6.58
NETV
noo1is
tioiis of bases a n d acids are given \vith co:iveiiiently arranged tabular schemes of qualitative analysis. Tliert. are also a few examples of quantitative iiiethods, and descriptions of tlie more iiiiportatit pi-ocesses of d r u g assa!.. The work coiicluder; with K.A . \i'r,rpi€:KS C H E l I l S T K Y . 14Y S I R I I E S R Y IC. ROSCOE. S e w York a n d 1,ontion. 3lacrnillaii 2-z Co., 66 I i f t h Aveiiue, S e w York City. Price, 51.2j. p p . 216; 1 2 mo. I'ortrait a:lcl
J0ii.v I>.\I,TOX .%SI) THE RlSIi 01:
iacsiniile.
T h e C e u t u r y Science Series.
T h i s is an unusually satisfactory book ; it is a pleasure to read t h e biography ot one eiiiiiierit man written by aiiotlier distinguished in t h e same branch of knowledge, who appreciates and synipathizes with his subject and his subject's labors. Materials for a history of Joliri Dalton a n d his coritributiotis to chemistry were not lacking. \f'. C. H e n r y ' s ' ' 3Ieiiioirs" ( 1 8 j + ) , K . X. S m i t h ' s ' ' Memoir arid Histor)- of t h e Atomic Theor>-" ( I 8j 6 ) , Charles Clay's ' I Reiiiiiiiscences " ( I 8S4) , anti L,oiisdale's ' * Worthies of ~ ~ l l i i b e r ~ 3"l i(d18;4), supply tile tiecessary details of tlie uiie\witful, quiet life of t h e Manchester schoolmaster, aiid accounts of his i i i o ~ i i e ~ i t oresearches ii~ iii clieiiiBesides these soiirces of iiiforiiiation, Sir ical philosopliy . i all, H e n r y could refer to h i s ow11 lecture delivered i n t h e T o \ ~ i H Manclicst&:r, i i i 1874. 1x1 this ~.olunib we find ti sIiiii1ii:wy of Dalton's parentage, school daysj, and teachers, liis experieii a school teacher when only twelve years of age, h i i first atteiiipts a t scientific iiivestigatioii (meteorological1 , liis coiiiiectioii ivitli t h e Manchester College. and his pains-taking rese:irclies o n tlie relative weights of ultimate particles. The text is pleasantlj, anecdotal. clearly describing Dalton's persoiialitJ-. T h e \.oluiiie is illustrated with a portrait of Ikiltoii. facsiii:iles of letter aiid leaflet containing the atomic syiiibols. One reniark of Sir H e n r y ' s greatly surprises us ; speaking of deciiiial fractioiis h e says they are a m a r e and 3 stumbling-block even to some great men of t h e present day." Can it be t h a t calculations in A>.ss, and d . a r e so deeply impressed 011 t h e British iiiind that they prevent coniprehension of decimals faiiiiliar to every Aiiiericati schoolb o y ? T h e book contains a n excellent index. "
H.
C A K K I N G T O N B01,TON.
