1874.] ( 395 ) 
NOTICES (\OF ._BOO KS. 
An Elementary Treatise on Steam. By JoHN Perry, B.E. 
London: Macmillan and Co. 1874. 
Tus is unquestionably a very useful little text-book, but the 
author has not altogether done himself full justice in its publi- 
cation. In the first place the title is ill chosen, as it fails 
to convey any adequate idea of the real nature of the work. 
There is one good feature in this little volume which is not 
generally to be found in publications of a similar character, and 
this consists in a piecemeal treatment of the subject under con- 
sideration; after which examples, or problems, are given, to be 
worked out by the student in each branch, thus enabling him to 
ascertain for certain that he has fully comprehended the rules 
laid down in each case. Mr. Perry acknowledges having re- 
ceived much assistance, in the compilation of this little book, 
from the treatises of well-known authors in engineering science ; 
but whilst he remarks—not perhaps without reason—on the 
absence of ‘‘ experimental and other verification” of many of 
Prof. Rankine’s calculations, there is nothing to show that he 
has himself attempted any practical verification of them. 
This work is divided under four headings, viz.—I. Heat, &c. 
II. Steam-Engines and Boilers. III. Locomotives. IV. Marine 
Engines. From the range of subjects thus attempted within 
the compass of one small volume, it will at once be seen that 
they can each only be briefly touched upon; and this will be 
more apparent when it is stated that the important subjects of 
*‘Combustion ” and “ Calorific Power” of Fuel together occupy 
less than seven pages. In the chapters relating to different 
kinds of engines, the oft-told tales of their early inventions are 
again repeated, thus adding to the bulk of the volume without 
much enhancing its value as a scientific work. In the chapter 
relating to locomotives about eight pages are given to the 
subject of ‘* Permanent Way, &c.,” which had better have been 
left out altogether, as it is perfectly impossible to treat properly 
so important a subject thus briefly. The information regarding 
“Compound Engines” is scattered over six pages, in different 
parts of the book. Now this is a subject which is second to 
none other, when bearing on the question of the economical 
working of steam-engines, and might well have filled several 
pages, since to its introduction is due much of the saving of fuel 
effected in recent steam-engine improvements. 
We make these remarks with no wish to injure the reputation 
of this work, but merely in order to point out where it may be 
improved should it reach a second edition. On the whole it 
