5^4 



NATURE 



[December 29, 192 1 



centres of biological research in Austria-Hungary, 

 Russia, and Germany ; he now sets forth, not only 

 an epitome of the work that was then in progress 

 at the several laboratories, but also his meditations 

 on the effects produced by political circumstances 

 upon the scientific spirit and scientific output of the 

 respective nations. The general tenor of his views, 

 which are deserving of most careful attention, may 

 be gathered from the following quotations : " Les 

 AUemands avaient voulu organiser une universite 

 grandiose a Strasbourg, mais, malgre des installa- 

 tioas somptueuses et des credits considerables, la 

 vie scientifique etait loin d'y avoir les memes mani- 

 festations brillantes qu'a Cracovie, ou la domina- 

 tion autrichienne etait moins pesante et oil I'ame 

 nationale pouvait encore s'exterioriser." "Les 

 regimes politiques bas^s sur la liberty se sont tou- 

 jours montres favorables au developpement des 

 sciences et des arts. Si la discipline renforce I'esprit 

 de logique, elle tue au contraire I'esprit d'inven- 

 tion." The book should be studied and digested 

 by politicians as well as by men of science, and 

 especially by those who are concerned with the 

 organisation of education. 



Practical Geometry for Builders and Architects. 

 By J. E. Paynter. (The Directly -useful Tech- 

 nical Series.) Pp. xii + 409. (London : Chapman 

 and Hall, Ltd., 192 1.) 155. net. 



Ik compiling this book it has been assumed that 

 the student is a practical man with some know- 

 ledge of the principles of geometry; hence 

 a good deal of the more elementary work 

 has been omitted. Among other subjects 

 treated in the early part of the volume there are 

 many references to surveying and surveying prob- 

 lems. It is almost a cause for regret that much 

 of this matter was not also omitted, for many of 

 the methods described would never be employed by 

 any competent surveyor, and some could not pos- 

 sibly be carried out except on a sheet of drawing- 

 paper. The author, on the other hand, is quite 

 at home in describing the applications of geometry 

 to problems in building construction, such as the 

 timber of roofs, mouldings, etc., and this section 

 of the subject, which, indeed, occupies the greater 

 part of the volume, is excellent, and is treated in 

 a clear, straightforward manner, which cannot fail 

 to make the principles clear to the student. 



The Electro-Deposition of Copper and its Indus- 

 trial Applications. By C. W. Denny. (Pit- 

 man's Technical Primers.) Pp. xii + 108. 

 (London: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd., 

 192 1.) 25. 6d. net. 

 In this little manual an outline is given of modern 

 practice in the electro-deposition of copper in its 

 industrial applications. These include, besides the 

 older process of electrotyping, manufacture of 

 copper tubes, etc., a new method of making 

 what is called reinforced copper, in which is em- 

 bedded a grid or perforated plate of steel, com- 

 plete automobile radiators, driving bands for pro- 

 jectiles, matrices for gramophone records, and 



NO. 2722, VOL. 108] 



several other interesting processes of recent 

 development. Considering the limitations of 

 space, a remarkable amount of practical detail is 

 included. 



Tidal Power. By A. M. A. Struben. (Pitman's 

 Technical Primers.) Pp. xii+115. (London: 

 Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd., 192 1.) 

 2S. 6d. net. 



The idea of the development of power by utilising 

 the tides is not new, but interest in the subject has 

 been stimulated recently by the enunciation of the 

 Severn scheme. The non-technical reader will 

 find a number of modern proposals discussed in 

 this book, together with estimates of costs, work- 

 ing expenses, and the probable power which may 

 be obtained. Owing to the lack of practical ex- 

 perience on the large scale, a good deal of the 

 matter presented is speculative ; indeed, as the 

 author himself states, there is ample scope for the 

 display of originality, as this field is practically 

 untrodden. He is right in advocating research, 

 and we trust that there will be adequate research 

 work done prior to the undertaking of any gigantic 

 schemes. 



Mining Physics and Chemistry. By J. W. 

 Whitaker. With an introduction by Prof. 

 W. H. McMillan. Pp. xii + 268. (London: 

 Edward Arnold and Co., 192 1.) gs. net. 



Mr. Whitaker 's book is an introductory account 

 of the physics and chemistry affecting mining 

 students. The standard is not high, but so far as 

 it goes the account is clear and accurate. Special 

 attention is directed to such matters as flame and 

 oxidation, mine gases (including carbon monoxide 

 and its physiological effects), surface and mine 

 waters, coal, and explosives. Methods of 

 analysis are also given. The title of Fig. 25 is 

 incorrect. 



Organic Analysis, Qualitative and Quantitative. 

 By E. De Barry Barnett and P. C. L. Thorne. 

 Pp. xi+i68. (London: LTniversity of London 

 Press, Ltd., 1921.) 7s. 6d. 



The methods used in the detection of common 

 organic substances, and some typical quantitative 

 estimations, are described. Methods of determin- 

 ing molecular weights, and polarimetry, which are 

 adequately dealt with in books on practical 

 physical chemistry, might have been omitted. The 

 authors have produced a very useful compendium 

 for students of chemistry. 



Calculations in Organic Chemistry. By Prof. 



\'. K. Bhagwat. Pp. xi+138. (Bombay: S. 



Govind and Co., 1921.) 

 The calculations and examples collected by Prof. 

 Bhagwat should be very useful to teachers and 

 students, as they are of the type which regularly 

 appear in degree examination papers. The pub- 

 lishers have scarcely done full justice to the author 

 in the get-up of the book. An English edition 

 would probably be found useful. 



