NEW BOOKS
975
avoided the word “atom” because it implies indivisibility, he honored Dalton for “fixing the proportions in which bodies combine.” Since the volume makes possible a truer and fuller appreciation of the mental acumen of Sir Humphry Davy, it should prove to be of permanent value to chemists. MARYELVIRAWEEKS.
L a Structure de la Cellulose dans ses Rapports avec la Constitution des Sucres. By G. CHAMPETIER. 16.5 x 25 cm.; 28 pp. Paris: Hermann e t Cie, 1933. Price: 8 francs. This little booklet is an excellent concise review of the present state of our knowledge regarding the structure of cellulose and its parent sugar, glucose. A brief historical review of the development of the structure of glucose ending with the work of Haworth and his school on the structures of stable and labile glucose is followed by a discussion of the new structural formulas of glucose and cellobiose proposed by Haworth. The second part of the monograph dealing with the structure of cellulose discusses celluloses from different sources, the hydrolysis of cellulose, and the light shed on the problem by x-ray crystal studies of Sponsler and Dore, and Meyer and Mark. The form and length of the hexose chains and their arrangement in cellulosic fibres is discussed, followed by a brief review of the principal reactions of cellulose and their relation t o the proposed structure. The final section is devoted t o the dimorphism of cellulose, in which field the author has made contributions. Although presenting nothing essentially new, this little monograph is valuable reading for anyone wishing a collected modern view of the evidence relating to the structure of this important polysaccharide. RALPH E. MONTONNA. Thermodynamics. By ALFREDW. PORTER, D. Sc., F. R. S. viii 4-96 pp.; 22 figures. -New York; E. P. Dutton and Co., Inc., 1931. This small volume is one of a series of monographs on physical subjects and is written by an expert for students of physics rather than for students of chemistry. The introductory chapters dealing with the historical development of the subject are possibly the most useful portions of the book. They could be read with profit even by those who consider themselves well acquainted with thermodynamics. F. H. MACDOUGALL.
An Outline of Wave Mechanics. By N. F. MOTT. 155 pp.
Cambridge, England: The University Press, 1930. The author attempts in eight short chapters to deal with the new wave mechanics, and i t is remarkable that he can condense such a wealth of information into such a small space! He succeeds remarkably well, although he abbreviates the mathematical treatment a t times just a t the place where the non-mathematical reader would want more details. However in such places ample references are given so that the interested student can follow up the subject if he has the perseverance and the necessary mathematical skill. Moreover the author states in his introduction that he has written the book for advanced students in physics and for research workers. The eight chapters cover the following subjects: I. Waves and Particles 11. The Wave Equation. 111. Group Velocity and the Uncertainty Principle. IV. The Theory of Stationary States. V. The Absorption of Radiation. VI. The Helium Atom and the Hydrogen Molecule. VII. Dynamics of Systems Containing Many Electrons. VIII. The Spin of the Electron and the Exclusion Principle. The book is quite convenient as a reference volume. A few printer’s errors will give no trouble t o the interested reader. GEORQEGLOCKLER.
