REVIEWS 325 



most among these stand the chlorine antiseptics which comprise both the inorganic 

 hypochlorites and the organic chloramines. Much of the progress in our know- 

 ledge of these substances is due to the researches of Dr. Dakin, and a description 

 of their preparation, properties, and uses from his pen is naturally to be welcomed. 

 The book is divided into eight chapters dealing with the various different types 

 of antiseptics, the methods of testing them, as well as the application of certain of 

 them to the disinfection of carriers, of water, and of hospital ships. The authors 

 frequently emphasise the necessity for scientific treatment of the subject, pointing 

 out that disinfection is really a chemical reaction obeying the law of mass action, 

 and having a definite reaction velocity. Failure to recognise the instability of a 

 given antiseptic or its tendency to react with the tissues may lead to erroneous 

 ideas as to its efficacy. To quote the author's words, " A knowledge of the speed 

 with which a disinfectant acts is essential to an understanding of the conditions 

 under which it may be appropriately used." Thus, while rapidly acting aqueous 

 hypochlorites may be excellent for intermittent instillation into large wound cavities, 

 they would, if applied as wet dressings, which are seldom removed, be practically 

 useless, owing to their decomposing after only a few seconds' contact with the skin. 

 The book is addressed primarily to surgeons and others in the United States 

 who are about to take up military duties connected with the care of the wounded, 

 but no doubt many people in this country will gladly avail themselves of this 

 handy little book for obtaining what would otherwise be rather scattered in- 

 formation from a number of different sources. 



P. H. 



Monographs on Industrial Chemistry. Edited by Sir Edward Thorpe, 

 K.C.B., F.R.S., Emeritus Professor of General Chemistry in the Imperial 

 College of Science and Technology, South Kensington, and formerly 

 Principal of the Government Laboratory, London. 



(1) Organic Compounds of Arsenic and Antimony. By Gilbert T. Morgan, 

 D.Sc.,F.R.S., etc., Professor of Applied Chemistry, City and Guilds Technical 

 College, etc. [Pp. xx + 376.] (London : Longmans, Green & Co., 1918. 

 Price i6.y. net.) 



(2) Edible Oils and Fats. By C. Ainsworth Mitchell, B.A., F.I.C. [Pp. 

 xii + 159.] (London : Longmans, Green & Co., 1918. Price 6j-. 6d. net.) 



Those familiar with the developments of chemistry and chemical industry at 

 home and abroad are fully cognisant of our dependence on Germany for a 

 very large part of our technical literature, particularly of the bibliographical 

 variety. 



On the one hand the Teuton mind is in some ways better adapted to the slow 

 and measured labour involved in compiling such works than is the more straight- 

 forward and "hit-or-miss" Englishman, and on the other hand the enormous over- 

 supply of trained chemists in the Fatherland willing to work for a very modest 

 wage has facilitated the production of chemical works of reference, handbooks and 

 monographs ranging from the ponderous tomes of Friedlander's Fortschritte in 

 der Teerfarbenjabrikatioti or Winther's weighty volumes to the paper-covered 

 publications of the Ahren's " Sammlung " type. In this country but little has 

 been done hitherto to fill the gap ; but now, at last, owing to the energy and 

 initiative of Sir T. E. Thorpe, a new series of up-to-date Monographs on Industrial 

 Chemistry is making its appearance, and in so doing is sounding the knell of the 

 German quasi-monopoly. 



