MARCH, 1953
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appeared in 1704, hut i t is highly probable that i t was completed by 1692. Newton deliberately delayed publication until after the death of Hooke in 1703. The copy of this edition sent to the reviewer was the paperhound student's edition. The paper and print are excellent, the rrlara are few; but l,ecause of the thickness of the volume and eompaatnpss of the hinding i t is difficult to handle.
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MALEIC ANHYDRIDE DERIVATIVES
Lawrence H. Flett and W. Howlett Gardner, New Products Division. National Aniline Division. Allied Chemical and Dve Car269 poration. John Wiley & Sons, 1nk. New York, 1952. x pp. 15 X 2 3 cm. $6.50.
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THISbook offera a condensed presentation of 116different types of chemical reactions involving additions t o maleic anhydride in most instances, although same ease8 dealing with maleic acid, furnark acid, t,heir esters and amides or other unsaturated derivatives are included. For clarity and concisenesv each type reaction is confined to two open pages. Thename of the reactant and structural equation of the reaction, a brief experimental procedure as taken from one major reference and supplementary references and patent numbers through 1950 occupy the right page. On the opposite page there is a further appraisal of the applicability of the method, a listing of the physical properties, as well as the present and some suggested uses of the product. The reactions are organized in eight groupings presenting the addition of (1) hydrocarbons, (2) halogen and halogencompounds, (3) hvdroeen. (4) metsllio com~oundsincludine metallo com-
nnd heat alone. The sut,hors have organized much ~catteredmat,erial into a. useful and comp;~ctreference treatment. In doing so they have drawn upon their wide industrial exporienae in making choices and in perapert,ive. Certainly the organic research worker and the industrial chemist will find s. c h ~ n o eperusal worth while and in many inst,nnces ereat,ive suggestions will result. HAROLD A. IDDLES
l T ~ r v s n a l ~or v NBWH * u ~ s " l n s D D R ~ A INEW , HAIPBAIR~
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A GUIDE TO THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE
George Sarton, Hanrard University. Chronica Botanica Co., Waltham Mass. 1952. xvii 316 pp. 15.5 X 23.5 om. $7.50.
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THIS work by the world's leadine historian of science can be considered to he an outgrowth of the two journals in this field, Isis and Osiris, which Sarton founded and has long edited. For this reason he uses as a short title for this hook the word Horus, the name of the son of Isis and Osiris, and he intends that in future the guide should he referred to h y t,his name. The hook ia divided into two parts. The first, entitled "Scicnce and Tradition," consists of three cssays a n the importance of and need for teaching t,he history of science ss a part of the cultural herit,age of west,ern civilization. Swton is no longer as optimist,ir as he oncc was that courses in this suhject, or in the history of the speeinlirerl seimees, will soon he estahlished in most of our higher ~dn~:s.tiot~:~I in~titutions. H e is none the less eloquent and convincing in showing the n e c ~ q i t yfor surh courses, not anly for the seirntist I u t lor all educated men. Of course, t,he scientist is in nwticular need of such courses. so that he mav
uate schools is increasingly being recognieed. The study of the history of chemistry could do much to counteract this trend. No small reason for the lack of interest in the historied phases of the science shown by our graduate students lies in the indifferenoe with which the subject is treated by their professo1.8, themselves a. product of the samp indifference. The natural interest felt by many younger chemists is quickly stifled in such an atmosnhere. It is to he honed that these essavs will be read and considered thoughtfullyAby the heads of Xhemistry depsrtmonts throughout the country. The second part of the book is designed chiefly far the specialist in the history of science. It is an elaborate bibliography of all the literature known to Sarton on the various phases of the history of science. Following the listing of peneral reference works, such as gazeteers and kncyclopedias, book titles are srranged under the headings of special countries or cultural groups, special sciences, and journals and publications of special groups. This means that titles pertaining to any one science, such as chemistry, must be sought in several places, but the hibliography is not so long as to make this task unduly difficult. Most of the entries contain bibliographic information anly, hut sometimes the author includes brief critical notes to characterize the books more fully. Although this section will he useful most often to specialists, almost m y scientist may a t times find i t helpful to consult. The hoak is a unique work of reference which will long retain its value. HENRY M. LEICESTER
C O L L E 01 ~ EPHYBICI*NB A N D STIR..ON. S*N FB*NCIBCO, C*LIPORNI*
DICTIONARY OF CIVIL DEFENSE
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Edited by Carlton Wallace, Aasodaie Fellow, Institute of Civil Defense. Philosophical Library, Inc.,-New York, 1952. 160 pp. 16 figs. 13 X 19 cm. $2.75. THIS hook covers ahout 400 definitions of words related to Civil Defense. I t was originally published in Great Britain and is of interest as an indication of the type of organization now existing in a country which knew enemy attack and how to comh a t it i n the home front. Beyond satisfying this interest the hoak is of little value. One diffreultv with it wises from its oriein in Great Britain whose Civil ~ i f e n s orpaniration e is so mea& a t variance with its exist~ states. -over one-third of the hook ing counterpart rn t h United is devoted t o firseaid which is better presented in our own Red Cross handbook. There are certain technical errors which can hardly he attributed to language difficulty.' The description of a Geiger counter fits more aptly an ion chamber and a quartz fiber electroscope is scarcely a Geiger counter as i t is called. The recommended maximum permissible dosages of radiation do not agree with those recommended in the United States. Althoughglossari~rare needed in the field of Civil Defense they should accompany handhooks or manuals which are restricted to individual phases of the effort as protection in the event of enemy attack. The problem of Civil Defenseis toocomplex to be suece.dully covered in such a dictionary as this. PHILIP GILL
Orrron OF C m r DEIENSE A o ~ ~ w o Ch~monnr* o~.
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LINEAR COMPUTATIONS
P a u l S. Dwyer, Professor of Mathematics, University of Michigan. John Wiley & Sans, Inc., New York, 1951. 344 pp. 15.3 X 23.5om. $6.50.
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THISis a textbook on calculating techniques for obtaining numerical solutions of sets of simultaneous linear equations with the aid of a desk calculator. Methods hssed anly on elementary high-sohool algebra. are described in detail in the fit.~tfew ohaptera. Then the more powerful methods involving determinants
