discovery shows that it may become possible to arrest by inoculation, even after infection, other diseases besides hydrophobia. If rabies be not reduced among the dogs of England, there will always be a largenumber of persons who will require treatment. 'I'he average annual number of deaths from hydrophobia during the ten years ending I885, was, in all England, A3; in London alone, 8.5. These numbers may be taken as representing only five per cent of the persons bittell, so that the preventive treatment will be required for 860 persons in all England, and for I70 in London alone. In commenting on this report of the committee, the London LanceS says that ;their verdict is the most important yet pronounced upon the subject, and must go far to decide the question of the prophylactic value of the inoculation of Pasteur. The conclusion that the method has saved a considerable number of lives, and that it is at present, and probably will be for long, the only mode of saving from death those who have been bitten by a rabid dog, affords strong support to Pasteur's conclusions, and, we need hardly say, must havte most important practical results." MEASLES.-The prevalence of measles in some parts of the world, and its fatality, have aroused health-authorities to such an appreciation of the necessity for restricting the spread of this disease, that oicial steps are being taken for the attainment of this end. A recent occurrence at Portsmouth, England, makes the rlecessity for this work more emphatic. H. M. S. Crocodile arriared at that place with forty persons sick with measles on board, who were permitted to land. From these individuals the disease has spread to an epidemic, and at last reports the number of deaths was one hundred and ninety-seven. LEPROSY IN LOUISIANA. Considerable excitement has been occasioned in Louisiana by the report that leprosy existed at St. Martinsville in that State. The State Board of Health has made an examination, and finds that five persons are suffering from unloubted leprosy, while three others are as yet in doubt. BOOK -REVIEWS. Chczo?ce and: Iuck: a l9sscusszon of Ghe Ictws of Iuck, Cosgcs denses, Wctgers, Lo//erzes, ctndK Ghe FczE>czes of GczoHbDng, wsth Sotes on Poker and lVartzngtes. BY RICHARD A. PROCTOR. London, Longmans, Green, & Co. THE persistency of a superstition can generally be referred to the subtleness and persuasiveness of the logic upon which it is founded, or to the fact that it appeals to a strong instinct in human nature. Doubtless both these influences have been at work in keeping alive, among those in whom the hazarding instmct is at all strong, a fondness towards a belief in their own favoritism, in the obscure forces which control luck, and in the sundry other agencies which go to make of chance somethingwhich is more than chance. For the benefit of such,-and they form a respectable portion, both in size and ability, of mankind,-Mr. Proctor has written this book. He hopes to be able to convince a few of the errors of their ways, sadly recognizing " that the gambling fraternity will continue to proclaim their belief in luck, . . . and the-community on whom they prey will, for
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