Ψ*0£4Α£ίΛ.
me -ftc/letu The Preparation, Properties, Chemical Be havior, and Identification of Organic Chlorine Compounds.
EHNEST
HAM
LIN Ili-XTRKss-. \ x v + 1,443 pages. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 440 Fourth Ave., Xew York β, X. Y., 1948. §27.50. S E V E N year.- ago Prof. Huntress pub lished " T h e Identification of Pine Organic Compounds. Order I , " a compendium of data on important compounds composed of carbon and hydrogen or of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. T h e data were selected primarily on the basis of their im portance in qualitative organic analysis. T h e present volume, nominally a sequel lo the previous work, goes far beyond it in scope. T h e compounds covered are those of Mulliken's Order I I I , composed of car bon and chlorine; carbon, oxygen, and chlorine; carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine; or ecrbon hydrogen, oxygen, and chlorine. The 1,320 substances included have been selected o n 4 he basis of their general inter est and importance. The. author has found it advisable to
modify slightly the original Mulliken sys tem for determining the placement of com pounds in t h e text. Tt is likely t h a t most users of the book would be better pleased if this highly formalized, artificial, and cumbersome system had been discarded in favor of some simple arrangement, perhaps one based on molecular formulas. A s it stands, the book requires that the user consult its index, a n d even though excel lent indexes a r e provided, compounds being indexed i n five different ways, this small requirement is irritating. In preparing this scholarly book Prof. Huntress h a s earned t h e t h a n k s of all organic chemists, for its use will result in a saving of t i m e a n d effort in literature searches. It i s in category C2 that the work is most impressive. Although the author disclaims having made complete surveys, for practical purposes he has done so b y giving selections comprehensive enough to m a k e perfectly clear a l l that is known of t h e chemical nature of each com pound. Moreover, there is frequently found the valuable a n d pleasing "negative
FLAMEPROOFING TEXTILE FABRICS Flameproofing* Textile Fabrics Staff of Prepared by a Staff* of Specialists under the E d i t o r s h i p of R O B E R T W. LITTLE, Major, Q . M . C . under Research Project Q . M . C . £27 of t h e National Research Council N a t i o n a l Academv of Sciences Office of the Quartermaster General, Military Planning Division, Research and Development Branch American Chemical Society Monograph No. 104
A complete survey of the flameproofing of textile fabrics, based on problems encountered during the war. Divided into three general sections: (1) the fundamental mechanisms of the thermal degradation of cellulose and the chemical o r physi cal phenomena of flameproofing; (2) the methods employed in the processing and evaluation of rlamep roofed fabrics; and (3) the various applica tions for flame-retarding treatments in the field of textile fabrics. This presentation familiarizes the reader with the types of retardants available, the function of these agents in the prevention of flam ing and glowing, and the methods by which they are applied and evaluated. In addition to the results of the research project on "The Flameproofing of Army Clothing," this volume includes a great deal of related informa tion. 430 130
pages pages
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$6.75 $6.75
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reference"; this is a s t a t e m e n t that no information has been found regarding a reaction t h a t might reasonably be expected of t h e compound or t h a t a substance rea sonably expected t o be so is not actually formed from a certain compound. The text covers t h e literature through 1945, a n d an appendix, t h a t through 1947. According to t h e a u t h o r ' s count, over 22,000 references are cited. C . F . KOELSCH T h e Logic of the Sciences and the Human ities.
