on separate sheets suitable for mounting oh charts for ready reference. Much original work, as well as a tremendous t a s t of cornpilation, appears in the M. I. T. TABLES. Over a quarter million lines were first cataloged, on cards; the entire spectrographic literature war covered in this list. T o eliminate error a duplicate card catalog was separately made and the two catalogs were intercompared and corrected. When a line had been reported by several workers all the measurements were listed on a single card. Finallv. line3 ~.~~~ ~-~ , measurements were made for some 75.000 in the spectrographic. hhoratory of the hfassachusetts Institute of Technology and the rerrdtr of thew measuremcntr were liated in the card catalog. Spectrographs of high dispersion were used for the experimental measurements, and an automatic comparator was developed for measuring, computing, and recording the wavelength data. Over 10,000 plates were examined. From the literature data and the experimental measurements, the best values were selected for the TABLES. Throughout the table the probable precision is indicated by the number of dgnificant figures employed. Many of the values are given to three decimal places, and are believed t o be accurate t o +0.005 A. Others, less accurately known, are given t o one or two decimal places. The book is well printed, with large, legible type on a durable paper. Columns are separated into sub-groups of five lines. This separation, the large type employed, and the pronounced yellow tint of the paper make the TABLESexceptionally easy to use, and tend t o prevent error in reading them. The book is
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excellently bound, t o give a long life under the-hard usage which it will receive. Altogether, i t seems that no effort or expense has been spared t o produce the finest possible work and one which will doubtless be standard for many years. It is a book which is indispensable for every spectroscopist, regardless of whether his interests are in applied spectrochemical analysis or in the theoretical field. W. C. PIERCE THE
U"naaslru os C m c ~ o o
CHICAGO. ILLlNOlS
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A~oaasIN A c r r o ~ . George Russell Harrison. Willism Morrow and Company, New York City, 1939. xi 371 pp. 1Q illustrations. 14 X 21 cm. 83.50. Dr. Hamson has written this book for the layman who wants a better understanding of the meaning of physics and the aim of the physicist. The result is an entertaining and informative account of the physicists' outstanding contributions to society. The reader is made acquainted with the physical principles underlying not only such familiar instruments as the telephone, camera, phonograph, radio and television set, and airplane, but also the less well known photo-electric cell, spectroscope and X-ray tube. The language is entirely non-technical and non-mathematical: the ideas are conveyed by apt simile, in terms of concepts familiar to all.
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The unifying theme of the book is the control of energy as a factor in the sacial economy. "Energy is wealth . . yet this energy is fre-to him who can discover how to capture and control it. The scientist who is most concerned with the investigation and control of energy is the physicist." Natural phenomena are exhibited as transformations of energy, and the discoveries and inventions of the physicist as providing the means for directing these processes t o the betterment of mankind. So. in each case, the end result of the physicists' accomplishment is interpreted in terms of its contribution to human pleasure and human comfort. Many signs indicate an ever-increasing interest on the part of the lay public in the work of the scientist, and the author has admirably achieved his purpose to offer a rational basis for this interest. Physicists will undoubtedly welcome the opportunity to place this work in the hands of their non-scientist friends. S. L. QurMBv
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Co~uxal*UNIvaRslrv Nnw Yoar CITY
already a specialist in some branch of science or of engineering or of the humanities. Professor Wolf's earlier volume on the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries is reviewed in THrs JOURNAL, 13, 147-8 (March, 1936).
