REVIEWS 569 



determinations, promise, in time, to materially assist in forwarding the solution 



of the fundamental problem of astronomy — the problem of the evolution of the 



Universe. 



H. S. J. 



Quantitative Chemical Analysis. By A. C. Cumming, D.Sc, Lecturer in 

 Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, and S. A. K.\Y, D.Sc, Assistant 

 in Chemistry, University of Edinburgh. [Pp. xi -1- 382.] (London: 

 Gurney & Jackson, 191 3. Price 7s. 6d.) 



The average student who attacks for the first time a particular analytical 

 determination usually finds that, although he may follow the instructions of his 

 text-book, his results are erroneous ; and unless he has been shown the process 

 in full detail by the teacher, this is almost bound to be the case. There has 

 hitherto been, in fact, no book on analytical chemistry which properly instructed 

 the student in the complicated technique which even the simpler analytical 

 processes demand. It may be said that such instruction should be conveyed 

 by example and not by precept ; but whilst this is undeniable up to a certain 

 point, it remains true that fully one-third of the time given by laboratory teachers 

 in demonstrating all the small but essential points of technique to each separate 

 student could be saved by a little more attention to detail on the part of authors 

 of text-books on analysis. Nor can it be said that these remarks smack unduly 

 of " spoon-feeding " ; for in these days no student has time to re-discover for 

 himself the "tips' - ' which are our heritage from generations of analysts, let alone 

 the broader details of practice ; he must be "spoon-fed" to some extent, and the 

 successful relegation of any part of this process to the pages of a text-book confers 

 a boon upon all teachers in large laboratories. 



By this standard, as well as by others possibly higher, the work now under 

 review is emphatically a success. The descriptions of procedure are so carefully 

 done, and the gradation of the difficulties is so thoughtfully carried out, that 

 any student who works along the suggested lines could hardly fail to become 

 thoroughly competent. It would have been beyond the scope of a book such 

 as this to have dealt with the theories underlying analysis, and the authors have 

 wisely confined themselves to practice pure and simple. A multiplicity of methods 

 has been avoided, with the result of freeing the student from the feeling of 

 embarras de richesse which some of the larger works in vogue tend to induce ; 

 at the same time, the methods given are numerous enough to be quite repre- 

 sentative, they are up-to-date, and in frequent instances they include many most 

 useful novelties ; and all bear the mark of having been proved by the author's 

 own experience. 



After the first general chapter, volumetric analyses are first dealt with ; then 

 follows a series of typical gravimetric determinations, then a chapter on electrolytic 

 methods. This and the succeeding section on colorimetric analysis are especially 

 valuable. (In passing, it may be suggested that the bismuthate method, now so 

 widely used for determining manganese, might be included in later editions.) 

 Part V. contains a systematic account of the separation and determination of 

 each of the common radicles, conveniently arranged alphabetically. All that 

 is in this section is good, but the omission of cobalt from the list is somewhat 

 strange. The treatment of alloys and of ores is dealt with in Part VI. ; then 

 comes gas-analysis, followed by an admirable section on water-analysis. Part IX. 

 treats of organic analysis, and is sure to be found valuable, since it includes an 



