The first stated purpose in the preparation of the book is "to lead t o an understanding of the changing world in so far as chemical principles may help t o interpret it." The preface further admits that "principles of biology and physics have been erplained wherever the inquiry seemed t o demand." The second purpose is "to seek to develop scientific attitudes and habits of using scientific methods by practice." This idea is the foremost one in any line of education, according t o John Dewey, so the author is in good company. The statement of this purpose could be strengthened by omitting the Grst infinitive. The subject matter of this b w k is divided into five so-called units of the Morrison type. The first two are labeled "Oxidation" and "Reduction." The third has the title. "Fuels and Energy" but it consists of a description of fuels only. The fact that a fuel serves t o hvnish energy is given no consideration, and no comparison of the energy content of different fuels is given. Everything about acids, bases, and salts and their ionization is included in the division called, "Water and Its Relation to Chemical Change." Finally, all other subject matter is placed under the all-inclusive title, "Chemistry and Human Affairs." The value of such large units is questionable, for they really are not unified in organization. For example, only one of the five chapters of the unit, Reduction, hears directly on the subject. A chapter on iron and steel is brought forward as another chapter which is mostly descriptive of manufacturing processes and uses. The main subject of metallurgy and reduction of ores is given scant treatment in the last unit. The units on oxidation and reduction occupy a space of one hundred fifty-four pages, yet they are defined as "combining with oxygen" and "removal of oxygen." The discussion of the structure of atoms is given in these units so it was easily possible t o have given their complete meaning in the losing and gaining electrons. The best features of the book are the discussions of method which appear consistently throughout the hook. The discursive style of explanation with its personal appeal will be appreciated by the pupils for whom this book was intended. The difficulties of the organization will not attract their attention to any great extent. I n keeping with this type of book numerous suggestions are made for teacher or pupil demonstration experiments. There is real value in this close association of experiment and explanation. The chapters are closed by summaries of the incomplete sentence type. These summaries arelabeled as principles, yet many rather trivial facts appear with the principles. A list of problems for investigation follows. They are well chosen. The chapter ends with a list of questions which are really exercises; only a few sre real questions. Twenty-nine books to read are listed a t the close of the several units. Nine science journals are listed just before the appendix. which consists of only two pages of the elements with their cammon properties. Admittedly, the book does not attempt t o meet the requirements of the College Entrance Board. While the last unit is intended to be used as optional ground, i t does not furnish enough practice in fundamentals for the student who expects to continue his study of chemistry in college. We would like to have a basic fundamental course within the reach of all. with additional mare advanced work for the mare capable pupil. One is im~,ressrd with the Pact that so much of value has bern put in a limital numher of pages. LAK.
vxsw H I ~ H sulool.
C A I C * ~ ~~ .L L ~ N O I S
Five hundred forty-seven independent experiments, mostly qualitative, but several quantitative, have been selected from the literature. These experiments date from the beautiful demonstrations of Bunsen and Ramsay t o the present day. The author has given credit for the ideas whenever he could discover the original demonstrator. The book includes experiments commonly found in such books as Newth's and Benedict's; in other wards this is the most complete treatise thus far presented. The principles of elementary chemistry are usually illustrated by more than one experiment, thus giving the teacher a choice to fit his needs and point of view. The directions and purpose of the experiment are clearly and concisely given, but the descriptive matter is not trivial or too lengthy. The nomenclature is somewhat antiquated, as "spirit of salt," which may bother the young teacher. The source of materials is given only for English h s . This detail seems wholly unnecessary. The experiments are all time proven. There is no doubt of the author's statement that they represent a lifetime of collecting and organization. Besides this vast number of experiments the author has presented in the introduction and appendices advice t o teachers, and constructive suggestions for the improvement of teaching in the most beautiful and inspiring form that I have ever read. The spirit of these pages will cause every reader to attack his lectures with greater zeal. These pages alone are worth the price of the bwk. No teacher of general chemistry can a5md t o be without it. I t will stand out as one of the great contributions to the better teaching of general chemistry. HERSCH~I.HUNT UN~VBRSKTY L*a*uarrs. I N D I * N ~ PO-
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INDIA,I'oIume VII. Swiety of Biological Chemists, Hebbal P. 0.. Uangdore, India, 1937. 10.5 pp. 11 X 21.5 em. Volume VII of the Annual Review of Biochemical and Allied Research in India contains the following chapters: "Enzymes," K. Venkata Giri (pp. 1-9); "Proteins of Indian Fwdstuffs," Kamala Bhagvat (pp. I N ) ; "Vitamins, Hormones, and Plant Stimulants," Bashir Ahmad (pp. 15-28): "Pharmacology," B. B. Dikshit (pp. 29-33); "Human Pathology and Bacteriology," S. M. Banerji (PP. 34-47): "Human Physiology," N. M. Basu (pp. 48-61); "Microbiology and Fermentation," S. V. Desai (pp. 6 M ) ; "Chemistry of Plant Products," C. N. Acharya (pp. 67-80); "Physiology and Nutrition of Plants," B. N. Singh (pp. 81-96); "Agronomy and Agricultural Industries," B. Viswa Nath (PP. 97-106); "Soils, Manures and Fertilisers," A. Sreenivasan (pp. 107-19); "Phytopathology-Mycology," B. B. Mundkur (pp. 12Cb9); "Phytopathology-Entomology," M. C. Cherian (pp. 1 3 M ) ; "Dairy Chemistry," C. S. Ram Ayyar (pp. 13740); "Nutrition of Farm Animals," P. V. Ramiah (pp. 141-5); "Sail Physics," Amar Nath Puri (pp. 146-50); and "Agricultural Meteorology," L. A. Ramdas (pp. 151-5). The volume also contains author and subject indices. OTTOR E I N ~ H
HERBERTR. S M I ~ A CATALOGUE OF THE EPSTEAN COLLECTION ON THE HISTORY OF P ~ o r o o u p R YAND ITS APPLICATIONS ESPECIALLYTO TBE GRAPHICARTS. Introductory Note by Hellmut LehmannHaupt. Columbia University P-, New York City. 1937. 15.5 X 24.5 cm. $1.50.
L E C ~ EXPERIMENTS E IN CHEMISTRY. G. F d e s , M.Sc., A.I.C.. F.C.S., Latymer Upper School, London. P. Blakiston's Son & Co., Inc., Philadelphia, 1937. xvi 4-564 pp. 150 figs. 13 X 21 cm. $5.00. The author successfullyattempted to furnish the secondary and college teacher of chemistry with awealth of lecture experiments.
This book is a hihliography of photography. The chapter headings are General Works on Photography; Theoretical Foundations; The Aesthetics of Photography; The History of Photography; Technical Evolution; Equipment and Apparatus; The Practice of Photography; The Applications of Photography; Motion Picture Photography; Photomechanical Reproduction; and Color. Color Photography, Color Printing.
