REVIEWS 163 



effect, where the mathematical proofs are worked out. The volume closes with 

 a very useful table of the most recent determinations of atomic data and a 

 bibliography. J. R. 



Practical Heat, Light, and Sound. By T. Picton, M.A., B.Sc. [Pp. xv + 150 

 with diagrams.] (London : C. Bell & Sons, 191 5. Price is, 6d. net.) 



This little volume is the second of a Science Series for Schools and Colleges 

 issued by Messrs. Bell & Sons. It would appear that the series is being edited 

 and written by a number of schoolmasters, who have some experience in the 

 special difficulties attendant on the teaching of science in schools. If this book 

 is to be taken as typical of the series, then it will certainly be welcome. The 

 author, who is on the staff of St. Paul's School, has evidently his own ideas on 

 the teaching of Physics and the means by which the performance of an experiment 

 may be made neither a meaningless piece of mechanical work for the boy nor an 

 opportunity solely for a display of neatness in keeping notes with a profusion of 

 " red ink." The experiments are well chosen, clearly described and illustrated 

 with good, but not too elaborate diagrams. An excellent feature is the provision 

 of a number of questions which are associated with each experiment and which, 

 by the suggestion of the author, ought to be answered by the pupil before he 

 proceeds to the following experiment. That the author is alive to the bane of 

 useless and frequently inaccurate elaboration of apparatus is shown by his avoid- 

 ance of the usual so-called "water-trap" device in latent heat of steam experiments, 

 which is more usually a method for obtaining wetter steam than would issue from 

 a simple delivery tube. That he is also aware of the lack of conviction which 

 certain well-known and customary experiments carry to the mind of the beginner 

 appears in his abandonment of the " Pin " methods in Light. He substitutes for 

 them the use of a simple, ingenious, and inexpensive " Dark Box," by means of 

 which all the usual experiments are performed with pencils of light, whose 

 luminous tracks on paper are made apparent without the use of a darkened 

 laboratory. A well-chosen set of examination questions is contained in the 

 volume, which is to be recommended heartily. • J. R. 



CHEMISTRY 



Advanced Inorganic Chemistry. By P. W. Oscroft, M.A. [Pp. viii + 504, 

 with 158 illustrations.] (London: G. Bell & Sons, Ltd., 1915. Price 

 $s. net.) 

 This volume is a text-book intended for the use of boys in the upper forms of 

 schools, and the contents can only be described as " advanced " on the assumption 

 made by the author that its users have already taken a year's course in chemistry, 

 both in practical work and theory. It is unfortunate that the author does not 

 express any views as to the form such a first year's course might best take, in 

 order that the use of the present volume should preserve the necessary degree of 

 continuity in the exposition of the subject. 



The author does not claim any originality in the arrangement of the chapters, 

 and a perusal of the volume shows that the general treatment of the subject is 

 along lines which have long been characteristic of a certain class of text-book. 



Chapters I. — XVI. include the general principles of chemistry illustrated by 

 reference to the composition of the atmosphere, properties of gases, water, etc. 

 In this portion the atomic theory, the ionic hypothesis, thermochemistry, etc., are 

 dealt with. Chapters XVII.— XXXVI. are descriptive of the more important 



