Beyond the flyleaf The Thermodynamics of Firearms. C. S. Robinson. 175 -f- x pages. McGrawHill Book Co., Inc., New York Price, $2.50. 1 His book offers an introduction to interior ballistics based on the application of elemen tary thermodynamic principles. In present ing a clear development of the fundamentals of this subject t h e book fills a n important need since, as stated by t h e author, there is no equivalent work in the English language. The ballistic data utilized have been avail able generally for some years. The arrangement of material, chosen from the author's long experience in teaching both interior ballistics and thermodynamics, first provides orienting chapters on thermody namic principles, mechanics, stoichiometry, and physical chemistry. Basic methods of estimating heat of explosion and explosion temperature and pressure are developed, and thereafter the reader is presented with a logi cal analysis of several of t h e more important factors affecting t h e performance of smokeless powders in guns. The effects of granulation and composition of the propellant and load ing density are among those discussed. Finally, the treatment of t h e results of closedchamber firings and the prediction of ballistic performance from these and related data are taken up. The design of rockets is discussed briefly. Owing t o the very direct and basic way in which the subjects are dealt with, some of the chapters represent only 2 or 3 pages each. The mathematical development which is the predominant feature of the text is accom panied for the most part by numerical ex amples. This sustains a practical aspect in the book and possibly adds to its value as an introductory classroom text. It is ex pected, as envisaged by the author, that the book also will be found of considerable inter est to many of those who are currently being initiated into the field of ballistics and related work. The bibliography contains 332 references to books, periodical articles, and patents. Η . Β. ALEXANDER
The Principles and Practice of Industrial Medicine. Fred J. Wampler, editor. 579 pages. The Williams & Wilkins Co., Baltimore, Md., 1943. Price, $6.00. M A N Y physicians without industrial experi ence are now accepting the responsibility for the health of workmen in our new and ex panded plants. This book is primarily in tended to give these men a general idea of the principles of industrial medicine and the problems and responsibilities of the industrial physician. I t is secondarily intended to assist in better training for industrial medi cine by our schools. Thirty-three con tributors, t h e majority physicians, have joined in discussing various divisions of the
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art. The bibliographies are adequate, with references chiefly to sources in this country. The chemist will not find in this book new information on industrial toxicology, and only a few of the better known specific chem ical hazards are considered. He may, how ever, discover much of interest in t h e dis cussion of medical problems of the industrial environment, as distinguished from the engineering phases of industrial hygiene with which he should be more familiar. H. F. SMYTH, J R .
Company Museums. Laurance Vail Cole man, viii -f- 174 pages, illustrated. The American Association of Museums, Wash ington, D. C , 1943. Price, $2.50. JMLu8ETrMS, which most of us are inclined t o consider interesting but not particularly im portant, become highly useful tools of indus try as described by Mr. Coleman. This little book is designed as a guide to t h e sub ject for business men and for those who have charge of business museums. The whole matter of museums as aids to business is dis cussed in some detail and a highly useful ap pendix describes eighty company museums in the United States and three in Canada. One is struck by the diversity of interests of the companies which sponsor museums and find tliern useful. D. H.K. Chemical Industries. 18th ed. L. Ivanovszky. Editor. 360 pages. Leonard Hill, Ltd., 17 Stratford Place, London, W.I., England. Price, 15s. I-HIS catalog has become well known in England, having already gone into its 18th edition. The new issue has been entirely re written with new sections intended to im prove its usefulness to the British engineer.
Latin America. 126 pages. Americana Corp., 2 West 45th St., New York, Ν. Υ., 1943. Price, SI.50. IL HIS well printed and attractively illus trated booklet, compiled from the latest edition of t h e "Encyclopedia Americana", gives the reader who is not familiar with Latin America a smattering of general knowledge concerning our southern neigh bors. There are brief chapters on geog raphy, communications, population, agri cultural and mineral products, industry, history, education, literature, art, music, social movements, international economic and political relations, and short biographies of some; of t h e present cultural, social, and political leaders. Then there is a special sketch of each of t h e six Central American countries. These short reviews are good, but one wonders why
C H E M IC A L
all t h e other Latin American 'countries were not treated t h e same way. Anyone who wanted to acquire a general idea of Argen tina, for instance, would have to go through practically the entire book picking up bits of information on t h e way. H e could not even turn directly to the pages o n which that country is mentioned because there is no index. This serious handicap is matched by a dearth of good maps. The only two given are totally insufficient to give an idea of political boundaries, communications facilities, topography, etc. This reviewer also failed to find any re ference to science or scientists i n Latin America. There is not even any mention of Santos Dumont who made such valuable contributions t o aviation, or of the -valuable work on snake venom done in Brazil, All in all, this book would seem to be more useful for the student of art and political science than t h e technical reader. FREDERICK A.
