BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTICES: A Text-Book of Botany and

BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTICES: A Text-Book of Botany and Pharmacognosy; The Manufacture of Paper; Allen's Commercial Organic Analysis; Producer ...
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T H E J O C R N A L OF I N D U S T K I S L A N D ENGINEERTXG C H E M I S T R Y .

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second for aluminum, calcium and magnesium; and the third for manganese. POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION OF ACETIC ANHYDRIDE USED I N THE LIEBERMANN-STORCH REACTION. The note by Waters and Beneker on casein tests,’ with incidental reference to the Liebermann-Storch reaction for rosin, calls attention t o the fact, not sufficiently emphasized in the books, t h a t this test gives positive results with many gums, waxes, and oils. Further, much of our acetic anhydride comes with the glass stopper sealed with a wax which itself gives the Liebermann-Sforchreaciion. This should be noted, for unless the stoppers are cleaned, carefully and scrupulously, the acetic anhydride may be itself so charged with resinous material as to appear to give the test, even with substances which are really neutral or indifferent t o the test. That the acetic anhydride bottles so sealed are from a leading drug-and-chemical house is only another illustration of the necessity for eternal vigilance in watching the purity of our reagents. CHAS.S. PALMER. NORWOOD, MASS.

BOOK REVIEWS AND NOTICES. A Text-Book of Botany and Pharmacognosy. By HENRY KRAEMER,PH.D., Professor of Botany and Pharmacognosy of Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Third revised edition. 850 pp. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co. The subjects are clasified a s follows: Part I, Botany. Part 11, Pharmacognosy: Chapter I, Crude Drugs; Chapter 11, Powdered Drugs and Foods. Part 111, Reagents and Microscopical Technique. The sections devoted t o botany are abundantly, accurately and excellently illustrated, while the subject-matter is presented in a n unusually clear manner. Under Pharmacognosy of the Crude Drugs, we find the information relative t o their chemistry, thorough and up-to-date. The common adulterants and also the allied plant products are detailed under each drug, a knowledge of which is of primary importance to-day, when adulteration and substitution among crude and powdered drugs is so prevalent. The chapter on Powdered Vegetable Drugs and Foods is especially recommended to food and pharmaceutical chemists, a subject so little known and of such primary importance since the enactment of the Food and Drugs Act. Any analyst upon carefully studying this chapter will discover the invaluable uses of the microscope, an instrument very much negl’ected in our chemical institutes. The chapter devoted to reagents and methods of staining, mounting and micrometry is a valuable feature, but still more t o be commended is the application of the micro-polariscope, so very useful in this as well a s other branches of chemical research. Professor Kraemer is to be congratulated in having presented a n original and valuable reference as well as text-book, which should occupy a prominent place on the shelves of every food V. CORLENTZ. analyst. The Manufacture of Paper. By R. W. SISDALL, F.C.S., London. New York: D. Van Nostrand Co. 1908. Price, $2 .oo net. This purports t o be a n elementary text-book which confines itself t o a n outline of the various stages of the paper manufacture and some of the more recent improvements in the industry. From whatever point of view it is considered, the book must be adjudged a contribution of very moderate value t o the literature of the art. I t s material has been brought together many times before and in its present arrangement takes on no new aspect. As a text-book, “The hlanufacture of Paper” fails to meet several fundamental requirements. There T H l S JOURNAL.

