REVIEWS 



The Relations between Chemical Constitution and some Physical Properties. 

 By Samuel Smiles, D.Sc, [Pp. xiv + 583.] (London: Longmans, 

 Green & Co., 1910. Price 14s.) 



The author of the work before us bears a name honoured in literary circles and he 

 has executed the difficult task of compiling an account of researches on the 

 relation between physical properties and structure in a way that must add to the 

 reputation the name enjoys. Although somewhat costly and voluminous — too 

 costly and too voluminous indeed to suit the requirements of the great majority of 

 students — the book is one that should prove attractive on account of the clearness 

 of the author's style and the impartiality he displays in setting out the conclusions 

 arrived at by various workers ; as an introduction to the study of a very difficult 

 but all-important subject, it is a useful addition to our chemical literature — useful 

 particularly in showing how very far we are, in most cases, from understanding 

 the nature of the correlation between structure and properties, how careful we 

 should be in interpreting physical properties. 



The fault to be found with it is that from which all such works, as a rule, must 

 suffer — the indeterminate character of the conclusions arrived at and the tendency 

 to take arguments seriously which have been put forward by immature workers 

 possessed by an idea but without breadth of knowledge and the saving grace of 

 modesty. This is particularly noticeable in the section on the absorption of light, a 

 section to be taken with many grains of salt by the student, although it is full of 

 interest as a concise summary of the work done. It is obvious that Dr. Smiles 

 has allowed himself to be somewhat biassed by environmental influences. 



It is only after writing such a book and then spending years in repentance — in 

 reflecting on what he has written and on the inadequacy of most of the opinions he 

 has offered — that an author becomes competent to write a critical account of 

 subjects such as are dealt with by Dr. Smiles. Far too much of the physical 

 work of the day is in the hands of amateur specialists whose main qualification is 

 their enthusiasm and their desire to achieve a reputation : naturally enough they 

 rarely allow modesty to stand in their way ; nevertheless we are forced to regard 

 their efforts with a certain degree of approval, no other recognised way being open 

 to them of educating themselves into efficiency, but we need not always take their 

 conclusions seriously. 



Literary work is of the very greatest value as training but it should be followed 

 by a close time of penitence and devotion to practical exercises. This book is of 

 such promise that we venture to express the hope that Dr. Smiles will now lay 

 aside his pen for a time and take up the investigation of some one or other of the 

 fundamental problems to which he calls attention ; meanwhile he will probably 

 find it of great advantage to take part in a few serious law cases, so as to acquire 

 the habit of cross-examining every opinion offered before committing himself to its 

 endorsement. Such training is invaluable and to be had in no other way : our 

 present didactic system of teaching offers no opportunity of developing truly critical 

 and logical habits of mind. The value of these habits, the need of exercising 

 them, are only too obvious when our scientific text-books are studied. 



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