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Recent Books
College Chemistry. Lvuahr C. NBWHLL. D. C. 645 Heath & Co., Boston, Mass., 1925. vi pp. 13.5 X 19.8 em. $3.00.
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"This b w k is based on the milrses in general chemistry given by the author a t Boston University during the last tenor more year.. Throughout its preparation the need of the student has been kept constantly in mind, particularly his need of a book from which he can readily learn the fundamentals of chemistry. This thought has determined largely the style, arrangement and scope, especially in the !kt half of the book." students, especially thwe who have had no high-school chemistry, are likely t o have difficulty with the first half of the hook because of the concentration of theoretical matter, much of which mieht well have been left t o a more advanced course. This is particularly true of some of the formulas, such a. the equation for the kineticmolecular theory of gases, The somewhat meager treatment of the chemistry of the metals comes as an anti-climax. A more balanced presentation would have seemed desirable. A number of questionable points present themselves. Among these ie the sssumption t h a t "nascent" ompen causes the oxidizing action of hypochlorites, nitric acid, and several other substances. I s it not morr reasonable to assvmc that &dation is associated with a changein thevalenee of the chlrmne or nitrogen? This would eertainly he more in accord with the author's method of bdaneing equations by valence changes, and with his broad definition of oxidation. It is not clear what is meant by "chemical encounter of moleeulcs" in explaining chemical equilibrium. he d d e r ideas of differentiating between primary and secondary products of eleetrolyris is adhered t o and unneeersary assumptions are made t o explain the products of electrolytic decomposition. Some lawn, such as t h a t of Gay-Lussac, are not accurately stated. The book contain. much valuable information, interestindv -. .oresented. The style is clear and forceful and the entire format is commendable. M. C. S N ~ B D Experiments in College Chemistm. LYYANC. NBWBLI,. D. C. Heath and Co., Boston, Mass., 320 pp. 111 figures. 13 X 19.7 1925. vi cm. $1.60.
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This book includes experiments for students who enter eollese either with or without credit in hiph-school chemistry. It contains 328 main experiments, many of which are followed by SUPplementary experiments, questions. and apedfie
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eacreises. No single group of students will have the time t o perform all there experimmts, nor is i t the intention of the author that they should be pufmmed during any single course. The number has been made large "so that the college teacher can select an adequate number of experiments adapted t o the preparation of students, t o the time and equipment available and fa the purpose of the course." The book is an excellent one. The subjectmatter in well chosen and well arranged. Lists of eaperimentn are suggested in the appendix from which may he chosen those adapted to the preparation of students according t o the "equipment of the laboratory and the scope of the COU~.~."
M. C. SNBBD B~ct~riology.STANLBY TAOXAS.M S . and M.A.. Assmiate Professor of Baetcriology. Lehigh University. First edition. Cloth. McGraw-Hill Book Co.. New York, 1825. 201 pp. 23.5 X 15 em. $2.50. riii
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The writing of a text-bwk on baeten'ology has become a very di5cult matter because of the ~oluminovstiterature on the subject, and further; because there are still pronounced differences of opinion on many phases of the subject. The author of this volume has taken for his task the preparation of a general text t o be employed in teaching elementary bacteriology t o mired elasses of undergraduate enginem, chemists. p r e m e d i d students, and genera1 arts and sdenee students. On the whole, the text covers this field very nicely. I t should, therefore, make a definite place for itself. The rubjst-matter is handled in twelve chapters, under the folloaing captions: Introduction. History of Bacteriology, Cl-ifiention of Bacteria, Morphology of Bactaia, Physiology of Bacteria, Bacterial Enzpmes. Miera8maoirmr other than Bacteria, Bacteria in Foods. Pathogenic Bacteria, Immunity, Hygiene and Sanitation. and Bacteria in Industry. The manner of presentation is clear, and s o m c times, possibly, a little too brief and concise. I t would seem t o the reviewer that certain topics should be supplemented by lectures. The scquence and pedagogic arrangement are s o m e what unusual, but should prove excellent. The author has omitted the de3eription of s p e d u and has not confused his text with laboratory directions, thus trying t o cover the field of both tatbook and laboratory manual. He has, however, used illvstratims and r e f w n w rather sparingly. The introduction is intended t o give n general
