APRIL, 1950 COLORIMETRIC METHODS OF ANALYSIS. VOLUME I1
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Foster Dee Snell and Cornelia T. SneN. D. Van Noskand Company, Inc., New York, 1949. Third edition. x f 950 pp. 16 X 23.5 cm. 512. INn n n n ~ a r the ~ o third edition, volume I of the second edition was dividedinto two new volumes. The new volume I contains the general description of methods, instruments, and theory, as well as a treatment of the determination of pH, (see review in THIS JOURNAL, 25, 642 (1948)). The present volume I1 deals with methods for the determination of inorganic suhstrtnoes. For those who are familiar with the previous edition, it is sufficient t o say that this volume has heen hrought up to date and includes the important recent advances. The references listed are very numerous and the foreign literature is well covered. Colorimetric analysis has been profoundly influenced by the recent development of optical and electronic instruments, whioh the author takes fully into-wcount. The new volume is a total revision of the earlier edition. Considerably more attention is given to the preparation of samples for the analysis, in the case of each of the elements. Not only is the order of chapters changed but each one is rather fully written. In a work of this kind the critical selection of procedures is a matter of grerut importance. The viewpoint of the authors, in this regard, is shown by the statement in the preface: "When authors we highly critical a hook is correspondingly highly personalized and noninclusive. When authors are uncritical a book becomes a mere collection of methods. The middleof-the-road position selected here is rather inclusive but gives methods only briefly if they appear to be unimportant." NORRIS W. RAKESTRAW S c m ~ p sI N ~ ~ T DOFTOOE&NO(IR*PW E
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VARIABILITY IN RECOGNIZING SCIENCE LNQUIRY. AN ANALYSIS OF HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE TEXTBOOKS
Richord H.Lampkin, Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, 79 pp. 14 tables. Columbia University, New York, 1949. ia 15.3 X 23.5. $2.10.
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Tms analysis was designed to answer the following questions: 'Whatis the scient~fiomethodof inquiry? Have the authors of select.ed high-school science textbooks exnlieitly accepted the scientific method of inquiry as an ohjeetivi? What ideas related to the scientific method of inquiry were discussed, assumed, or exemplied in the books? By what means were these ideas presented? How muoh space was given to them? Was variation in amount of spaoe given to scientific inquiry associated with variation in such factors as the following: subject field of the book; topics within subject fields; authorship, or variation from hook to hook; position within the hook, from quarter to quarter7 In order to answer these questions the fallowing steps were taken: the scientific method of inquiry was defined, textbooks were selected for analysis, procedures for analyzing the books developed, the data were summarized and the findings were interpreted. Twelve high-srhool science textbooks-three each from the fields of general science, physics, biolog~-,and chemistrywere selected for analysis. The prefaces were examined to obtain evidence whether or not scientific inquiry had been accepted as an objective of the book. Eneh of the 12 readers was selected either from his major field of science teaching or with a maim in ohilosoohv. One of the conclusionsof the studv showed th& the reader': task mlght have been easier had he been better grounded in scientific inquiry himself. How much space did the
textbooks give to scientific inquiry? A little more than 10 pe cent according to the readers. How much space should he given to scientific inquiry7 Ten per cent of total space seema to hs inadequate on the basis of emphasis placed upon scientific inquiry as an objective of science teaching. I t is hoped that the results and interoretations oresented herein will be found useful
GRETA OPPE
BERGWERK-UND PROBIERB~~CHLEIN A translation from the German of the "Bergbiichlein," a ailteenthcentury book on mining geology by Anneliese Griinhaldt Sisco, and a translation of the "Probierbiichlein," sixteenth-century work on essaying, by Annelieiese Griinhaldt Sisco and Cyril Stanley Smith with technical annotations and historical notes. Publication sponsored by the Seeley W. Mudd Memorial Fund. The American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, New Yak, 1949. 196 pp. 42 figs. 13 X 21 cm. 55. PROBABLY everyone who has studied the history of chemistry recalls mention of these two little books, the earliest printed works on mining and metallurgioal chemistry. However, very few have read them, since they have been very rare, and the old, technical German in which they are written is difficult to follow. Now, thanks to the Seeley W. Mudd Memorial Fund of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, they we available to every interested reader. Several years ago, this same Fund gave us a beautiful translation of the "Pirotechnia" of Biringuccio, and now it presents the earlier, more popular works on which the "Pirotechnia" and "De Re Metallicit" of Agricola. were based. These little books were designed for the use of practical miners and msayers. The "Bergbiichlein," whioh appeared soon after 1500,is an application of the alchemical and astrological theories of the time which predicted that metals would grow in the earth in certain favored locations. The hook explains how to use these theories when seeking the richest veins of metals. The "Prohierhiichlein," first published about 1520,is a treatise on assaying with descriptions of methods and appsrahus and many recipes for refining gold and silver. The content of this hook is mare distinctly chemical than that of the "Bergbiichlein." Taken together, the books give a very clear idea of haw the scientific theories of the time were actually used by the practical worker. Sometimes the directions are confused, often useless methods are described, but, as the editors point out, these directions can be followed, and will give results. They thus differ from most of the alchemical books of the same period which have come down to us. The great number of the latter, as well as the emphasis on alchemy and theoretical chemistry found in so many texts on the history of chemistry, tend to obscure the fact that a flourishing practical chemistry always existed. It was not articulate, but it probably influenced strongly many of the purely theoretical writers. From such glimpses as these hooks give us we can realize how active this practical chemistry was. The full and clear translations of these books are accompanied by numerous notes which explain the significanceof the technical methods described. In addition, there is a hibliographioal history of each hook, together with reproductions of the title page8 of all the chief editions. An analysis of the technical content of the "Prohierhiichlein" closes the volume. The book is excellently printed and contains a. good index. Its publicetion will be most welcome to all who are interested in the history of science and technology. HENRY M. LEICESTER
corn,,.
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SAN FBANCISCO.
AN^ s a n o ~ o n s CAZ~IORXIA
