Statistical Methods in Research and Production (Davies, Owen L.)

computational details are relegated to ap- pendixes at the ends of the chapters. The uninitiated will find that ... and who would like a smooth introd...
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the analytical chemist. I t is considered a. necessary addition to the library of analytical laboratori~s. HARRY T. JOHNSTON S*N"EL P. S*DTLERB SON,INC. PHILADILPIIIA, PENNBYLYANIA

STATISTICAL METHODS IN RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION Edited by Owen L. Davies, Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., London, Ensland. Third Edition. Hafner Publishing 396 pp. 4 3 Co., New York, 1957. x figs. 9 6 tables. 1 6 X 25 em. $7.75.

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UNDERthe title of this book is the added phrase " ~ i t hspecial reference to the chemical industry." The methods expounded, however, are just as applicable to certain types of academic resewch as they are to industrial research and development. This third edition of a n outstanding work has about two dozen more figures and over 100 more pages than the previous edition [reviewed in J. CHEM. EDUC.27, 582 (1950).] Following are the headings and the number of pages in each chapter: (1) Introduction, 6 , (2) Frequency Distributions, 81, (3) Averages and Measures of D i e persion, 84, (4) Confidence Limits and Tests of Significance, 18, (5) Statistical Tests: Choosing the Number of Observation~,27, (0) Analysis of Variance, 54, (7) Linear Relationshim between Two

Vitriitbles, 58, (8) Multiple and Curvilinear Regression, 66, (9) Frequency Data and Contingency Tables, 86, (10) Control Charts, 88, (11) Sampling and Specifications, 87. Useful tables collected in the back include probability points for the following distributions: normal, ehisquare, student's 1, and variance ratio. Chapters 2, 3, 9, and 10 m e substantially the same as in previous editions. All other chapters have been revised. The material in Chapter 5 appears for the first time. It is the style of this book t o follow the discussion of a statistical ttechnique with an exi~mple drawn from a problem met in actual practice a t Imperial Chemical Industries. The use of such examples is a splendid feature and eases the way for chemists to learn statistical methodology. Although this book deals with applied ~t~atistics a t a n elementary level, it eantains a very large body of information. This information is well distributed, though; elementary proofs and additional computational details are relegated to appendixes a t the ends of the chapters. The uninitiated will find that considerable atudy and practice will be necessary if he is to derive maximum profit from the methods given. Nevertheless, i t is difficult to see how the authors could do a better job of leading a beginner into the subiect. "Statistical Methods in Research and Production" is highly recommended to those chemists who must deal with experimental data and who would like a smooth introduction to atatiat,ics.lnnnlv~is.

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION

After finishing this hook, more serious students will he adequately prepared to continue their study with the sequel to this work, "The Design and Analysis of Industrial Experiments," by the same editor [reviewed in J. CHEM. EDUC., 32, 654 (1955)l. LLOYD 6. NELSON GENERAL EGGCTRIC LAMPDIYI~ION CL~"EL*ND 12. OHIO

IDEAS. INVENTIONS. AND PATENTS: HOW T O DEVELOP AND PROTECT

THEM Robert A. Buckles, New York Bar. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1957. xi 270 pp. 15 X 23.5 cm. $5.95.

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T o TEE typical chemist or engineer, a patent is a formidable legal document. Nevertheless, patents are important to our technological progress. They encourage inventors to disclose new technical infarmation in return far the right t o bar others from using it for 17 years. Patents are truly scientific literature, although too often overlooked by the scientist in his search far hroad knowledge of his chosen field. This hook successfully accomdishes a worth" Durnose "to heln teehmsttere." The author is a graduate engineer as well as a patent attorney. His dual hackground has enabled him to present legal principles and practices concisely and in the simple and clear terms expected of a scientist. The text is easilv read and the coverage is unusually broad. Thc illustrations complement the text well; frequent excerpts from actual patents help to develop a needed familiarity with patent format. The early chapters deal with the philosophy of the patent system, tests for determining patentability, and "negative2' rules of invention that define indirectly by stating limitatiom that preclude invention. Two especially useful chapters discu~show to plan a patent program and how to keep the patent records so vital to establishing priority. The roles of the patent attorney as aolicitor, counselor, and advocate for the inventor are clearly spelled out. A key chapter discusses the heart of the patent-the claims, which are precise definitions by which the inventor protects his "intellectud property." Here, the author carefully explains the technique of developing and interpreting broad claims together with narrower, more-specific ones. Claims must he understood before infringement prohlems can he recognized or avoided. A rovealing chapter an What Happens in the Patent Office? takes the reader through eaoh step in the prosecution of s. recent patent application. The inventor's problems and the attorney's reasoning are lucidly discussed. All of the official papers-the office actions and responseare shown and explained. This graphic treatment shoiild both instruct and r e assure the novice inventor. Remaining chapters deal with uses of patents, licenses, trade secrets, eopy(Continued on page A888)

VOLUME 35, NO.

6, KINE, 1958