June 29, 191 1] 



NATURE 



58, 



old method of making and graduating, as well as 

 calibrating, gas burettes is retained, though the 

 apparatus for graduating and etching them would 

 probably be regarded as curiosities in a modern labora- 

 tory. 



By means of a new setting, and a rather smaller 

 though quite clear type for some paragraphs and sec- 

 tions, space has been economised, and the volume, 

 with all its added matter, is practically of the same 

 size as the last edition. The deletions have in no 

 sense altered the character of the book as giving full 

 practical instructions, but in some cases, where a 

 suggested modification is of comparatively little im- 

 portance, or an application of a process is of very 

 restricted use, the editors give only a short statement 

 and refer to the original description by the author. 

 In many cases they have taken advantage of the 

 assistance of experts who have had exceptional experi- 

 ence of various methods. All factors and numerical 

 details have been recalculated according to the latest 

 '* International Atomic Weights." The section on 

 weights and measures has been rewritten, using the 

 data adopted at the National Physical Laboratorv. 



In short, the editors appear to have spared no trouble 

 to maintain if they could not enhance the reputation 

 of the book, and thus to merit the gratitude that the 

 aj7ed author expresses in his preface, and, we may 

 add, the thanks of all those who are interested in 

 the subject with which it deals. 



Ihe Itifltience of Strong, Prevalent, Rain-bearing 

 Winds on the Prevalence of Phthisis. By Dr. W. 

 Gordon. Pp. xiv+io8. (London: H. K. Lewis, 

 igio.) Price ys. 6d. net. 



For many \ears Dr. Gordon, in a series of papers, has 

 brought before the medical profession evidence that 

 strong rain-bearing winds have a very definite influ- 

 ence on the prevalence of phthisis. He has now col- 

 lected these papers, and, in a work bearing the above 

 title, gives a complete account of his observations. 

 He maintains, as a result of these observations, that 

 in any situation exposed to rain-bearing winds, whether 

 it be over a wide region or merely the side of a street, 

 the mortality from pulmonary phthisis is high. He 

 works this out specially for Devonshire, but takes 

 Exeter streets at one extreme and the civilised world at 

 the other, always coming to the same conclusion. In all 

 this, however, he does not, by any means, ignore other 

 factors, especially "soil" and poverty. Our author 

 points out that this high mortality from consumption 

 is not due merely to a depression of vitality, for it is 

 found that the general death-rate is not affected in the 

 same way as is the phthisical death-rate. Moreover, 

 he is satisfied that the action of the rain-bearing wind 

 is exerted directly on the person exposed to it and not 

 indirectly, "either through closure of doors and win- 

 dows against the wind or by it driving wet into the 

 walls of the houses." 



It is, of course, difficult to test the accuracy of Dr. 

 Gordon's observations, but his figures certainly seem 

 to prove that, taking female death-rates as offering a 

 safer basis of inquiry, in the rural districts of Devon- 

 shire, swept by rain-laden winds, the mortality is 

 higher than in those where the winds are dry. Dr. 

 Gordon, not shirking the numerous criticisms that 

 have been directed against his conclusions, has cer- 

 tainlv made out a very strong case for the accuracy 

 of his hypothesis. As dealing with one of the side- 

 issues oif the tuberculosis question, as opening up 

 a new field of inquirv, and as affording a guide to 

 those in search of places to which consumptives may 

 be sent, although it is not designed for that special 

 purpose, this work will be of very considerable value. 

 The coloured charts on which the statistics are both 



NO. 2174, VOL. 86] 



based and recorded are exquisitely drawn and repro- 

 duced. We congratulate Dr. Gordon on the com- 

 pleteness of his work. 



Die Naturwissenschaften in ihrer Entwicklung und 

 in ihrem Zusamnienliangc. By Friedrich Danne- 

 mann. Erster Band, Von den Aufiingen bis zum 

 Wiederaufleben der Wissenschaften. Pp. viii + 374. 

 Leipzig : Wilhelm Engelmann, igio.) Price 9 

 marks. 

 This is the first of four volumes designed to give a 

 connected history of the development of all the 

 sciences, with especial regard to their connection with 

 each other. It deals with the earliest records of 

 geometrical and arithmetical learning among the 

 Egyptians and the Sumerian conquerors of Meso- 

 potamia ; proceeds to the Greeks from Thales to 

 Aristotle ; sketches the development of science in the 

 Greek colonies, the two periods of Alexandrian learn- 

 ing, the Arabian era, and the decline of the Middle 

 Ages ; and finally describes the revival of learning in 

 the fifteenth century. 



In dealing with Babylon, the author makes some 

 teUing extracts from the Nippur tablets, which date 

 back to between 2200 and 1350 B.C., to show that a 

 decimal system of notation is used in the cuneiform 

 inscriptions, without, however, the use of the zero 

 circle, which was introduced by the Indians, and 

 brought to Europe by the Arabs. 



In a work like this one misses a description of the 

 Egvptian orientations of temples and pyramids with 

 regard to particular stars. The recent Cretan dis- 

 coveries are not included, and Chinese observations 

 are onlv brieflv touched upon. But the book is written 

 in a verv entertaining stvle, and as it is plentifullv 

 supplied with references, it forms a useful c:uide-book 

 through the historic development of the sciences. 

 A Course of Plane Geometrv for Advanced Students. 

 Part II. Bv C. V. Durell. Pp. xiv + 358. (Lon- 

 don : Macmi'Uan and Co., Ltd., 1910.) Price 7s. 6d. 

 net. 

 The first part of this work, on the straight line and 

 circle, has already been reviewed. The present 

 volume, which treats of conies, shows the same merits 

 of clearness, conciseness, and good judgment. For 

 example, there is a fairly complete account of involu- 

 tion, which is by far the most powerful instrument for 

 developing the properties of conies ; and, in order to 

 avoid, on one hand, a lack of rigour, and on the 

 other a difficult theory, the author has frankly based 

 his treatment on an algebraic foundation. Other 

 chapters deal with homography in general, recipro- 

 cation and projection ; there is even a brief outline 

 of practical solid geometry, though this is too sketchy 

 to be of much use. There are various historical notes, 

 excellent diagrams, and a vast collection of exercises; 

 altogether Mr. Durell's book may be recommended as 

 a trustworthy, practical, and interesting text-book. 



M. 



The Phase Rule and its ApHications. By Dr. Alex. 

 Findlav. Third edition. Pp. xvi + 356. (London: 

 Longmans. Green, and Co., 191 1.) Price 6s. 

 The first edition of Dr. Findlay's book was reviewed 

 in these columns on .April 21, 1004 (vol Ixix., p. 570), 

 and the arrangement and general character of the 

 work remain much the same as they were. In the 

 second edition numerous additions were made to bring 

 the information up to date, and though no changes of 

 a fundamental nature have been made in the present 

 edition, paragraphs have been added where necessary 

 on the results of recent researches. In addition to 



I this, the whole book has been subjected to careful 



I revision. 



