202 



NATURE 



[December 15, 1910 



observations ought not to be allowed to prevail. The 

 sailor expects to find tables at hand that shall curtail 

 the arithmetical processes to a minimum, and these 

 tables, the main feature of which is to give readily 

 and accurately, at sight, the altitude of the sun or of 

 stars within the ecliptic limits, at least in the more 

 frequented latitudes, will remove one of the objections 

 that have been urg'ed. 



Other tables suggested by experience have been 

 added in this edition in order to increase its utility 

 and avoid the necessity of further reference. With 

 these tables and a naucicai almanac, it is said that 

 the navigator can complete his task. We would, how- 

 ever, allow him a book of logarithms, for the tables 

 given here are too restricted to serve any useful pur- 

 pose. One might need to check the accuracy of some 

 of the quantities supplied, though we have no reason 

 to doubt the general accuracy of the tables, for which 

 Dr. Crommelin and some of the staff of the Royal 

 Observatory are responsible. 



Metallography Applied to Sidenirgic Products. By 

 Humbert Savoia. Translated by R. G. Corbet 

 Pp. 'xii+180. (London: E. and F. N. Spon, Ltd., 

 1910.) Price 45. 6d. net. 

 The Italian original of this little book was 

 obviously intended to bring the more essential 

 parts of the metallography ot iron and steel within 

 the reach of Italian metallurgists, but what motive 

 there can be to justify the translation into English of 

 such an elementary compilation it is not easy to 

 understand, particularly as satisfactory original works 

 in our own language are now available. In the book 

 as it stands the feats of the author are largely dis- 

 guised by the achievements of the translator, who 

 appears to have invented an entirely new nomenclature 

 not only for purely nietallographic terms but for well- 

 known and widely-used technical words. That the 

 translator disclaims technical knowledge of the sub- 

 ject-matter of the book and begs for indulgence in 

 regard to technical terms cannot, unfortunately, alter 

 the fact that much of the book would be rendered 

 unintelligible to the non-expert reader for whom it 

 appears to be intended by such glaring translator's 

 errors as the use of "tempered" for "hardened," 

 mechanical "elaboration" for mechanical "working," 

 "resolving" for "dissolving," "composite" for 

 "compound" in its chemical sense, "soldered" for 

 "welded," "strain of extension" for "tensile 

 strength." and many others ; perhaps the most amus- 

 ing' example of the translator's misinterpretation of 

 the Italian words occurs in the description of the Le 

 Chatelier thermo couple as consisting of "platinum 

 and radiated platinum." 



Apart from these serious defects, the subject-matter 

 of the book is not free from errors ; thus the text of 

 p. 69 definitelv suggests that " pearlite " is formed 

 from molten steel, and indeed throughout the text the 

 difference between the eutectoid pearlite and a true 

 eutectic is not indicated. The most satisfactory por- 

 tions of the book are those dealing with malleable 

 cast-iron, where the author is evidently on his own 

 ground, but, taken as a whole, the book cannot be 

 recommended to students of metallographv. 



W. R. 



Researches upon the Atomic Weights of Cadmium, 

 Manganese, Bromine. Lead, Arsenic, Iodine, Silver, 

 Chromium, and Phosphorus. Bv G. P. Baxter, and 

 others. Pp. vii+185. (Washington: Carnegie In- 

 stitution, igio.) 

 This memoir, which is published through the munific- 

 ence of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, is 

 one of the many series of similar researches which we 

 owe to the Harvard School of Chemistry. It com- 



NO. 2146, VOL. 85] 



prises eleven separate investigations on the atomic 

 weights of the elements enumerated in the title, the 

 results of which have been published in American and 

 German periodicals at intervals during the past six 

 years. 



In the form in which they are now presented a few 

 minor alterations have been made, necessitated by a 

 more precise knowledge of certain of the fundamental 

 values upon which the determinations are based. Cer- 

 tain of the original papers have had their subject-matter 

 rearranged. The eventual results have, however, 

 already been incorporated in the last annual report of 

 the International Committee on Atomic Weights, and 

 are therefore readily accessible to all workers. 



Practical Measurements. By A. W. Siddons and .\. 

 Vassall. Pp. xiv + 6o. (Cambridge : University 

 Press, 1910.) Price is. 6d. 



This book is a development of the course of physical 

 measurements founded by Mr. Ashford at Harrow in 

 1896. Recently the earlier portions have been worked 

 under the mathematical staff. The course follows, 

 closely the syllabus of the joint committee of 

 the Mathematical and Science Masters' Asso- 

 ciations. It is important that teachers should 

 read the authors' observations on p. vii., as there is a 

 danger that the work may lead boys to suppose that 

 " science " and " measurement "are synonymous. The 

 course is open to the serious objection that it provides 

 a long series of measurements which are purposelc.-;s. 

 from the boy's point of view. Thanks to the experi- 

 ence and shrewd observation of the authors, the book 

 may serve as a trustworthy aid to mathematical 

 teachers who are undertaking, for the first time, the 

 control of classes engaged in laboratory work. Such 

 teachers will find their routine work improved as welf 

 as lightened by its use. To sum up, the book provides 

 a well-planned drill of a not too interesting kind, and 

 makes it possible to insist on the work being properly 

 done by the boy who desires to have a too easy 

 time. 



The Year-Book of the Scientific and Learned Societies 

 of Great Britain and Ireland: A Record of the Work 

 Done in Science, Literature, and Art During the 

 Session 1909-igio by Numerous Societies and 

 Government Institutions. Compiled from Official 

 Sources. Pp. iii + 370. (London : Charles Griffin 

 and Co., Ltd., 1910.) Price 75. 6d. 

 This is the twenty-seventh annual issue of a widely 

 known and very useful work of reference to which 

 attention has often been directed in these columns. 

 We have noticed sev^eral additions to the list of 

 societies and associations, the work of which is de- 

 scribed. It seems strange, however, to find in a 

 volume issued at the end of 19 10 particulars of the 

 \Mnnipeg meeting of the British Association in 1909 

 and no references to the meetings of the association at 

 Sheffield this year. 



Cambridge. Described by N. Barwell. Pp. 64. Nor^ 



u<ich and the Broads. Described bv W. Jerrold. 



Pp. .s6. The Heart of Wessex. Described by S. 



Heath. Pp. 64. All pictured bv E. W. Haslehust. 



(London : Blackie and Son, Ltd., 1910.) Price 2s. 



net each. 

 These latest additions to the series known as " Beau- 

 tiful England " are likelv to be popular guide-books 

 to the districts with which they are severally con- 

 cerned. Mr. Haslehust has been successful in giving 

 in his pictures delightful impressions of the different 

 counties, and visitors will be glad to have the volumes 

 to remind them of the beauties of the holiday resorts 

 thev have frequented. The descriptions are gossipy 

 and entertaining. 



