RECENT BOOKS TEXTBOOK OP QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS. William Thorns Hall, Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Second edition. John Wiley & Sons. Inc., New York City. 1935. ix 350 pp. 46 figs. 15 X 23 cm. S . 0 0 .
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Professor Hall's book, bearing the above title, made its initial appearance in 1930. As the author remarks in his preface to this first edition, the text is in large measure an abridgment of F. P. Trcadwell's familiar treatise (that is, in its Americanized form), the reason for the condensation being that the "Treadwell-Hall" had by gradual additions of new matter become too unwieldy for class use. Surely such a volume is supported by a wholesome tradition; for Treadwell, the eminently successful teacher of chemical analysis a t Ziirich, was a pupil of the far-famed Bunsen; hence it is reasonable t o suppose that he must have imbibed bath inspiration and constructive suggestions from the great master. who in turn, as one of his many remarkable qualities, possessed a rare degree of proficiency as an analyst. Coming to the new, or second, edition of the manual under consideration, one notices with pleasure that many of the "tried-andtrue" methods are retained while a t the same time a considerable number of the recently evolved processes are introducedjudicious blending of the old with the new. Moreover, wherever theoretical principles are given exposition, the treatment seems quite in accord with present-day chemical thinking. On comparing the current with the retiring issue, the following improvements d e s w e favorable mention: the introduction of ceric sulfate as a standard reagent in oxidimetry, some noteworthy extensions in steel and ore analysis, and the incorporation of work on bearing metals. As an ex-survey man, the reviewer feels forced to pronounce the section devoted t o the examination of silicate minerals (in the language of the late Dr. H. S. Washington) "inadequate"; in fact, it is apt to give the student a wrong impression as t o what this difficult kind of analysis is really like. On the other hand, references to the writings of Hillehrand and Lundell, Mellor, Duparc, and the before-named Washington, if given a t the beginning of the chapter, should certainly help to broaden the learner's horizon. Taken as a whole the text would seem to he a very satisfactory class book-superior doubtless t o most of those works that have been designed to fill a similar place; consequently, it can he heartily recommended to such schools as haye need of a book on quantitative chemical analysis of moderate scope. W n ~ u r mM.THORNTON, JR. TBBJOHNS HOPEINSUNIYBPSITY B<IYOFZS, M
AR~AND
TEE RISE OP MODERN PHYSICS. Henry Crew, Professor Emeritus of Physics in Northwestern University. Second edition. The Williams & Wilkins Company, Baltimore. 1935. xix 434 pp. 17 figs. 16 illustrations. 12 X 18 nn. W.W.
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This book, a revision of the 1928 edition, is "the story of the origin and evolution of modern physics, and of the workers who brought i t to its present state of perfection." It develops the history of physics by discussing the various discoveries in physics, not from the viewpoint of a succession of discarded theories, but as modifications of experiences and judgments accumulating from earliest times t o the present. The first portion of the text is devoted to a r6sum6 of the pertinent contributions t o physics through the Medieval period. This is followed by "The Birth of Modern Physics," concerned principally with the work of the "great trio," Galileo, Huygeus, and Newton. Developments in the separate fields of Mechanics, Optics, Electricity, and Magnetism, Heat, and the "Discrete Nature of Matter" are then shown separately, all finally merging throuxh "The Inertia of Electricity" and "The Rise of Modern
Spectroscopy" into the advances made in "recent" physics. The last chapter is devoted to a brief discussion of relativity and the derivation of the fundamental equations of restricted relativity, with applications of these equations. A bibliography is included. The author has kept in mind, throughout the book, "the undergraduate just entering upon the study of advanced physics." His aim has been to present "an irreducible minimum" of data necessary "to acquire a just perspective," in order that the reader may be able to approach the phenomena and theories of "recent" physics with an intelligible concept of the background from which they came. The author's task is finished when he leads the reader up to electronics and quantum phenomena. This book, "a popular sketch," should prove of value to all who are interested in science, whether as laymen or specialists. The author has designedly striven to reach the reader who, with hut little previous knowledge of physics, wishes to acquire some insight into themysteries of "recent" physics. The book is written in an interesting style, interspersed with personal notes on the men who have contributed to the development of physics. The reader requires a knowledge of elementary mathematics only for an intelligent grasp of the text, higher mathematics being used in hut a few places. C. G. EICHLIN UNIWRSITI OP M A R ~ A N D CDLLHOB PARK, MARYLAND
DIET AND LIKE IT. Mabel E . Baldwin, Ph.D. With an introduction by Daniel C. Derrou, M.D., Yale University School of Medicine. First Edition. D. Appleton-Century Co., New York City, 1935. x 230 pp. 13.5 X 20 cm. $2.50.