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is no clear statement or logical development of general principles, definitions are often inexact and descriptions superficial rather than concise. Cellulose, for example, is hardly to be defined as “paper pulp” or even a s “this fibrous substance.” We do not speak of “ a vegetable plant.” Parchment is quite a different thing from parchment paper. Celluloid is not always “ a plastic, ivory-like substance.” No reference is made to the necessity of tension if mercerization of cotton is to produce silky luster; the paragraph on artificial silk is carelessly inaccurate and there is no mention under “Viscose” of the regeneration of cellulose through decomposition of the material, although the commercial developments of viscose are based upon this regeneration. There are 58 illustrations, most of which can be of little assistance to the student through lack of adequate description in the text. The chapter on the chemicals used in paper making is most casual in its treatment. The best parts of the book are those which relate to beating, a subject which has been much more fully treated by Beadle, and to dyeing and coloring, which have been far more adequately presented by Erfurt. The book concludes with a valuable bibliography, the most complete which we have seen, and a brief index. A really comprehensive and up-to-date textbook of paper-making is much needed and it should easily lie within Mr. Sindall’s powers to produce it. I t is to be regretted that he has not done so in the present volume. A. D. LITTLE’. Allen’s Commercial Organic Analysis. 4th Edition. Vol. I. Edited by HENRY LEFFXASNand W. A. DAVIS,assisted by the following contributors: E. F. ARNSTRONG,J. L. BAKER, G. C. JONES, E. SCHLICHTIXG and R. W. SINDALL. Philadelphia: P. Blakiston’s Son kk Co. Large 8vo. Cloth. 576 pp Price, $5 .oo net. I n preparing the present edition of this well-known standard work, the editors a n 8 contributors have followed in the main the arrangement of the previous editions. It has been found necessary, however, to turn over the writing of the various parts to spec alists, and in their selection both sides of the Atlantic have been drawn upon, thus making the work international in character. The introduction of the present volume is by 1%’. A. Davis and covers the general methods of commercial organic analysis. Alcohols are treated by G. C. Jones; Malt and Malt Liquors, by Julius L. Baker; Wines and Potable Spirits, by G. C. Jones; Yeast, by .Emil Schlichting; Neutral Alcoholic Derivatives, by Henry Leff mann; Sugars, by E. Frankland Armstrong; Starch and I t s Isomers, by E. Frankland Armstrong; Paper and Paper-Making Materials, by R . W. Sindall; Acid Derivatives of Alcohols, by Henry Leff mann. It will be seen from these several divisions that a considerable part of the subject-matter is altogether new, notably the chapters on least and on paper and paper-making materials. The number of pages have been increased from 557 to 576, but the increase of matter is more than would be covered by the increase in the number of pages. The descriptive treatment, which characterized Sllen’s works in previous editions, is retained in the present and is to be commended in a work of this character. Analysts who have used the previous editions with profit will find the present edition valuable, although since it is written by a number of authors, all parts cannot be absolutely equal in merit, and only repeated use will determine the actual merit of the various parts. The paper, typogW. D. RICHARDSON. raphy and binding are excellent. Producer Gas Fired Furnaces. By OSKAR NAGEL. Large 8vo., cloth, 184 pages. New York: Published by the author. Price, $2 .oo net. All of Mr. Nagel’s works have the merit of covering subjects not otherwise specifically treated in the English language. The work under consideration is made up of some ten chapters and a n appendix, in which are to be found descriptions of all

S C I E N T I F I C A N D I N D U S T R I A L SOCIETIES. has or may have any original matter to present to this Congress should begin without delay to prepare such matter, and have it in shape so t h a t it may be presented to the Congress in ample time for proper printing, classification and distribution to members and the technical and scientific press. The Congress, being held in the United States, will with a great deal of right, and naturally, look to a very good showing from the chemists of the United States, and every chemist in Chemisch-technische Untersuchungsmethoden. By DR. GEO. this country, which is to be host to our foreign colleagues, LUKGEand DR. ERNSTBERL, with the collaboration of E. should constitute himself a committee of one to get from himADAJI, P. AULICH,F . BARKSTEIN, 0.BOTTCHER, A. BUJARD, self, or from his friends, as much scientifically or technically C. COUNCLER,K . DIETERICH,K. DUMMLER,A. EBERTZ,C. valuable material as possible, so that the Proceedings and Publications of the Eighth Congress may correctly reflect the.true A. EIBNER, F FISCHER, F. FRASK,N. v. ECKENBRECHER, E. GILDERIEISTER, R. GNEHM,0. GUTTMANN, mental attitude of the chemists of the United States towards FREUDENBERG, E. HASELHOFF,W. HERZBERG, D. HOLDE,W. KLAPPROTH, their profession, both as a pure science and as a part of the H. KOHLER,PH. KREILIXG,K. B. LEHMAPZN, J. LENKO- industrial activities of this country. It is the hope t h a t the Program Committee will be able to WITSCH, C. J. IJNTNER,E. 0. v. LIPPJIANN, E MARCKWALD, J. ~IEFFNER, J. PAFFLER, 0. PFEIFFER, 0. PUFAHL, 0. SCHLUT- begin its activities effectively before the close of 1910, but in K . WINDISCH the meantime it behooves every chemist in the United States TIG, K . SCHOCH,G . SCHULE,I,. TIETJENS, actively and energetically to consider how and in what way he and I,. W. W'INKLER. Vol I , 6th edition, entirely rewritten can best contribute t o the success of this Congress, and par7 2 . Berlin: Julius and enlarged. Large 8vo. pp. 674 Springer. 1910. Price, paper, 18 marks, bound, 20 50 ticularly in the direction of papers and communications to the Congress embodying the advance in this field since June, marks. 1909, the date of the last Congress. It is proposed in this, the sixth edition of Lunge's great A t a meeting to be held in April or May, 1910, by those charged work on Technical Methods of Analysis, t o so arrange the matwith the duty of providing suitable organization for the Eighth ter that it will be published in four Or more volumes, whereas Congress, some definite action as to such organization may the fifth edition, which was edited by Dr. Frederick Bockbe looked for. Those who have that responsibility are making mann, was published in three volumes. The present volume every effort to get as many suggestions as t o divisions of organembraces only t h a t part of the previous first volume u p to and ization, mode of organizing, and membership of the organizaincluding potash salts and potash, with a n additional chapter tion as possible. Every one interested in having this organizaon liquefied and compressed gases. It will thus be seen that tion on as broad foundations a s possible is earnestly invited to more than one hundred pages have been added to this edition present any suggestions that may be helpful in that direction, of the previous first volume alone. It goes without saying in writing, by the middle of April, 1910, so t h a t all these sugt h a t under the direction 01 its distinguished editors, the presgestions may be properly classified and collated and put in ent volume will compare in every way with previous editions condition for most thorough consideration before the meeting of this work and will be brought thoroughly down to d a t k above referred to actually takes place. Such communications may be addressed to the temporary secretary, Dr. B. C. Hesse, go W!lliam Street, Kew York City. SCIENTIFICAND INDUSTRIAL . s o c I E ' r I m .