COLLOIDALPHENOMENA. E. A . ha use^. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York City, 1939. xx 294 pp. 14 X 20 cm. $3.00. I n the author's own words, it is not his intention t o offer another textbook on colloidal chemistry since a sufficient number already exist. He hopes "to acquaint the reader, in as simple a manner as possible, with the modern viewpoints in colloidal science and to show where and why they must differ from those so successfully applied in physico-chemistry, I t is further hoped that such discussions may be helpful in eliminating the belief. still prevalent in some circles, that the science of colloids must be considered either as a development entirely independent of any other branch of known science, or that colloidal phenomena must be fully in accordance with laws of classical chemistrv . ex~lained . or phgriw. . . . Thesr courrrv at the Massachusrtt.; lnititutr of Technology) have provcd rllat the average studenr comprehends alogical prrunration of such a rthjrcr mvrc readily than a marhe. matical treatment." Dr. Hauser has realized his hopes very successfully in this helpful book. He writes very clearly and expresses himself very positively. The colloid chemist may not always agree with his viewpoint, but he will understand exactly what the author is saying. The reviewer liked particularly the very definite discussion of charge and hydration influences, the unusually good discussion of the theories of swelling, the treatment of the coacervation theories of Kruyt and Bungenberg de Jong, the section on the optics of colloids, and the treatment of colloidal aggregates. Adsorption is not dealt with.at great length, although it is of major impqrtance. On the other hand, the principles and theories of adsorption are very well taught. "Quite frequently we find that physical adsorption is predominant a t low temperatures, such as in the adsorption of oxygen on metal surfaces; whereas a t elevated temperatures an activated adsorption on chemical localization takes place. This difference finds its simple explsnation in the fact that chemical reactions proceed extremely slowly at low temperatures." The reviewer is somewhat dismayed by the extreme brevity of treatment of emulsions and by the limited discussion of gels. Silica eels are touched noon verv , Liehtlv. .. with no mention of Parrick's important work in chis fcld The author irrms to be rarhcr more familiar wit11 European work in thr rolloicl field than with the very important American research. The appendix is extremely useful, offering, as it does, many important formulas and technics. I t contains also an excellent discussion of infra-red spectroscopy, fluorescent light microscopy, and the theory of X-ray diffraction. Dr. Hauser's book is clearly a useful addition to the colloidal Library. I t will justify future editions as the rapid advance of the subject makes such revisions necessary. HARRYN HOMES
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A HISTORYOP SCIENCE, TECHNOLOOY, AND PHILOSOPHY IN THE EIGHTEENTHCENTURY.A . Wo% Professor and Senator, University of London. Head of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, Former Fellow of St. John's College. Cambridge. Fellow of University College, London, Co-Editor of the Encyclopedia Britannica. 345 illustrations. The Macmillan Co., New York City. 1939. 814 pager. 14.5 X 24 cm. 88.00. This interesting and handsome book, bountifully illustrated, will be a valuable addition to any school library. I t is something into which a young student may profitably be encouraged to look. He will almost certainly pause of his own accord and linger; he will wish to read much of it. If he likes machines, or chemistry, or botany, or if he seeks for material for a debate on social questions, he will find here much that is pleasant to know and profitable to think about. The older student will gain perspective from it; the mature person will collect from it intellectual dividends according to the degree of his maturity. The eighteenth century was the time of the Lusty youth of that technology which now seems to have attained the fullness of its stature and vigor. I t was the time, too, of keen thinking, of vast inquisitiveness, of ardent speculation, and of rigorous inquiry. One of my friends, seeing the book upon my table, remarked, "There is a book which represents real humanism." Another found it "convincing ;vidence that the students of political history are missing the main @sue." The b w k consists of thirty-two chapters which treat of mathematics, mechanics, astronomy, astronomical instruments, marine instruments, light, sound, heat, electricity and magnetism, meteorology, meteorologicalinstruments, chemistry, geology, geography, botany, zoology, medicine, agriculture, rextiles, building, transport, power plants and machinery, the steam engine, mining and metallurgy, industrial chemistry, the making of lenses and specula, mechanical calculators, telegraphy, psychology, the national character, demography, economics, and philosophy. The h w k is truly encyclopedic in its scope. The reviewer has found the last few chapters to he especially interesting, for they contain inductive and thoroughly scientific material on subjects which are sometimes mistakenly considered to be OBBRLIN COLLBOB entirely speculative. OB*RUN, O R l D The book does not contain a satisfying history of eighteenth century chemistry. Lomonosov's part in that history is not mentioned; his name appears only in connection with a de- EDUCATIONAL Acrrvrnes OP THE WORKSPROGRESS ADMINISTRAscription of an anemometer which he invented. Phlogiston and TION. D. S. Campbdl, F. H. Bair and 0. L. Harvey. U. S. Lavoisier are treated all t w conventionally, in a manner which Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1939. xiv indicates a lack of familiarity hoth with the sources and with the 185 pp. 15 X 23.5 cm. 8.25. findings of recent research. But the book is already large, it can't contain evervthinr. , ". and it does indeed tie thines torether in a martcrly manner and eihihit their interrrlation,hip%. I t i THE ENGINEERS' MANUAL.R. G. Hudsol~. John Wiley and gwatesr interest sill he ior the rtudent of the intellroual history Sons, Inc., New York City, 1939. Second Edition. iv f 340 of mankmd, and this ic true ahethcr thar studcnt is, or is nor. pp. 12.5 X 20 cm. $2.75. ~~~
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