F I L M E R STI*ART CUCKOW NORTH
ROP, xiv -f- 402 pages. Macmillan Co., New York, N . Y., 1947. S6.00. A L T H O U G H J his book is largely con cerned with logic a n d episternology, sub jects to which the hard working chemist can give b u t little attention i n these days, its main objective is one of vital interest to all scientists who feel a n y responsibility at all for the ultimate impact of their researches on humanity. T h e autlior develops "a procedure which m a y bring scient ific verification and attendant human agreement into t h e present demoralized world of ideological humanistic controversy." In other words, h e has set out to find an objective basis for t h e discussion of problems ot value which may furnish the philosophy of t h e social sciences with the same type of public criterion for ultimate agreement that has proved t o be of such value in the philosophy of the natural sciences. T h e author begins with a critical analy sis of t h e so-called scientific method, bringing o u t clearly t h a t in reality several scientific methods are in common use, each being appropriate to some stage in the progress ot a particular science from the exploratory r a n d descriptive to the exact phases of its development. In the opinion of t h e reviewer t h i s discussion alone is worth t h e serious study of all thoughtful scientists. T h e y will ap preciate his insistence o n t h e cultivation of a n understanding *of the logic a n d the methods of science in relation to specific investigations rather than i n relation to* t h e rarefied idea of science in general. In proceeding to a consideration of the humanities, Prof. Northrop distinguishes between problems of fact a n d problems of value in the social sciences, emphasizing t h a t there are in reality two types of social theory, t h e factual theory of social science which is concerned with the de facto state of affairs in various societies and t h e nor mative theory of social science which seeks to describe t h e correct or good form of social organization, to differentiate good behavior from bad. F a c t u a l theories of social science m a y be t r e a t e d directly by methods used in natural sciences. I n the normative social theories, however, these methods are n o t directly applicable. Theorems deduced from primary concepts and postulates can not b e verified b y di rect or indirect reference t o the facts of society a s observed either in t h e past, present, or future for t h e simple reason
C Η Ε NU C A L A N D
ENGINEERING
NEWS
t h a t by definition a good normative theory must always set an ideal higher than con temporary human behavior achieves. Prof. N o r t h r o p shows, however, than a n extension of the methods of natural science t o normative theories in the social sciences m a y be achieved byr checking the basic philosophical postulates of a normative socii 1 theory directly with t h e postulates of the philosophy of natural science described by t h e facts of n a t u r e . E v e n though the book is difficult t o read a n d , being largely a compilation of essays, contains m a n y repetitions (prob a b l y not a disadvantage in t h e discussion of a subject where fine shades of meaning a r e so i m p o r t a n t ) , an excursion to t h e source will amply r e p a y those who feel t h a t a common basis for agreement con cerning what is good a n d what is bad is essential to the betterment of h u m a n relations a n d who believe t h a t this is a n aim toward which we m a y hopefully strive.
"
R . E. G I B S O X
Q . E . D . : M . I . T . in W o r l d W a r II. J O H N BURCHARD. xvi -f- 354 pages. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York 16, Ν . Υ., 1948. S3.50. AN T H E words of t h e author, ''This book describes the contributions of a single privately endowed institution, the Massa chusetts Institute of Technology, to vic tory over the Axis powers, i t is a record which . . . is typical of t h e assistance ren dered the Allies by academic institutions." T h e record recounts t h e institute's vari ous a n d diverse contributions to the war effort; it is, thus, a story of research a n d development projects rather t h a n a his t o r y of t h e activities of individuals. T h e book is divided into six p a r t s . T h e first p a r t orients the reader with respect t o conditions at M I T in 1939 a n d provides perspective for an under s t a n d i n g of t h e role to be played by t h e i n s t i t u t e as a leader in war research a n d development. P a r t I I gives an excellent a n d concise outline of t h e research direct ing agencies (at the national level) which were responsible for t h e planning a n d execution of t h e major research programs carried on during World War I I . This is followed by a more detailed outline of t h e various projects for which t h e National Defense Research C o m m i t t e e was re sponsible a n d which were carried on a t M I T or elsewhere by members of t h e staff a n d alumni. In P a r t I I I , which is the longest a n d for t h e average reader perhaps the most interesting section, t h e a u t h o r gives a n account of t h e major projects which were carried on for the m o s t p a r t at C a m bridge. T h e s e projects ranged all t h e w a y from t h e development of methods for t h e preservation of blood plasma t o radar a n d servomechanisms for gun directors. T h e work of Harold E. Edgerton in the field of high-speed photography is well known ; b u t t h e contributions to P a t t o n ' s sweep V O L U M E
2 6,
NO.
