REVIEWS 687 



whose boys are still at school ; the second chapter, entitled " Pharmacists and 

 Chemists," is a delightful essay on the meaning of these two words. The 

 remaining chapters deal with " Professional Training," " Professional Organi- 

 sation," " Professional Procedure," and the various branches of the profession 

 of chemistry, including a chapter on "Chemists in War." 



Naturally the author's point of view is that of the Institute, which is now 

 the recognised professional body, and to which the vast majority of chemists 

 belong. But we should like to mention that the Institute has gained its 

 position by widening its basis, so as to admit the majority of chemists in this 

 country. Until a few years ago it did not do this, it merely represented the 

 interests of analytical and consulting chemists who have for many years been 

 a minority in the profession. It had little influence until recently outside 

 London, except as a qualifying body for analysts under the Food and Drugs 

 Act. Its regulations were then so drafted that a University Graduate, to join 

 the body, was obliged to forego postgraduate research work in order to obtain 

 manipulative skill to pass the examination of the Institute. We are glad to 

 say that this has all been changed, but we consider it amusingly inaccurate 

 of the author to say, " In recent years, however, the character and the training 

 and examination of the Universities has been modified to render their honours 

 graduates in chemistry better prepared than formerly for the more practical 

 branches of the profession, and this has been recognised by the new Regulations 

 of the Institute ! " (The italics are ours.) 



The author knows well the present economic position of chemists, and 

 reviews their position and prospects with authority. In this connection it is 

 interesting to quote the following from the current number of the Proceedings 

 of the Institute of Chemistry : " The Committee (of Scientific and Industrial 

 Research) appears to be apprehensive of a shortage of competent scientific 

 workers, but, so far as chemists are concerned, the demand at present is not 

 sufficient to absorb the available talent released from the services and from 

 war work." 



The book is well written, and it appears at an opportune moment, for 

 during the war the profession of chemistry has become recognised as it never 

 was before. 



R. E. Slade. 



The Chemistry of Colloids. By Richard Zsigmondy, translated by Ell wood 

 B. Spear. [Pp. x -f 288, with illustrations.] (New York : John 

 Wiley & Sons, Inc. ; London : Chapman & Hall, Ltd., 1917. Price 

 135. 6d. net.) 



Only a comparatively few years ago it was difficult to find a satisfactory 

 book on Colloids ; now, however, there is a considerable number to choose 

 from, and for this reason one cannot help wondering whether this trans- 

 lation was called for, since the book does not present any striking novelty 

 of treatment of the subject. The work of Professor Zsigmondy in the 

 realm of colloids is of course too well known to require any comment, but 

 frankly we find his book disappointing. The volume under review is divided 

 into two parts, the first of which is a translation from the German of Zsig- 

 mondy's Kolloidchemie , while the second, which is devoted to Industrial 

 Colloid Chemistry, is from the pen of the translator. The table of contents 

 of Part I promises well, but on looking up the subjects in the text one rarely 

 finds a lucid or satisfactory account of the subject. What, for example, is 

 to be made of the following information concerning barium sulphate ? 

 "... The solubility of barium sulphate is too great to allow the preparation 

 of the hydrosol without the presence of a protective colloid. Neuburg pre- 

 pared a hydrosol of barium carbonate by conducting a current of C0 3 , into 



