REVIEWS 337 



Chemical Science and Industry have been neglected in this country in the past, 

 and a hopeful augury of a fundamental reorganisation of the educational and 

 industrial forces of the country which it connotes. 



In the preface Prof. Findlay explains that at the end of the past year he was 

 invited to deliver the Thomson Lectures before the United Free Church College, 

 Aberdeen, and chose as his subject the indebtedness of mankind to Chemistry. 

 These lectures have now been expanded into book form, and form the basis of the 

 present work. 



Prof. Findlay begins with a general introduction giving the salient features 

 of chemical theory, such as Dalton's Atomic Theory, and so on. He then 

 proceeds through the consideration of the phenomena of combustion to the 

 examination and explanation of the chemistry of illuminants, and thence to 

 explosives, etc. Later chapters deal with cellulose, catalysis, and fat-hardening, 

 the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, soap, molecular structure, and synthetic 

 organic chemistry. 



The chapter on the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen is of particular interest 

 at the present moment, when the Germans are dependent almost entirely on these 

 methods for the production of nitric acid for their high- and propulsive-explosives. 

 Prof. Findlay's words on page 130 are worthy of note: "But when we contem- 

 plate the position which our own country occupies in this matter (the fixation of 

 atmospheric nitrogen), we must confess to a feeling of great disappointment. 

 Norway, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, the United States, Canada, India, 

 Japan, in fact practically every civilised country but our own, is actively engaged 

 in developing the nitrogen industries." It is surely a national disgrace that we 

 alone of all civilised powers are so devoid of appreciation of scientific facts that 

 such words can be written. 



As regards the general structure of the book there is little to criticise, but on 

 one point one may venture a suggestion — namely, that there should be far more 

 illustrations. The man in the street — and for such the book is written — is not 

 thrilled by portraits of dead celebrities. Photographs of modern works and plant 

 would excite his interest far more. One may quote in this connection the words 

 of Dr. E. James at the inauguration of the new Chemical Laboratories of the 

 University of Illinois : " We cannot expect the average man to appreciate the 

 importance of certain phases of scientific work. ... I have come around quite 

 strongly to the view that the most direct method of educating such people as to 

 the importance of certain things is to let that importance be shown in some visible 

 structure of steel and iron, of concrete and brick, which impresses his senses and 

 may impress his imagination . . . the existence of (such buildings) creates prima 

 facie a case for the importance of the subject," and. by parity of reasoning, a 

 more lavish supply of illustrations dealing with the technical side of chemistry, 

 such as the Odda Nitrogen Works or those at Niagara for instance, a few pictures 

 of the inside of a soap works or paper factory, would at once whet the appetite of 

 many a casual reader and persuade him to delve more deeply in it, and, further, 

 the pictures would impress the theories in his mind. 



Perhaps when the second edition of the book is issued it may be possible to 

 bear this suggestion in mind. 



Prof. Findlay is to be congratulated on having produced so interesting and 

 readable a book. 



Frederick A. Mason. 



