other chapters largely continue the topics organized in the previous section, with the notable exception of the h a 1 chapter, entitled Growth and Problems. This is a sobering essay cautioning chemists that the successes in their field and in others have raised serious pmhlerns, c.g., the prohieration of rhemirnl liten~~ure, nomenclature, nuclear warfare, nuclear and industrial waste disposal, fwd additives, drugs, pesticides, and depletion of natural resources. Since there are several other histories of chemistry on the market, it is necessary to contrast them with this volume. The fact that t h i ~is a large, detailed, and scholarly work sets it apart from many of the popularized accounts. Perhaps the best comparison is offered by Volume 4 of J. R. Partington's "A Hi9tory of Chemistry" (4 volumes, andveryexpemive) which also was published in 1964. With same reservations, Ihde's book may be characterized as following the topical approach, Pmtington's the biographical. To this reviewer, Ihde's book is far easier to read, both because of the author's style and the publisher's skill in producing an attractive page (good typesetting snd white, not yellow, nonglare paper). However, it must be said that much of the reason for the h e appearance of Ihde's book is the absence of most foob notes. To the scholar, the lack of these specific references is highly disappointing, and only partially made up for by the h e bibliographic essays a t the back of the volume. "The Development of Modern Chemistry" i s in brief, far more then an encyclopedia of names, dates, and events. While it is, of course, valuable as a reference work, it also is good reading. Two centuries of chemistry is a massive subject (the coverage stops about 1960, with a. few later developments mentioned), but Professor Ihde has treated it well. ~
BOOK
REVIEWS
The Development of Modern Chemistry
A a r a J . Ihde, University of Wisconsin, Msdison. Harper and Row, New York, 851 pp. Figs. and tables. 1964. xii 16 X 24 cm. $13.50.
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This important history of chemistry is all we should expect of it, and more, and yet I must confess to s slight feeling of diseppointment. The reason for my discontent is that so much fascinating material neceaaarily had to be omitted. I say 'hecessmily" because I do not see haw the author of any history of a huge subject can, in a reasonably sized volume, delve into the personal, social, economic, political, academic, and scientific forces that directed the advance of that science. Certainly, it is only by detailed studies of this sort that the development of a science may fully be understood, but such works generally are limited to narrow topics. Professor Ihde, on the other hand, has cast his net w i d e w i t h excellent results. Interested in the influences of other sciences on chemistry, he has included discussions of electrical discharges in gases, radioactivity, and atomic and nuclear physics. Another approach, which probably will meet approval, is the strong concentration on developments
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fmm the time of Lavaisier onward; the prior foundations are treated in just two introductory chapters. The main body of material is divided into three sections, entitled The Period of Fundamental Theories, The Growth of Specialization, and The Century of the Electron. In the first are treated the contributions of such as Lsvoisier, Dalton, Berzelius, Gay-Lussac, Avogadro, Far* day, Dulong and Petit, h o u t , Kekul6, Cannizaaro, Mendeleev, and Meyer. This is the story of the great nineteenth century advances in chemistry. The second section is perhaps even more interesting, since fundamental theories must he followed by systematization and consolidation of knowledge. In this way the fruits of a theory may most successfully be harvested. Besides discussing the growing speciali~ation in analytical, organic, inorganic, physical, and biological chemistry, the author has valuable chapters on the diffusion of chemical knowledge, via classroom, laboratory, periodical, and society, and on the nineteenth century chemical industry. Maturity and expansion seem to be the major themes for the final section covering the twentieth century. Yet, an undercurrent of discoverv and excitement is disrernuhle, eqwidly in the dirunsqions of rnrliocl~mmiitryand 1,iwhrmistry. 'l'he
in this Issue
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Department of History of Science and Medicine Yale University New Haven, Connecticut
Aaron J . Ihde, The Development of Modern Chemistry Issac Asimou, Biographical Encyclopedia of Science and Technology Anne Tracer, The Mercurial Chemist: A Life of Sir Humphry Davy Karl Heinig, editor, Biographien Bedeutender C h e d e r A. F. Dorian, editor, Dictionary of Industrial Chemistry J . Thewlis, editor, Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Physics Volume 9, Multilingual Glassmy John P . Phillips, Spectra-Structure Correlation Inuin Miller and John E. F~eund,Probability and Statistics for Engineers T . Cairn, Spectroscopic Problems in Organic Chemistry. Volume 1 Fmman A. Williams, Combustion Theory: The Fundamental Theory of Chemically Reacting Flow Systems Wesley W . Wendhndt, Thermal Methods of Analysis Charles Bunn, Crystals: Their Role in Nature and in Science
Biographical Encyclopedia of Science and Technology
I ~ w Asirnov, Boston University, Boston. Doubleday & Co., Garden 662 pp. Figs. City, N. Y. 1964. x 15 X 24 cm. $8.95.
