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BOOK REVIEWS Geschichte des Elektroeisens mit besonderer Beriicksichtigung der zu seiner Erzeugung bestimmten elektrischen Ofen. By OSTWALD MEYER. 206 illus. Published by Julius Springer, Berlin, 1914. 187 pp. Price, 8 Marks. This book deals with the history of the development of the electric furnace as applied t o the iron and steel industry, and is the most comprehensive treatise on the subject in book form t h a t the reviewer has seen. It is a valuable reference book as it embraces much of the subject matter which heretofore has appeared only in the different scientific journals and periodicals, and in addition i t presents a broad view of the whole subject in the order of its development. The treatise is divided into four parts. Part I, entit1ed“History of the Development of Electric Iron and Steel and the Electric Furnaces for the Same,” is by far the most important and is so recognized by the author as he devotes over 7 0 per cent of his space to its treatment; it is subdivided chronologically into six periods starting a t the beginning of the 19th century. The first three periods are of historical importance only, aside from what value they may have from a patent standpoint. From a technical standpoint, only from the fourth period on is of interest. This fourth period (1898-1904) is from Stassano’s invention to the Report of the Canadian Commission, and embraces the important early work of Girod, Hkroult, Stassano, and other pioneers. The f i f t h period (1904-1909) extends from the Report of the Canadian Commission to the first real success of the Raw Iron Development in Sweden. This is perhaps the most important period of development of the commercial types of furnaces and is adequately treated by the author, the work done in other countries, particularly in America, France, and Italy being presented in accordance with their respective importance. The last period is from 1900 t o the present time (1914) and presents the latest developments and inventions as applied t o the industry and also a summary of the present status of electric iron and steel smelting and refining. Part I1 deals with the economic aspects of the subject, and presents a complete report of the number, size, kind, capacity, current, and location of electric iron and steel furnaces throughout the world. The data are very complete and well arranged. P a r t I11 gives a classification of known electric furnaces for the iron and steel industry and presents a review and summary of the whole subject, special attention being given t o induction furnaces. P a r t IV is a supplement and deals with the SchatzlKrieger Electric Furnace System and also with the literature on the subject. The book is well illustrated and is a valuable addition to the knowledge on the subject of electric furnaces as applied t o the iron and steel industry. ALCAN HIRSCH
ment is made to Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. for permission t o use their book on “Use of the Microscope” in its preparation. The coloring of the plates illustrating the organisms does not seem t o be a n improvement. Students have complained to the writer t h a t the colors are incorrect and more confusing than helpful. They prefer the uncolored plates of the earlier editions. The introduction of photomicrographs is a n especially good feature of this edition. A . M. BUSWELL Van Nostrand’s Chemical Annual. Edited by JOHN C. OLSEN. Third Issue. Revised. D . Van Nostrand Company, 2 5 Park Place, New York. 669 pages. Price, $ 2 . 5 0 . Dr. Olsen has been assisted in the revision and extension of the material in this well known handbook by a numher of special contributors. A. F. Seeker, U. S.Department of Agriculture, prepared the material on Oils, Fats and Waxes, and the Chemical Constants of Essential Oils; M . C. Whipple, of Harvard, the tables of Gravimetric Factors and Logarithms; E. E. Ried, of Colgate & Co., and C. A. F. Kahlbaum, of Berlin, the tables on Physical Constants of Organic Compounds; A Seidell, of U. S. Public Health Department, the table on the Physical Constants of Alkaloids; and R. H. Ashley and C. H. Lips the chapter on Stoichiometry. All tables have been carefully revised and corrected t o date. hTew tables, such as the solubility of gases in water, the Bureau of Standards alcohol tables, refractometer tables, tables giving the heats of formation of solutions, etc., have been added. The new chapter on Stoichiometry defines the usual physical constants and outlines and illustrates typical problems often encountered in industrial work. This book contains a large amount of valuable material arranged in a most accessible form. Each revision shows great improvement and approaches more nearly t o that urgently needed Chemical Engineers’ Handbook corresponding in quality and density of material t o the well known handbooks for Mechanical Engineers. I n addition to the text changes noted in the third issue of the Chemical Annual, the publishers have made radical changes in the physical form of the book. A thin strong paper has been adopted so t h a t the entire 669 pages occupy less than seveneighths of an inch, and the whole is held in a soft flexible red leather binding. All of this greatly improves both the appearance and utility of the book as a working volume. M . C. WHITAKER
Practical Handbook for Beet-Sugar Chemists. Rapid methods of technico-chemical analyses of the products and by-products and of materials used in the manufacture of beet sugar. B y WERNERMOELLER-KRAUSE, Sugar Chemist. The Chemical The Microscopy of Drinking Water. By GEORGECHANDLER Publishing Co., Easton, Pa. 1914. 132 p. 19 figs. Price, $1.25. WHIPPLE. Third edition, rewritten. John Wiley & Sons, publishers. avo. xxi - 409 pages, 73 figures and 6 plates in The purpose of the author, as stated in his preface, has been the text and 19 full page plates in colors. Cloth, $4.00 net. “to condense the selected practical information obtained from This work, now in its third edition, is so well known among standard works and other sources to a small convenient form.” After a brief account of the common sugars, the author gives engineers and chemists whose interests are along the lines of water supply and water examination t h a t a general review a short description of the polariscope and a n outline of the manufacture of beet sugar. I n succeeding chapters methods are dewould be superfluous. I n the present edition the first part of the book has been rewritten. New material has been inserted scribed for the analysis of sugar beets, juices, massecuites, in almost every chapter, and several new chapters added, the molasses, sirups, waste waters, press cake, saccharates, water, most important being those on the copper treatment, the stripping limestone, kiln and chimney gas, coal, coke, etc. Methods are of reservoir sites, the purification of algae-laden water, and the given for preparing solutions and reagents, and a final chapter use of the micr‘oscope and photomicrography. The last named gives a number of the more commonly used tables. While the material selected for description is upon the whole chapter pas written by Dr. J. W. M . Bunker and acknowledg-
