the market and covers such a vast array of material, science teachers will find i t valuable. It will be particularly useful to teachers in the smaller schools where there is little manufacturing and where the schwl equipment is poor for science work. A source of good material, not listed by the authors, is scientific articles in the nonprofessional magazines. Much time is wasted in reading articles having little value t o science teachers, although perhaps written by college professors.' Possibly ten or fifteen articles of exceptionally high rank appear in these general magazines each year. A listing of these articles. culled to the limit, five or more years back would be appreciated by teachers having no access to good libraries or by others who do not wish to search the large numher of periodicals for the few good articles. The authors have done a commendable work in compiling the information in this book. I n the hands of any teacher, it should enrich the courses in high-school science. DON C. EVANS PIRECOUNTYHIOHSCHOOL. L~YINOSTON, MONTAN*
been brought together in a single volume. It is beautifully arranged and illustrated. A splendid artistic touch is given by the inclusion, after the title page, of two pages of written Chinese-a section from Pao Pu TZ; (written by KO Hung, 281361 A.D.)-"Many do not even know that mercury comes out of cinnabar (tan sha). When told, they still refuse to helieve it, saying that cinnabar is red, and how can i t produce a white substance? They also say that cinnabar is a stonthat stones when heated turn to ashes; and how then can anything else he expected of tan sha." (trans. Edkins). This quotation, from one of the oldest treatises on alchemy, gives us a perfect suggestion of the mystery of chemistry and of that quality in the history of chemistry which makes its study so fascinating to those who are devoted t o it. My thanks are due to Mr. Lu-Ch'iang Wu, graduate student a t the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for translating the chapter headings and the section of PSO PU TzG. L. DAVIS TENNEY '
MASSAEBUSBTTS INSTlTUTB 0. CalaaxlocB, MASS.
T~CHNOLOCI,
4 History of Recent Chemistry (in the Japanese language). R o ~ u n oNAKA- Modeme Methoden der Kohlenvemertung. Ferngas and KohleverAiissigung. ssxo. Kaniya Book Store, Kyoto. 561 (Modem Methods of the Utilization of 1927. 14.5 X 21.5 cm. iii pp. 16 photogravure portraits. 6 Coal. "Fern gas" and Liquefaction of ProCoal.) HERMANNGROSSMIINN, yen. fessor in the University of Berlin. This is a companion volume t o Professor Polytechnische Buchhandlung. A. SeyNakaseko's "History of World Chemistry" del, Berlin, 1928. 16 pp. 1 fig. 15 [see THIS JOURNAL, 6, 184 (Jan., 1929)l X 22 cm. 1mark. and consists of a further detailed account
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of the history of such special subjects as the chemistry of the life processes, proteins and fats, the fixation of nitrogen, the electric furnace, organic synthesis, catalysis, chemical warfare, explosives, silk and artificial silk, photography, dyestuffs, pharmaceutical chemistry, immunity, the rare elements which are present in living organisms, etc. The discussions in each case are excellent and take account of the latest developments. The book contains much material which has not heretofore
The pamphlet is a reprint of two speeches broadcast by the author on the 18th and 25th of November, 1927. The first speech deals with "Fern gas." This is waste coke oven gas which is piped from the large reserves of the Ruhr plants to distant communities and center of industries in Germany. The following pipe lines are planned: (1) Bremen, Hamburg, Liiheck, Kid; (2) Hanover, Magdehurg, Berlin, Stettin; (3) Kasel, through Thuringia, Saxonia, Sileia; (4) along the
VOL.6, No. 6
RECENT
Rhine, through Hessia, Baden, W?irttenberg, snd Bavaria. The author lists the followingadvantages and disadvantages of the project. Aduentafes: (I) The plan does away with a large number of local gas plants; (2) the price of the gas will not be subject t o market fluctuations; (3) the number of workmen employed by the cities can be decreased. Diseduentager: (1) The independence of the community will be decreased; (2) in the case of strikes there is always a chance of damages being done to long pipe lines; (3) numerous consumers will not be able to purchase coke cheaply from the local gas plants; (4) the income of the railways will be diminished due t o the decrease in transportation of coke and coal. The second speech deals with the history of the liquefaction of coal, the development of synthetic fuel, and the various processes involved. The author states no figures whatever. I t would have been interesting if, for example, he could have made an estimate of the cost of installing such a piping system. Nevertheless, he gives an excellent review of a subject which is of as great economic importance as the synthesis of ammonia. LEOPOLD SCHEFLAN LONOISLAND UNIVBRS~Y,
tute, namely, "the dissemination of scientific information which may be applied in daily life." A glance a t the chapter headings is significant of the interest they hold:
The Use of Scales for Rating Pupils Answers to Thought Questions. Bulletin No. 46, Bureau of Educational Research, University of Illinois. C. W. ODEI,L, Ass't Director, Univ. of Ill., Urbana, Ill. May 7, 1929. 34 pp. 15.5 X 23 cm. $0 50. I n Chapter I we find a statement of the problem u n d ~ rinvestigation. Chapter II contains a rather detailed account of the cohstrnction of the scales and the carrying on of thginvestigation. Chapter III presents the statistical results from the standpoint of comparing ratings with the scales BROOKLYN, N. Y. t o ratings without them and attempts to analyze these data, comparing them with Science for the Home Manager. A series similar data reported by others for English of fourteen radio talks sponsored by composition scales. Chapter IV contains ~E INDUSTRIAL RE- a brief summary and the general concluMELLONI N S T I OF SEARCH.With a Foreword by L. W. sions drawn from the investigation. I n BASS. Ph.D., Ezecutive Assistant, Mel' Appmdiz A is found the complete list of Ion Institute. Radio Pub2ication No. questions used in the scales. Appendix B .48, University of Pittsburgh, Pittspresents data from ratings of sets of burgh, Pa., 1929. 138 pp. 22 X 15.5 pupils' answers rather than from single cm. $0.75. answers, and briefly discusses the reliaThe series of talks included in this book- bility of traditions1 examinations. M. W. G. let give a general idea of the recent developments in household economics resulting from the application of the scientific method t o domestic problems. The talks were delivered by recognized specialists in the various fields covered, The preparation of this series was prompted by one of the guiding principles of the Mellon Insti-