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The sub-title reads "The Living Stories of More than lDOO Great Scientists from the Age of Greece to the Space Age Chronologically Arranged." This arrangement was chosen instead of the conventional alphabetical listing to bring together the men who were working at the same period. However, the author departs frequently from this order to list scientists whose work preceded or was a derivative of that of the main figure in a particular advance. For example Kekul6 (262) is followed by Frankland (26Za), Couper (262b) and Butlerav (26Zc) since they all pioneered in the field of structual chemistry. Each Volume 42, Number 7, July 1965
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essay (or person) is given a number, Imhotep the Egyptian scholar, leads this procession (No. 1) and John Glenn, the American astronaut, brings up the rear (539a). Yuri Gagarin, the Russian astronaut, is 539. The scope of the coverage is well illustrated by these examples. Furthermore, many living persons are included, s sharp contrast with the common practice of including only deceased personages in such collections. For the most part, the vital statistics are limited to place and date of birth (and death). The pronunciation of the name is given when this is not obvious. The great bulk of the spsce is devoted to the work of the subject and its significance. The language is simple and straigbtforward; not one chemical formula, or mathematical expression is employed. This author of numerous hooks on popular science here aeain exhibits his ahilitv to write enter&ingly for nonspeciahts. There is frequent use of cross-references and the indexes are well constructed. The choice of persons to he included is always a critical point in keeping the size of such a compliation within hounds. By actual trial the reviewer has found almost d l those included whom he thinks should be here. This book is highly recommended for purchase by libraries and individuals.
He Loved natwe end exhibited many of the characteristics of a competent poet. This is an expertly constructed book and the author has succeeded well in her effort to analyze and interpret the circumstances and persona that shaped his life. The invention of the safety lamp is discussed at length and much spsce is given to his not too successful marriage. Miss Treneer is more sympathetic to Lady Devy than most of the other biographers. There is no evidence that the author has consulted books and essays published in other languages; had she done so she might h w e come to ~omewhat other conclusions on certain points. The narrative flows smoothly; the author has a fine command of English and has put her large stock of information to excellent use. She is exceptionally well informed about the private life of Davy and the social and political and literary atmosphere of his times. The hook is highly recommended to scientists and nonscientists dike, not only for its intrinsic merits but because it presents Devy from another and important angle.
RALPHE. OEBPER Universitg of Cincinnati CinGnnati, Ohio
RALPEE. OESPER University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio Biographien Bedeutender Chemiker:
Edited by Karl Heinig. Volkseiggener Verlag, East Berlin, 1964. 264 pp. 15 X 21 em. 12 marks. The Mercurial Chemist: A Life of S i t Humphry Davy
Anne Trmeer. Methuen and Co., 264 pp. Plates. London, 1963. xvi 13 X 21 em. 36/ (about $5.)
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Humphry Davy (1778-1829) has deservedly been the subject of much biographical writing in both books and essays. This present book is the most extensive treatment since W. Prandtl's "Humphry Davy" (Stuttgart, 1948) and consequently it is most welcome, particularly since the writer is a nonscientist and so has stressed the personal rather than the professional aspects of the eminent British chemist. She does not tell why she chose this subject but probably was attracted to him because he was born and grew up in Cornwall. Her information comes not only from the items in her Select Bibliography but also from examination of many collections of letters and from the archives of The Royal kciety and the Royal Institution, where Davy was active. She seemingly visited mnny places that had associations with his life. She tells of his friendships with the literary companions with whom he was much more at home than with the scientific men of Britain and the continent. Davy was self-educated in ohemistry and was fairly ignorant of certain areas of this science. He worked a t the research level during hi8 whole career: his rise was meteoric and the decline was precipitous. His passionate love for hunting and fishing was exceptional in s. man of science.
