1875.] Notices of Books. 359 
tively low estimate of the Old Testament will greatly aid him in 
his attempts at reconciling Spiritualism with Christianity. 
The whole question is one which obviously demands a broader, 
a more profound, and a calmer investigation than it has yet 
received. We fail to see what good end can be served by refusing 
such an inquiry, and by ridiculing scientific men who approach 
it in an impartial spirit. 
‘The Blowpipe: a Guide to its Use in the Determination of Salis 
and Minerals. Compiled from Various Sources, by G. W. 
Pirympron. New York: D. Van Nostrand. London: 
Tribner. 
THis manual does not profess to be an original work. The 
first two parts, as we are told in the preface, ‘‘ have been adapted, 
with but few emendations, from the work of Sheerer and Blan- 
ford. The alterations have chiefly been in the chemical symbols, 
the new nomenclature replacing the old.” Symbols, of course, 
are invaluable where decompositions have to be explained, but 
we certainly do not see their utility in analytical manuals. When 
sesquioxide of chromium is mentioned, the Author’s meaning 
would be fully understood without the addition of (Cr,0Q,). 
The third part of the work is said to be translated from 
Gueront’s ‘“‘Guide Pratique pour la Détermination des Miné- 
raux,” which was originally written by Fuchs, of Heidelberg. 
We do not perceive anything erroneous or objectionable in the 
instructions; given, and we have no doubt that the work will 
prove useful to students. 
A Manual of Metallurgy. By WiLtLtiamM HENRY GREENWOOD, 
F.C.S., &c. Vol. I1.—Fuel, Iron, Steel, Tin, Antimony, 
Arsenic, Bismuth, and Platinum. Illustrated by 59 En- 
gravings. London and Glasgow: William Collins, Sons, 
and Co. 1874. 
Amonc the various branches of pure and applied Science in 
which the Department of Science and Art hold annual examina- 
tions, Metallurgy has for many years held a place, although the 
number of candidates for examination on this subject is, as might 
be expected, invariably small. Indeed it is difficult to see how 
the student can obtain the necessary information on this branch 
of Science, since our standard works on Metallurgy are, for the 
most part, beyond the reach of the class of students with whom 
the South Kensington system chiefly deals. It was therefore 
highly desirable that a cheap and trustworthy text-book should 
MGiE. .V. (N.5.) 25, 
