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probsbility, s n interpretation. .which seems to he fairly generally accepted. [This theory, however,] is essentially nonrelativistic [and] a t this time [1937]. . . has not been satisfactorily reconciled to relativity." Of interest to the reader, interested in more than the physics, are two chnptersPhilosophical Studies, On Quantum Physics and Difficulties of Determinism. These consider the problem of "continuity and discontinuity" both for physics and as an approach to the interpretation of reality in general. The author thinks, "Reality cannot he interpreted in terms of eondinuity alone; within continuity we must distinguish certain individual entities. [In a wider context these impliestions may require] one of the grcstest changes in orientation which has ever had to he madc.. .to adapt our idea of the physical world to the reqnirements of reason." The preface promises "these chapters, except two, require no mathematics"; this reviewer found the vocabulary used was often freighted with mathematical irnolications. Such readine reouires
serve many of its readers as a. means of modernizing their traditional physics. The date of the first publicstion of these studies (1937) warns, however, that "this is not the latest word."
THE MATHEMATICS OF PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY Henry Margenou, Professor of Physics, Yale University, and George M. Murphy, Professor of Chemigtry, New Yolk University. Second edition. D. Van Nogtrand 604 pp. Co., Inc., Princeton, 1956. xii Many figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 om. $7.95.
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THEfirst edition of this ve1.y useful hook attempted to cover parts of many fields of mathematics, rather than the whole of just one field. Some of the topics treated included vector and tensor analysis, partial derivatives, ordinary and partial differential equations, matrix algebra, integral equations, numerical calculrttions, and group theory. In addition there were discussions of thermodysmics, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and the meehsnica of molecules. I n the second edition, the utility has been enhanced by zmplifiestion of some sections, addition of numerous references a t the end of each chapter, and reduction of typographical errors. The largest addition i~ eight pages on the Laplare transform and its use in solving d~fferential equations. Other parts have been added or amplified, such as the Cauchy theorem an complex variables, linear transformations, raising and lowering operators in quantum mechanics, the distributions of (Continued a page A614 JOURNAL! OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION, NOVEMBER, 1956