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The purpose of this hook is to give specific dietary directions which may be followed hy any individual who wishes to lose weight and then to hold the adjusted weight, meanwhile maintaining body health and vigor. Besides giving directions for such a diet, the author explains the relationship between food and the growth and repair of body tissue, the energy requirement, and the storage of excess fat. An excellent summary of ten sugg&ions for planning a protective diet for weight maintenance gives the reader an exact basis far the adjustment of his diet. This is made still more understandable by an explanation which includes numerical values for the amount of each dietary essential in a measured quantity of common foods such as milk, meat, butter, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and cereal grains. As is brpught out in this excellent book, haphazard dieting is dangerous; dieting by rules based on our knowledge of nutrition is healthful, and dieting with a scientific and mathematical understanding of the principles involved is, a t the same time, healthful and most interesting. One may diet in an intelligent way, "and like it." N. M. NAYLOR
CHKMISTRY WORKBOOK.~ h r l e s k Dull, . Head of Science Department, West Side High School, Newark, New Jersey. Henry Holt and Company. New York City, 1935. vii 348 pp. 68figs. 20.5X27.5cm. W.88.
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Time was when it was the proper thing for the author of a chemistry text to bring out subsequently a laboratory manual to accompany the text. The fashion now seems to b e a n d it is not confined to chemistry t e x t e t o bring out a workbook which usually contains: (1) directions far laboratory experiments; (2) questions and problems, usually found a t the end of the chapters in. the text; (3) drill exercises to fix in mlnd the points already learned; and (4) devices for helping the student correlate his ideas. Mr. Dull has fallen right in line with this newer idea. This workbook is designed to accompany the author's Modern Chemistry, hut it may be used with any modern textbook in highschool chemistrv. Each of the eirhteen units is introduced with a
study outline made of a number of challenging questions covering the material of the unit. This is followed by an overview giving the gist of the contents of the unit. Then follow one or more exercises with blanks to be filled in after the corresponding chapter in the text has been studied, and one or more experiments to be performed by the student. Each unit is concluded with a self-testing exercise t o test the student's mastery of the unit. The first unit is an introduction t o chemistry. Then follow units in the usual order, oxygen, hydrogen, gas laws, water, and so on through the topics usually covered in a chemistry text. The longest unit is the one on metals, including the study outline, the overview, three exercises, ten experiments, and three tests. The last unit is followed by a general problem test, a general equation test, a general formula test, a general "Who's Who" test, and two appendices containing the customary tables. The beak is in semi-looseleaf form. The pages are punched and are securely stapled together. Separate pages may be removed to a looseleaf cover if desired. If used intact the book will be found impractical for it does not open up flat nor remain open without a weight on the pages. The student will find it difficult t o fill in the blanks because of this fault. If the laboratory diretians are to be used witb the book intact a special substantial holder will have to be devised to keep the desired page in view. To one acquainted with other workbwks this one by Dull does not present any distinctly new features; but it is a good book and WILEELMSEOERELOBI should be seen to be appreciated. Pnrrrrrs ExerRn A u m m E X ~ T S ENEW , HAMPS~RB
DICTIONNAIRE DE ~hCAIMIEET DD SE? APPLICATIONS.Clkment D u d , Docteur & Sciences physiques, Raymonde Duoal, Docteur Ps Sciences physiques, and Roger Dolique, Dr. & Sciences phys., Phamacien. Preface by H. Luc, Directeur g & h l de 1'Enseignement technique. First edition. Hermann & Cie, 6 . Rue de la Sorbonne. Paris, 1935. xxxii 747 pp. 7 tables. 13.5 X 19 em. Paper binding, 90 francs.