HESSEL
Books Received Biochemistry of the Fatty Acids a n d Their Compounds, the Lipids. W. JK- Bloor. A. C. S. Monograph No. 93. x i + 387 pages. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, N . Y., 1943. Price, $6.00. An evaluation and gathering together of reported material to serve as a background for future effort for biochemists in their work on fatty acids and their compounds. Contains an extensive bibliography. Organic Chemistry Simplified. Rudolph Macy. viii -f- 431 pages. Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., Brooklyn, Ν. Υ., 1943. Price, $3.75. An authoritative book of value t o chem ists who wish to familiarize themselves with certain recent advances i n theory and practice. Also helpful for students approaching the study of organic chemis try. Chemical Spectroscopy. Wallace S . Brode, xi + 677 pages, 2nd ed. John "Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, Ν. Υ., 1945. Price, $7.50. A practical working guide for t h e labora tory analyst. Discusses theory a n d prac tice of spectrochemical analysis, contains 12 laboratory experiments, tables of specCONTINUBD ON P.AGB 1 6 5 5
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Beyond the Flyleaf trum lines as well as illustrations of equip ment and arrangement of a spectrographs laboratory. Frontiers in Chemistry. Volume II. The. Chemical Background for Engine Re search. Edited by R. E. Burk and Oliver Grummitt. 297 pages. Interscience Pub lishers, Inc., New York, N". Y.f 1943. Price, S3.50. Reports by prominent scientists on recent investigations and interpretations of com bustion processes and lubrication.
Manual of Industrial Hygiene aaid Medical Service i n War Industries, Edited by William M. Gafafer. sd Ί* 508 pages. W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, Penna., 1943. Price, $3.00. This book is intended not; only as a source of information for industrial physicians who must meet the changed conditions in industries converted to war pixrposes, but as a guide for those who patriotically volunteer to take the places* of indus trial physicians who have gome into the service. Contains 2 0 iilustra-tions.
Gas Chemists' Book of Standards for Light Oils and Light Oil Products. F. J. Altitri. xiii -f- 352 pages. American Gas Association, Inc., New York, Ν. Υ., 1943. An authoritative working guide. A con cise, but comprehensive, record of funda mental standards on matters relating to the production and use of light oil prod ucts. The book includes a complete ac count of recent developments in practical fractional distillation analyses and presents the fundamentals concerning specifications, definitions, tests, and other standards.
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Its History, G e o l o g y , Ore-Dressing, Metallurgy; Chemistry, Analysis, Applications, and Economics
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By K. C. Li, M . E., and A.R.S.M. Governor, Commodity Exchange, New York Chief Engineer, Tungsteno Mexicano, S.A., Mexico Chief Engineer, National Reconditioning Company, Inc., New York Chairman of the Board, Wab Chang Trading Corporation, New York and C H u n g Y u W a n g , M . Inst. M . M . University Medallist, Columbia University Technical Expert, Ministry of Economic Affairs, China Director of Research, National Reconditioning Company, Inc., New York American Chemical Society Monograph No- 94 j
The increasing importance of tungsten in the metallurgical and electronic industries has evoked a need for a compre hensive treatment of its geology, processing and uses. This volume has been designed t o meet that need. Written by two outstanding experts in the field, one of whom is con sultant on tungsten to the U. S. Government, it presents detailed discussions of the occurrence, composition and preparation of tungsten ores in all parts of the world, which will be of imm»diatΤ'Ί Λ ~ %s- '"·."*- '-I
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EIMER AND AMEND TESTED PURITY REAGENTS
Informative Labels Elmer and Amend was the first r e a g e n t c h e m i c a l manufacturer in America to state the exact amount of impurities on the label —not merely the maximum amount of impurities. That practice has not b e e n changed.
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