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lournol of Chemicol Education
This collection of biographical essays deals with about fifty eminent chemists, some of them stillliving. A team of seven writers participated, and their manuscripts were revised and sometimes extended. The subjects are grouped according to their principal field of chemical interest, and the list begins with Parrteslsus. It closes with men chosen from chemical industry. The only American included is Linus Pauling. The many persons mentioned incidentally in the essays are listed in the Peramaverzeichnis where each is accorded 1 4 lines. Many photographs and likenesses are included. The obieetive of these essavs is to assist t ~ n r h r w in prepariny tlrrir clms room prrirntxtions of various t q k . I h t student* and ihone intercstcd iu tlw lrir~oryof chemistry per se can likewise profit from the book. An adequate list of references is pravided-in German of course. Readers on this side of the Iron Curtain will he struck by the emphasis on socialpolitical problems and ideological aspects. This novel (to Westerners) feature is particularly evident in the Einfiihrung and in the discussion of such men as Joliot-Curie and tbe leaders in the chemical industries. The emphasis on the contribution of the Russian chemists is part of the same pattern. However, learning the other man's viewmint is essential to a liberal eduea-
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RALPHE. OESPER Unhewity of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio
Dictionary of Industrial Chemistry: English/Ameriean, French, Spanish, Italion, Dutch, German. 2 volumes
Edited by A. F. Dorian, London. American Elsevier Publishing, Ca, New York, 1964. 15 X 23 om. 840. Under principles proposed by UNESCO, an extensive series of multilingual teohnical dictionaries is under way in the Ekevier enterprise. This is one member of the series. The ground plan is one vocabulary with definitions of terms (actually explanatory notes, many of them excellent). These terms, in alphabetical order, are numbered consecutively. Terms in each of the other languages m e then entered alphabetically, one vooebulttry to each language, each term followed only by the number under which it is defined in the main vocabulary. In this dictionary the main vocabubulasy is called English/American, a misnomer since concessions to the difference are rare and not carefully handled. Thus, gasoline is defined only as "a U.S. synonym for petrol"; pet701 is not defined at all. American spellings such as sulf- and -ler (meter, liter, etc.) are not recognized; sulph- and -tre are used. Space is sometimes saved bv referrine an entrv to the definition of x q n o n y n , t)tar this plan is not witemntiwlly ,tpplied ro Engli4~1 American synonyms. While msny definitions are praiseworthy, others sre scanty to the point of stinginess. The technical meanings and significance of rate get short shrift; the only kind recognized is rate of discharge in storage batteries, and the only rating is also for storage batteries. Yet "storage battery" as a term does not appear, and "battery acid" is referred to "accumulator" which is not defined. Many chemicals, essential oils and the like are defined only by citing one use though they may have several. Some hint ss to chemical character or constitution would he desirable and would require no extra space. For example, phytic a d is defined only as "a chelating agent" and chelate is defined only as a noun, not as a verb. Misprints are uncommon, but three were noted: e for a in flavanthrene (No. 3142): one 1 missing in Kjeldahl (No. 4110): -ethyl- omitted in tetramethylethylenediimine (No. 7558). There are no page numbers: item numhen in the main vocabulary, and alphabetical sequence in the others, are adequate for locating entries. Remembering Samuel Johnson's pious hope of mercy, no reviewer should allow a few lexicographic faults to blind him to merits, of which this dictionmy has many. The multilingual feature alone would earn forgiveness far numerous minor defects. The recent date means entries not to he found in older works. The arrangement is compact and permits application of the rather comprehensive treatment to more than 8000 terms. Memured against utility, the price is reasonable. It amounts to about 47# per 100 English language definitions, or about 81 per 100 per language served. (Continued a page A546
