V ~ L9,. No. 4
741
RECENT BOOKS
prepared and if properly interpreted should be of value in furnishing a basis for the selection of the most essential items. The list would have been of consider. ably more value if the most essential items had been indicated by an asterisk. As the lists now stand, considerable unnecessary duplication is bound to occur if these arc used by the less ex. perienced science instructors or if used bj. individuals, such as purchasing agents, who may not be acquainted with the apparatus needed for sciencp teaching. For instance, the list of apparatus for the use of the individual student includes Bunsen burners, 4-07.. and 8 . 0 ~ .alcohol lamps. If Bunsen burners are ordered, the alcohol lamps will not be necessary. Ten different kinds of rubber stoppers are listed but the authors do not indicate the items they are to be used for. 1t would be better to say: ..Rubber stopper No. 6 to fit 300 cc. pyrex flask." If some of the flasks were omitted, then the user would know which stoppers to omit. Five kinds of flasks are indicated as follows: 500 cc. flask, 250 cc. flask, 250 cc. Erlenmeyer flask, 125 cc. ~ r l e n meyer flask, 125 cc. flat-bottomed p y r a flask. All these are not necessary, and specifications are not definite enough. I t would be better to indicate the item as flask, Erlenmeyer, 250 cc. pyrex t o take NO. 6 rubber stopper. TO make the list of any value, each item should he specified as definitely as possible. Such spe&. cations are necessary to insure a good grade of science equipment. If competing concerns are required t o quote on items of like specifications; usually there is not much difference in the quotations of the various bidders. The authors state, "that cumulative prices are given in each list because the writers thought this information would be valuable for those school districts in which fundswill n o t ~ e r m ithe t ~urchaseof the entire list. These cumulative figures will enable the school officers to readily determine where the list must be cut."
Some of these school officers may interpret this list to mean that about $1000 will be necessary for a class of 24 in chemistry exclusive of the necessary laboratory furniture. If t h a t were true, I am of the opinion that many schools would not introduce a course in chemistry. Again if $200 were available for a class of twelvc pupils, just how much should be spent for the use of the student and just how much from the general list. Suppose that i t was decided to use about a100 for student equipment, would the instructor then go down the list to items with a total price of %ZOO and omit all those items below this point? If this were done, such items ascobalt glass, graduates, platinum loops, and burets would be omitted, and from the general list such items as retorts, hydrometers, and lead dishes. A supplementary series of lists should he prepared for each science which would show the items most essential and also show the least number of each item that could be used. Additional lists would shov the items to be added as the equipment is built up over a number of years. AS the li* stands now i t may be grossly misinterpreted. One of the greatest drawbacks to the introduction of the various sciences in the small high schools has been the large amount of money considered essential in order to secure the necessary equipment.
J. H. JENSSN THBNo%~"eaN NORMAL A N D INDUSTRIAL SEBOOL AsenoesN. Sorrn. D*ror*
MISCELLANEOUS
PUBLICATIONS
The Practice of Spectrum Analysis with Hilger Instruments, Including a Note on the Various Types of Emission 'pecha. by F. TwyMilN, F. Inst. P., F.R.S. Fifth edition. Adam Ltd., London, "pp. + PP' Bibliography. l5 25 Cm' net. This small booklet concerns itself with the use of spectroscopic instruments, particularly with reference to their appli-
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792
JOURNAL
OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
cation t o qualitative and quantitative analysis. Although patently propaganda intended t o increase the sale of Hilger instruments its restrained tone and scientific outlook keep this aim from detracting from its obvious usefulness. It should be of particular value t o the practical analyst seeking information about the usefulness of spectroscopic methods in analysis, or a guide in the use of the instruments. J. E. MAYER THE JOHNS HOPKINS BALTIMORE,
UNIVERSITY MARYLAND
Chemistry of Today. Broadcast Supplement of The Nucleus. Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. 1932. 154 pp. 15 X 23 cm.
Biennial Survey of Education in the United States, 1929-30. Chapter N. Industrial Education. MA R I S M . P R O F FITT, Educational Consultant and Specialist in Guidance and Industrial Education, Office of Education. U. S. Dept. Interior, Bulletin, 1931, No. 20. U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C.) 44 pp. 15 X 23 cm. $0.10. The topics discussed in this bulletin are as fallows: progress in industrial education. the effect of unemployment, plans o f administrative organization, industrial work in small schools, industrial arts, entrance requirements t o industrial courses, classes for the retarded, four-year courses, aviation, production jobs, guidance, teacher training, summary, and conclusion.
Contains, among others, the following broadcasts: "What the Chemist Has Done t o Some Fuels of Today." "Chemistry and Good Roads," "The Oxides of Carbon," "Edison a s Chemist," "The Crucible of the Sun," "The Air We Breathe," "The Water We Drink," "Rubber from Rocks." Reprints of individual broadcasts are available a t $3.50 for fifty copies and considerably lower rates for larger quantities. The address of the Managing Editor, J. A. Seaverns, is: 99 Broad St., Boston, Mass.
Salaries in Land-Grant Universities and Colleges. JOHN H. MCNEELY,Division of Colleges and Professional Schools, Office of Education. U. S. Dept. Interior, Pamphlet No. 24, Nov., 1931. U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 27 pp. 15 X 23 cm. (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C.) $0.05.
Record of Current Educational Publications, July 1-September 30, 1931. Bulletin, 1931, No. 22, Department of the Interior, Officeof Education. U. S. Government Printing Office, 1932. v + 86 pp. 15 X 23 cm. (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C.) $0.15.
The data presented in this bulletin include: salaries, by sex and rank; salaries by major divisions; salaries, by departments in arts and sciences; salary distributions for all fields combined; salary distributions, by major divisions; salary distributions, by arts and science departments: list of institutions.