t h e important types of producer gas-fired furnaces as used in the chemical, metal, iron and steel, lime and cement, glass and brick and ceramic industries, besides chapters on the generation of producer gas, construction of gas producers and combustion of producer gas The book is splendidly illustrated with 237 cuts and will be found of great interest by all students in this important field, a s well as by practical men who make use of producer gas-fired furnaces or who desire to.

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EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS O F APPLIED CHEMISTRY. On the evening of February 3 , 1910, a n informal gathering took place at which there were present, among others, most of those to whom had been delegated the task of providing for the creation of a n Organization for the Eighth International Congress of Applied Chemistry, by the London Congress last June; a representative of the Asdociation of Manufacturing Chemists, the American Chemical Society, the American Electrochemical Society and the Society of Chemical Industry were each also present at this informal meeting. The consensus of opinion was t h a t the greatest success could be expected only if the most effective system and mode of organization could be had, and if each and every chemist in the United States could be made t o feel that he himself directly or indirectly, through his professional, business or educational affiliations, had a personal share of responsibility in the conduct and management of the Congress from its very start and to its very end. This was regarded as the proper and correct guide in proposing a n y plans or schemes of organization. The Eighth Congress is to convene in 1912, with Professor Edward W. Xorley as Honorary President and Dr. W. H . Nichols as Acting President, a t a time and place to be determined by the Organization of this Congress. The most important of the Congress, in fact that by which its value and real success will be measured, is the amount of original matter, both scientific and technical, which it will be able to present to its members. To this end, every chemist in America who

AMERICAN EXPOSITION, BERLIN, 1910. The committee in charge of the American Exposition, Berlin, 1910, has taken note of the vast importance the chemical and allied industries bear t o the trade relations between Germany, Commercial Europe and the United States, and has set aside for the use of the leaders of these industries a few thousand square feet of space for their exhibits. They have asked such well-known men a s H. E. Johnson, a prominent printing ink manufacturer of Philadelphia, R. H. Lersner, of the firm of C. 31. Childs & Company, of Kew York, I. F. Stone, president of the Chemists' Club, also president of the National Aniline Chemical Company, and Eugene A. Widmann, secretary of the H. A. Metz Company, New York, to serve as a committee on the chemical exhibits. These men, realizing the high compliment paid them and the chemical and allied industries as a whole, have accepted this invitation. Mr. Widmann, chairman of this committee, can be reached a t 30 Church Street, N. Y. City. There is no need of drawing attention t o the immense exchange of chemical and allied products between the United States, Germany, and European, as well as Asiatic, countries. One need only glance over the statistics to bear out this statement. Berlin, being the commercial center of Continental Europe, offers a very fertile field for not only the manufacturer of the general line of chemicals, but for the maker of specialties. Buyers from Russia, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Italy, Turkey and other countries, and even Asiatic countries a s