titrimetric calculations are facilitated by using equivalency (titer) instead of miUiequiwlent weight, normality, and normality factor (problem 178). On page 24 the impression may be left that "stannous" and "stannic" chlorides react in solution as such rather than as the chlorostannite and chlorostannate ions. At least the answers to the problems should be appropriately labeled. The selection of problems seems to he adequate for the limited types of measurements covered. I n number and types of problems, as well as in the explanations therefor, the collection is less comprehensive than several existing works.
I ' R I S C I P IOF . ~ E.Z.CLNTERISG ECONOW I'KORLPHS Eayenr L Gratzl, A .\I C E.,Asrociate Profriiur of Econumics of Enginecrina. -. Stanford L'niverritv. American Socictv uf Ciwl Engineers. The Ronald Press CO.. New York City, 1938. iii 142 PP. 6 figs. 13.5 X 20.5 cm. (Paper back.) $1.00.
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This is a collection of two hundred ninety-four problems classified and arranged in chapters numbered and titled to agree with the chapter arrangement of the same author's book, PRINCIPLES OF ENGINEERING ECONOMY, reviewed in Industrial and Engines,ing Ckemirtry, News Edilion, 16, 430 (1938). The problems are taken from a number of sources, such as oersonal exoeriences. eneineerine .. reoorts.. the technical Dress. . . and from rnginrrring trnclmrs. There is practically no textual rnnttcr and answer- ;are trot given Simplifird rompound interest tables are included. Irrelevant matter has been freely inserted in the problems to assist in giving the student practice in defining the problem, something.which he misses in the usual oversimplified problem and constantly encounters in actual practice. As is obvious from the foregoing description, this pamphlet is useful only in the teaching of engineering economy, for which purpose it seems admirably adapted. FREDC. ZEISBERG
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THE SCIENTIST IN ACTION. William H. George, Royal Society Sorby Research Fellow, and Honorary Lecturer in Physics. University of Sbeffield. Emerson Books, Inc., New York City, 1938. 354 pp. 14 X 22 cm. $3.00. I n the preface the author states, "Science as a body of knowledge is well known because of the profound effects upon civilization of its application. Science as a type af action, as a way of doing things, is almost unknown outside of the research laboratory.. . . Studies of scientific method are common enough, but in this book the treatment is strictly scientific, and, therefore, throughout, uncompromisingly nonphilosopbical.. . . . Since I am noncommittal on the relationship between thought and action, the language of logic is seldom used. The research worker, as a purereason machine, is abandoned for the idea of a biological unit reacting to, and acting upon, an ever-changing environment." This markedly biological outline on the scientific method came as a surprise t o the author, for in the final chapter he confesses, "I confess that I wrote this book as the result of an attempt to clarify my mind on the relationship between experiment and theory, and more especially on the relationship between experimental and mathematical physics.. . . . None could be more surprised than I was when this scientific analysis of the problem led me t o a result so strongly biological. But I now regard the contents of Section B of theProceedings of fheRoyol Society (that section which deals with the biological sciences) as essentially relevant to the interpretations of the contents of Section A (dealing with the mathematical and physical sciences)." The major argument in the hook is directed toward the estab-
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lishment of the Description or Patterning Theory of Science, as opposed t o the Absolute Truth or Inner Reality Theory of Science. Many epigrammetic statements of scientists through the centuries are quoted to support the position taken, and Dr. George adds this one of his own, "If such words as 'reality' and 'existence' were banished entirely from scientific literature, any tears shed by research workers would be tears of joy, not of sorrow." The author's treatment of experimental material from the fields of physics, biology, and medicine is well handled, but his statements about chemical relationships are less exact. For example, any chemical storeroom keeper would take exception t o the statement on page 185, "In the stores of a chemical laboratory the bottles of chemicals are usually arranged on the shelves according to the periodic classification of the elements." And most teachers of science will take exception t o his sweeping generalization on page 324, "In so far as I have been able to find out by observation, inquiry, study of syllabi, examination papers, and recommended textbooks, the current practice in universities is: (1) Science, but no scientific method, is taught to science students, and (2) scientific method, but no science, is taught to a small proportion of arts students." JOHN R. SAMPEY FURMAN U~lvsasrru GREENV~LLE. SOU^ CAEOLINA
A COURSE rN QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS.James E. Belcher and Guy Y. Williams. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts, 1938. x 264 pp. 22.5 X 29 cm. Paper $2.00, cloth 52.40.
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The laboratom . Dart of this book is written for either macro or crmirnirro tcchnic. The cxperirnmts spccify 0.5-ml. samples of 0.1 molar solutions of the ion,, and the instrurror ir dircctcd t o multiply this by t m if macro qtxantiricinrc drvireci. The author$ state in the preface that the work is designed for a one-semester course. The first sixty-four pages are devoted to the theoretical discussion which has become common to qualitative analysis texts. A rather unusual inclusion is the section on formulas, compounds, and nomenclature which is scarcely more than a summary of that in an elementary text. The prefixes "hypo" and "meta" are both explained as meaning "under" or "below." The orthophosphates are designated as sodium primary phosphate instead of primary sodium phosphate. The portion of the text on reactions, equations, and balancing oxidation reduction equations seems a useless repetition. I n fact the whole oxidation reduction section, including electropotentials, is treated in a very elementary fashion. The section on ionization introduces the concept of the activity coefficient and the Br$nsted-Lowry theory of acids and bases. In an apparent effort to avoid conflicts the authors employ a single arrow to indicate the dissociation of a strong electrolyte and a double arrow for the weak ones. Amphoteric substances are indicated as ionizing as both acids and bases according to the old conventional system. Each section of the theoretical part is followed by an excellent set of questions and problems, answers are given for the latter. The text is well written in an attractive style which the student should enjoy and find easy to comprehend. Part I1 of the book is devoted to the laboratory directions and is introduced by a section on general technic. The authors show an unusual optimism for the centrifuge when they say that complete separation will be accomplished in a few revolutions. The cations are separated into the usual groups with a series of seven or eight individual tests on each element preceding the group separations. Organic reagents are given appropriate recognition in the tests. Specific spot reactions are designated in many cases. Each treatment is labeled as a test and given a consecutive number. For example, under cadmium is Number 45 "Hydrogen Sulfide Test," Number 46 "Nitric Acid Test," Number 47 "Sulfuric Acid Test." The latter are, respectively, to oxidize the ~~~~~