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One never knows, in chemistry, whether the word "dictionary" or "dictionnaire" refers to a comprehensive treatise of the type of Thorpe. Watts, or Wurtz, which really deserve t o rank as encyclopedias, or to a lexicon or wordbook like that of Hackh. Both types are indispensable for reference. This work is a lexicon, presenting 26,400 words and phrases drawn from the various branches of chemistry, both pure and m n l i d . %me of the borderline terms included are the names of many minerals and surne rocks, physical rums (especially vhyiical units). m d pharmaceuticol~. .Z sclecrion of althcmiral expresstons furms a n interestiug addition to the vorab~llary. There arc r r v m t a h l s : elenwnts, i;otol,es. prriodic tahle, nutwncl~lure. radioat tivity. units, and valence. The so-cdlt c1 table on nomenclature is rtally a 12-lraue treatis? in which the rrcott?mendations of the committees of the International Union of Chemistry are generously recognized. There are no illustrations, but some diaerammatic formulas. 1h~ definitiurnr ire brief, nnd usually unaccompanied by encyclopdir. infurrnwion. For compounds the furnlula is usually givrt~,iomrtinler thc systematic name, sometimes hoth. Compound names like chlorure de sodium are, however, in general not defined, the definitions being limited to the component wards (in this case chlorure and sodium). Reagents, laws, rules, etc., which are known by the name of a person ( e . g., loi de Dalton) are entered under the name of the person, which is a very satisfactory device. One bas to live with such a book for same time t o appraise its true value, but so far as the reviewer can judge on short acquaintance the compilers have done their work very well indeed. The terms appear to be well selected and thedefinitions both accurate and up to date. No omissions of important terms, even very recent ones, have been discovered. Since the time which a wellplanned and well-executed work of reference saves its users must be very great, the authors merit thanks and support for their labor. A word to chemists whq may disregard this dictionary because
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it is in French: a glance a t its pages will convince them that the majority of the terms are international and so nearly like the English in spelling as to be found without difficulty. I t will accordingly serve as a useful adjunct to existing works in English. AUSTINM. PATTERSON Ammm COLLeOB YBLLOW SPBINCI, OHIO
CLINICALLABORATORY METHODSAND DIAGNOSIS.R. B. H . Gradwohl, M.D., The Gradwohl Laboratories. C. V. Mosby Company, St. Louis, Mo., 1935. 1028 pp. 24 color plates. 328 figs. 17 X 25.5 cm. $8.50. The author states in his preface that "this book has been written t o help the clinician, the laboratory worker, and the medical student to learn laboratory diagnosis." In scope it covers evervthinr from a detailed descriotian of the micrasca~e of museum specimens, post mortem examinations, and toxicologic technic. With this as his objective, the author has done s creditable job. Whether or not it is wise to undertake all of these in a single text is a matter of judgment. Naturally, medical students of today are well trained in the fundamental principles that underlie clinical diagnosis such as general chemistry, microscopic technic, quantitative analysis, physics, etc., before beginning clinical laboratory work. On the other hand older practitioners who do not have thorough training in same of these fields and who desire to go into clinical laboratory work, will find the book admirably adapted to their needs. We believe it also meets the needs of clinical laboratories where technicians are trained. The chapter outlines are excellent; the illustrations and color plates, clear; and the volume is well indexed. If there is such a thing as a text of this kind being too complete the criticism might be offered of Dr. Gradwohl's work without in any sense detracting from its value. WORTLEY F. RUDD
M. V. Loxo~osov's COLLECTED WORKS.YOLS. VI AND VII. Soviet Academy of Sciences, Leningrad, 1934. Vol. VI, ix 591 pp. 22 X 30.5 cm. 438 131 pp. Vol. VII, iii
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The Collected Works of the great Russian physical chemist, M. V. Lomonosov (1711-1765) have recently been published by the Soviet Academy of Sciences. They contain material of a purely literary character. for Lomonosov gave form t o the Russian language as a literary vehicle, and writihgs on historical. philosophical, and scientific subjects. Volumes VI and VII, printed a t Leningrad in 1934, are the only ones which we have seen and are of particular interest to the student of the history of chemistry. The large volumes are beautifully printed on paper of gwd quality, clearly and with wide margins, and are handsomely illustrated. Volume VI, ix 438 131 pages. edited by B. N. Menschutkin and G. M. Knyazev, witb a Preface by Menschutkin, contains Lomonosov's dissertations on physical and chemical subjects, some of them in Latin and some in Russian, now for the first time printed in their original f m - o n l y extracts and incomplete translations having been published heretofore by Menschutkin in Russian and, in Volume 179 of Ostwald's Klassiker der exactcn Wissaschefln, in German. The volume contains pictures of the aurora borealis printed from Lomonosav's original copperplates which were found about 25 years ago. Particularly notable among the contents of the volume are the Elcmente chimkc methemnticae (Elements of Mathematical Chemistry) (1741) in which Lomonosov defines chemistry as "the science of thechanges which take place in a compound body whatever the compound body is," the treatise "On the insensible physical particles constituting natural bodies in which a su5cient reason for their particular qualities is contained" (1742), and the D ~ o m u sad veram Chymiam Physimm (Course in true Physical Chemistry) (1752)
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