334 Analysis of Scientific Books. 



ductiou of Mr. Leslie's lucubrations upon this subject, by an ac- 

 count of Mr. Daniell's hygrometer, abstracted from this Journal, 

 (Vol. IX.) He has not, however, noticed that gentleman's pyrome- 

 ter, though Mr. Wedgwood's useless and incorrect contrivance is 

 most amply descanted on. 



We might proceed to criticise various other articles of this Dic- 

 tionary, but as we find much to blame, and very little to praise in 

 lany part of it, we shall decline the disagreeable task of exposing its 

 errors and inaccuracies, and of censuring the superficial book- 

 making propensity which appears to have presided over its compi- 

 lation. Who the " Practical Chemist" may be to whom we are in- 

 debted for this addition to scientific literature we know not, but we 

 strongly recommend him to revise his production, to reject much of 

 the obsolete and useless matter which now fills his volume, and to 

 replace it by that kind of practical information which, if he really be 

 what he calls himself in the title-page, he must have at command, 

 and which, if candidly and clearly communicated, will ensure a large 

 sale to his work, and instead of calling for the censure of the 

 honest and unprejudiced critic, will deserve his utmost praise and 

 commendation. 



II. Remarks on the Different Systems of Warming and Ventilating 

 Buildings ; addressed to the Economist, the Invalid, the Desirer of 

 Safety, and the Lovers of Comfort, with reference more particularly 

 to an improved and simplified calorific Apparatus, constructed and 

 introduced by G. P. Boyce. London, 1824. 



]\Iu. BoYCE begins this pamphlet with remarks upon the importance 

 of his subject, and with animadversions upon the ignorance and 

 folly of his countrymen in adhering to the antiquated methods of 

 •warming their houses by open fires. These matters he treats with 

 a degree of erudition and pointed satire, which remind us of the 

 long-lost style of Addison and Swift. " That the present mode of 

 obtaining warmth," he says, " is defective in an eminent degree, 

 every one, however, unwilling to confess himself in error, must be 

 innately conscious. A more bungling and ineflScient process was, 

 perhaps, never devised, than that by which it is attempted to raise 

 the temperature of an apartment by means of an open fire in a grate 

 and chimney of the modern construction ; nine-tenths of the heat 

 produced by the one, being, from the very nature of things, imme- 

 diately carried off" through the channel of the other; and the 

 remaining tenth, slowly communicated to the air of the apartment, 

 is just sufficient to convert every aperture and crevice into a trap 

 for colds, fevers, rheumatism, and all the disorders arising from 

 checked perspiration. Talk of the comforts of an English fire 

 indeed! it is a pitiful mockery : there is not a nation on earth, be- 

 tween this latitude and the Pole, (for with the inhabitants of 