51
DECEMBER
ι:ι>τ·ΐϋ Μ i MM IdaΜΙΜύ
S T A N D A R D OIL C O M P A N Y Chemical Products
(Indiana)
Department
9 Ί Ο SOUTH M I C H I G A N A V E N U E · C H I C A G O 8 0 , ILLINOIS 2 Oy
1948
3785
BEYOND
THE
across Europe of Edgerton's techniques as applied to aerial flash photography are less well known and make an exciting story. Part IV mentions briefly the missions on which members of the M I T staff served away from Cambridge. Part V de scribes activities on the home front— e.g., teaching during the war }rears. And, finally, in the concluding section a chapter is contributed by J. R. Killian, Jr., now president of MIT, on "M.I.T. Redeploys for Peace." The book is recommended to t h e scien tist or the layman who wants to get a broad view of the multiplicity of applica tions of science to war. For the history of MIT's activities is truly typical of the part played by American research institutions in World War I I . The title "Q.E.D." is well chosen. L . A. WOOTEN
The Chemistry of Free Radicals. W. A. WATEKS. Second edition, vi + 295 pages. Oxford University Press, 114 Fifth Ave., New York, N . Y. $6.50. I T seems to this reviewer that the pub lishers are hardly justified in calling the present volume a new edition. Of over 1,100 references in the first edition, six have been deleted and about 30 added in
Now
Available
CATALOG No. 7 Lists over 125 n e w books including Russian Titles Music Teaching Manuals as w e l l as German Reprints (35 n e w titles published in Germany since 1 9 4 1 )
J. W. EDWARDS Dept. E-21
Ann Arbor, Michigan 3786
FLYLEAF the new edition, with no change in pagina tion.
ALSOPH H. CORWIN
Die chemische Industrie und ihre Nebenprodukte. Fourth edition. 232 pages. Verlag fur Wirtschaftsliteratur G.m. b.H., 157 Christopher St., New York 14, N. Y.f 1948. S5.0O. J. HIS directory, published in Zurich, lists Swiss producers of chemicals with address, products, leading executives, capital invested,, and date of establish ment. General classifications include fine and heavy chemicals, gases, pharmaceu ticals, perfumes, soaps, dyes, fertilizers, resins, oils, explosives, rubber, and ce ramics.
Punch-Card of Rubber
Index Compounds
The Rubber Formulary, 1612 19th St., Bakersfield, Calif., is offering an indexing service of rubber compounds based on the punch card system. The cards designed by the Rubber Formulary for the service classify rubber compounds by tensile strength, elongation, hardness, type of rubber hydrocarbon, and black or nonblack filler, with spaces for other proper ties or ingredients. The service is offered as a yearly subscription and consists of monthly abstracts of rubber compounds published in the more important journals. Abstracts of compounds published in 1948 and subscriptions for 1949 are offered at present. If warranted by demand, ab stracts of previous years will also be pre pared.
Montreal
Research
Center
A 44-page illustrated booklet has been issued by the research center of the Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal 18, Que., out lining services offered to public and private organizations. The center was established in 1946 in the interests of development of Canadian resources and training of engi neers qualified for industrial research. Testing and studies are carried out in the fields of civil, electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering, chemistry, ex tractive and physical metallurgy, mining and geology, electronics, chemistry, applied physics, hydraulics and mechanics of fluids, and others.
Biological
Antioxidants
Annual conferences are being sponsored and conducted by the Josiah Macy, Jr., Foundation to offer an opportunity for a group of about 25 investigators, represening, in so far as possible, all the branches of science which bear upon a particular medical or health problem, to meet in formally for discussion. The transac tions of the second conference Oct. 9 and CHEMICAL
10, 1947, on the subject of biological antioxidants, have been published and can be obtained from the foundation at 565 Park Ave., New York 21, N. Y. f at $2.25 per copy.
Phosphorus
Trichloride
Chemical Safety JData Sheet SD-27 on phosphorus trichloride, for supervisory staffs and managements, concisely pre sents essential information for the safe handling and use of this chemical prod uct. I t may be obtained at 20 cents per copy from the Manufacturing Chemists' Association, 246 Woodward Bldg., Wash ington 5, D. C. Remittance should be sent with earn order.
Sugar
Researoh
The 1948 report of the Sugar Research Foundation, Inc., 52 Wall St., New York 5, N. Y., "Science Looks at Sugar," re views the work of t h e foundation through its fifth year. A summary of recent progress by Robert Hockett, a table of projects, outline of the prize award pro gram, lists of references and publications, and lists of officers and membership com prise the contents.
New B o o k s Chemistry and Uses of Insecticides. E. R. D E ΟΝΌ. viii -f- 345 pages. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York 18, Ν . Υ. $6.00. Crucibles: The StoTy of Chemistry. From Ancient Alchemy to Nuclear Fission. BERNARD JAFFB.
Revised edition. 4S0
pages. Simon
