J/ 



76 



NATURE 



[January 



in harvesting the pods, .nu! of tvuii.il >cimi.s t>n 

 plantations. 



It <ihnuid be a source «>i ■^.lil>i.u ii..ii ... Mi. li..i;'s 

 fri«-nds that he was able to embody in this satisfactory 

 form \\U unique experience in the cultivation of cacao. 



T. A. H. 



A YEAR-BOOK OF SCIENCE. 

 Jahrhuch der Natttrwissenschaflcn, igio-iqii. Scchs- 

 und/\van/ij<ster Jahrgan^j. Untcr Mitwirkunp von 

 Fachniannern herausgcj^^eben von Dr. J. Plass- 

 mann. Pp. xv + 458. (Freiburg im Breisgau : 

 Merdcrsche Verlagshandlung ; London: H. H<rdnr, 

 191 1.) Price 75. 6d. 



AGE)NER.\L survey of scientific progress becomes 

 increasingly difficult, and more valuable when 

 accomplished, as the number of original contributions 

 becomes more unmanageable. The excellent publication 

 of which we have here the twenty-sixth annual volume 

 represents a serious attempt to cope with an equally 

 serious situation. To compress the 6000 or so papers 

 by which physical science is annually enriched into 

 some forty pages seems a hopeless task, and the 

 manner of its accomplishment necessarily depends upon 

 the individual outlook of the enterprising reviewer, 

 fie will almost inevitably emphasise some things 

 which are of little value and neglect some which 

 future developments may show to be of fundamental 

 importance. - If, however, he limits himself to such 

 matters as have reached a certain degree of conclu- 

 siveness, if not a conclusion, he will do good work, 

 and can safely leave the unfinished and inconclusive 

 things to his successor. 



Dr. Konen's summary of physics deals with some 

 seventy papers under sixteen different headings, and 

 includes such diverse matters as Lebedef's measure- 

 ment of the pressure of light on gases, the con- 

 troversy concerning the possibility of electric charges 

 smaller than that of an electron, and the quantitative 

 study of Brownian motions by Perrin, Chaudesaigues, 

 .Seddig, and Siedentopf. 



The chemistry section, edited by Dr. Dammann, is 

 mainly practical, and describes such things as Har- 

 ries's synthesis of rubber from isoprane heated in 

 glacial acetic acid; the chemistry of " Ehrlich-Hata 

 606," the new specific against syphilis; and the syn- 

 thesis of racemic adrenaline. The astronomical sec- 

 tion, compiled by Dr. Plassmann himself, deals with 

 spectroscopic binaries, variable stars. Mars, comets, and 

 the determination of time and geographical situation, 

 picking out a few papers only, and omitting a large 

 number of contributions of at least equal interest. 



Dr. Kleinschmidt, of Friedrichshafen, deals verv 

 appropriately with aeronautics and meteorologv. 

 Other sections are presented on anthropology and 

 ethnology (Birkner), mineralogy and geology (Weg- 

 ner), zoology (Recker), botany (Weiss, a very full 

 section), forestry and agriculture (Schuster), geography 

 (Schotte), medicine (Moeser), and technology (Ruegg). 

 An astronomical calendar for 191 1 and an obituarv- for 

 1910 complete the volume, which, in spite of the 

 German type used, is bound to be of great utility as 

 a first line of reference for the year's scientific progress. 

 NO. 2203, VOL. 88] 



OUR BOOK SHELF. 



Engines and Boilers Practically Considered: a llau. 

 book for Young Engineers on the Construction and 

 Working of Steam, Gas, Oil, and Petrol Engines 

 and Steam Boilers. By \V. Mcij^uadc. Pp. xv + s 

 (London : G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 191 1.) Pn 

 p. 6d. net. 



The author of this little book states ih.i 

 has been to treat in a simple, straighlforvvard, and 

 practical manner the various types of engines and 

 boilers met with in general engineering with the vi< 

 of providing a practical handbook for young engin«' 

 in general. Matters connected with the theorj' 01 

 the subject are not touched upon, or to the slightest 

 extent only. The book contains sixty-two illustrations 

 dealing with steam engines, steam boilers, and in- 

 ternal-combustion engines. The text compri*--- '*■■ 

 scriptions of these illustrations. 



Remembering the class of student for whu;.. 

 book is intended, one expects that the text and illus- 

 trations should be easily followed. In many cases 

 index letters are not used in the drawings, an omissi 

 which is not calculated to help the young beginn 

 The drawings are clear as regards draughtsmansh 

 but in some cases are out of proportion, and a \- 

 contain minor errors. For example, a marine con- 

 necting-rod given on p. 9 has the set screws used for 

 locking the nuts shown with the heads home agai? 

 the face of the rod, thus rendering the screws usel' 

 for the purpose of locking. In some cases additioi 

 views of the part under consideration would h > 

 been useful. 



Some important details are briefly described in ' 

 text without any descriptive sketches being givm. 

 .■\n idea of the unevenness of treatment may be 

 gathered from the fact that the action of the slide 

 valve occupies eight pages, while a description of a 

 set of triple-expansion surface-condensing engines 

 shown in the frontispiece occupies one page. There 

 is doubtless a place for a well-got-up book on the lines 

 suggested by the author, and the present book, with 

 considerable revision and additions, mitjht be rendered 

 capable of taking this place. 



A Text-hook of Physiological Chemistry. By ProL 

 O. Hammarsten. Authorised translation from the 

 author's enlarged and revised seventh German 

 edition, by Prof. J. .*\. Mandel. Sixth edition. Pp. 

 viii + 964. (New York: J. Wiley and Sons; L 

 don: Chapman and Hall. Ltd.. 1911.) Price 17 

 net. 



Prof. Olaf Ham.marstf.n has resigned the chair he 

 held for so many years at Upsala, but one is rejoiced 

 to learn he has not relinquished work in the field . 

 where he has done such important service. Original 

 papers from his pen still appear in the journals, and 

 his well-known text-book continues to flourish, and 

 has now reached a seventh German edition. The 

 translation of this has, as in the past, been carried 

 out by Prof. J. A. Mandel. of New York, who has 

 performed what in his preface he terms a labour 

 love with his usual efficiency. 



The book has considerably grown in size since 

 last edition ; ever\- chapter has been rewritten 

 bring it up to date, but the principal new featun .- 

 a chapter on physical chemistry in biology, which has 

 been contributed by Prof. Hedin, Hammarsten 's 

 successor at L'psala. This adds considerably to the 

 usefulness of the text-book. .A book which has seen 

 seven editions carries its own recommendation ; one 

 can merely congratulate its author, and express the 

 hope that he may live to see many more editions 

 through the press. W. D. H. 



