technical processes, hut more particularly because the information a t oresent available seemed insufficient as comnared with that for the othrr regions." Each section is subdivided into portions which treat first of the chranolu~yand general history of the ci\llization, then of its materials. All s~gnifiranlfacts about the materials appear to he reported, chemical analyses and other studies which have been made upon them, and the conclusions which have been reached concerning their preparation and use. The following incomplete list of the subdivision headings in the section which deals with Egypt gives an indication of the contents of the hook, the other sections, subject always to the availability of material, being subdivided in a similar manner.-The Metals in Egypt, Temple Workshops and Libraries, Labour and Crafts, The Production and Uses of Fire, Fuel, Blowpipe and Bellows, Gold, Predynastic and Early Gold, Composition of Egyptian Gold, Stocks of Gold, Asem. Composition of Electrum, Silver, Chesbet. Mafek, Gems, Copper, The Discovery of Copper, Egyptian Mining in the Sinai Peninsula, African Capper, Hardening of Copper, Bronze, Tinned Copper, Sources of Egyptian Tin, Lead, Brass and Zinc. Antimony, Mercury, Platinum Metals, Iron, The Names and Representations of Iron, Sources of Iron, Predynastic Iran in Egypt, Egyptian Specimens of Iron, Steel, Stone, Plaster and Stucco, Bricks, Pottery, Black-Topped Pottery, Glaze and Glazed Ware, Colours of Glaze, Glass, Gilt Glass, Colourless Glass, Blowing Glass, Analyses of Egyptian Glasses, Imitation Gems, Vasa Murrina, Enamels, Pigments, Media, Encaustic Painting. Eye Paint, Salt, Natron, Sal Ammoniac, Alum. Sulphur, Nitre, Textiles, Dyes and Dyeing, Pomade and Ointment, Oils, Manna, Incense and Perfumes, Frankincense and Myrrh, Kyphi. The Mummy, Materials Used in Embalming, Egyptian Medicine, Physicians and Priests, Imhotep, Magic in Medicine, Medical Texts, Woods, Drinks, Beer. Vinegar. Wine, Bread, Leather, Detergents, Ivory, Various Animal Products, Writing Materials, Ink. Partington's b w k i s a work of the first magnitude, one that may some day perhaps he revised or enlarged hut one that need never he rewritten. I t will be indispensable tothestudent of the history of chemistry and to the student of the history of science and culture. The archzologist will wish t o take a copy of it with him to the site of his excavations. The great museums of the world will not wish t o get along without it. The student of economics will be interested in the weight and relative value of the ancient coins, in the gold-silver ratio among the various nations at various times, in the effect of Alexander's conquests upon it, and in the two dark ages of ancient Egypt concerning one of which a text says that "irrigation was neglected, trade was a t a standstill, and cedar wood, grain, gold and charcoal were lacking." The teacher of chemistry will find in the hook much material for use in his classes-for example, the bard copper of the Egyptians produced by "under-poling" and deriving its hardness from the cuprous oxide which it contained, or the use of alum for the fireproofingof wooden construction. The casual browser in the hook will find in it much t o stimulate his imagination. The print job is difficult but well done, and the price of the hook, though high, is by no means incommensurate withits value. TENNEYL. DAVIS MASSACROSBTTJ I N J T I T ~OF B TBCANOLOOY CAHBEIDDB, MASSACBVSGTTS
LABORATORY AND WORKBOOK UNITS I N CHEMISTRY.Morris W . Anzes, Chairman of the Department of Physical Sciences, George Washington High School. New York City, and Bernard Jaffe, Chairman of the Department of Physical Sciences, Busbwick High School, New York City. Silver, Burdett and Co., New York City, 1935. Thirty-seven figures, seven important tables, one page of first-aid advice, and one page of cuts identifying 22 pieces of chemical apparatus. I n two forms. The consumable form is paper bound, xii 228 pp. 15 X 26 em. List price, $0.84. The non-consumable formis cloth bound, xiv 240 pp. 14 X 20 cm. List price $1.08.
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This book of sty-one well-organized units is intended to provide laboratory work and study exercises far the student, and demonstrations for the teacher throughout the beginning year of
high-school chemistry. I t is stated that the selection of materials is based on the suggestions and requirements of state and college entrance syllabi, on textbooks and the long experience of the authors as teachers of high-school chemistry. While the book may be used with any high-school text, the order of the units is such as to permit it t o he used very effectively with the text, " N m World of Ckemishy," by Bernard Jaffe ((reviewed in the JOURNAL OP CHEMICAL EDUCATION, August, 1935, page 399). Nearly all the units are organized according to one definite plan: (1) a series of experiments t o be performed by the student in the laboratory or by the instructor as demonstrations; (2) a list of several observations and questions on the experiments, given in a form intended to compel careful thinking on the part of the student; (3) a shorter list of conclusions given in suggestive f o m so that the student must deliberate, classify evidence, and summarize results; (4) a large list of slrpplementary exercises intended to provide practice in the application of the principles involved in the experiments and to test understanding of generalizations derived from the unit; (5) a short list of optional questions intended to provide worth-while extra work for the abler student. The last five units of the hook are intended as exercises in summary and review of some of the most important items of elementary chemistry. Unit 48 consists of several pages devoted t o a review of the methods used in solving chemical problems. One page of directions for the preparation of solutions is fallowed by lists giving exactly the chemicals and apparatus needed for the experiments described in each unit. Additional apparatus needed for demonstration are also given in separate lists. This hook has been very carefully prepared. The authors are clearly fully acquainted with the difficulties of directing highschool laboratory work, and with the hest methods of overcoming these difficulties. The experiments are well selected. The Observations and Questions on Erperimats are true learning exercises, in which the student is farced to look for evidence, t o reason and think his way to correct conclusions as far as possible. The supplementary exercises and the optional questions provide much rich material for testing the student's ability t o apply the principles learned. These materials may also he used in assigning additional work for the faster or abler student. The book may be used t o advantage in classes using either single or double laboratory periods. Experiments which should be used as demonstrations are indicated in only a few cases. I n general, the teacher is permitted t o decide just which experiments should he used a s demonstrations and which should he performed by the students individually. This will enable each teacher to use the book in the way which best fits his needs, his conditions, and his resources. One of the most important parts of the book is Unit 48 (which deals with chemical arithmetic, as mentioned above). This unit is not perfect and some of the methods recommended are more or less mechanical, but much excellent work has been done and other authors will find i t difficult t o equal the unit as a whole. The reviewer highly recommends this hook t o all teachers of high-school chemistry. J. 0. FRANK STATET e ~ c n e a C s o~~moe OSmiOSA. W ~ S C O N S ~ N
A SYSTEMATIC HANDBOOK OF V O L ~ E T R ANALYSIS. IC Flnnci~ Sutlon. Revised by A . D. Mitchell, Scientific Assistant. University of London, and Assistant Editor, Journal of the Chmical Society. Twelfth edition. P. Blakistan's Son & Co., Inc., Philadelphia, 1935. xvi 631 pp. 128 figs. 13.5 X 21.25 cm. $10.00. It is a pleasure to wclcame this (the twelfth) edition of so timehonored a trcatix as Sutton's ' \'olumetric Analysis." seeing that the first issue made its appearance some srvcnty-dd years ago. To pronounce the work "comprehensive" would be resorting t o a mild expression; for, in addition t o the discussion of general principles and the insertion of a number of tables, the authors have treated the following topics: alkalimetry and acidimetry, analysis by oxidation or reduction, analysis by precipitation,
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