272 



NATURE 



[October 28, 1920 



For the first time in the history of chemical 

 science this is made possible by the publication 

 of these volumes. A close study of this and the 

 succeeding volumes will show the young chemist 

 how physics, physical chemistry, and engineering 

 must be combined with exact chemical knowledge. 

 He will find here large numbers of drawings in 

 plan and elevation which he can utilise in his study 

 of engineering drawing as applied to chemical 

 plant. He will see how, step by step, leaving 

 nothing to chance, the elaborate calculations are 

 carried out whereby from a number of funda- 

 mental data the complete flow-sheets and precise 

 working details of large chemical factories are 

 quantitatively developed. He will learn how every 

 technical chemical problem involves much know- 

 ledge of physics and engineering, and he will see 

 how much the practical chemical designer has to 

 do with questions of heat absorption an^ evolu- 

 tion, and the transfer and transmission of heat. 

 Most important of all, he will learn that the object 

 of the truly scientific designer is to guess at 

 nothing, but, if possible, to reduce everything to 

 fundamental principles, precise quantitative data, 

 and systematic calculation. 



In the present volume the larger part — i.e. that 

 relating to the design of the great Gretna works 

 for the production of cordite and nitro- 

 glycerine — presents to the student of chemical in- 

 dustry and chemical engineering a unique object 

 for study. The plan adopted by Mr. Macnab is to 

 set forth systematically all the calculations as to 

 quantities and capacities to be dealt with by the 

 various sections of the plant and works. These 

 calculations are summarised in a complete series 

 of flow-sheets. The various sections and the 

 general lay-out are illustrated by a large number 

 of engineering drawings, all of which are accom- 

 panied by detailed descriptions which add enor- 

 mously to their value. The "Study for an Installa- 

 tion of Phosgene Manufacture" is a fine 

 piece of work, and an excellent example of 

 Mr. Quinan's method of utilising thermo-chemical 

 and physical data in the solution of a technical 

 chemical problem. This "study " is a little classic, 

 and will undoubtedly prove a source of inspira- 

 tion and instruction of the very highest value. 

 The student can here see for himself how, given 

 certain chemical and physical data, the trained and 

 experienced chemical designer sets to work to 

 decide between the claims of rival processes and 

 to develop the technical details of the selected one. 

 Mr. Macnab is warmly to be congratu- 

 lated on the splendid way he has carried out his 

 work. The intellectual and manual labour in- 

 volved must have been very great, but they are 

 justified by the excellence of the result. It can 

 NO. 2661, VOL. 106] 



be stated with certainty that the present volume 

 and its successors will constitute a handbook of 

 applied chemical and physical science without its 

 equal in any language. The effects as regards 

 the scientific training of the new generation of 

 chemical students will be far-reaching. The Ex- 

 plosives Supply Department had to produce in 

 gigantic measure the chemical weapons of destruc- 

 tion. In these volumes the work of the Depart- 

 ment will live for many years to come as a great 

 and noble contribution to the edifice of reconstruc- 

 tion. It is earnestly to be hoped that the Govern- 

 ment Departments now concerned will realise the 

 vast importance of this undertaking and so publish 

 ample editions of the various volumes. There 

 exists here a splendid opportunity of extracting 

 good from the terrible waste of war, and of sow- 

 ing seed which will produce a rich harvest in the 

 years to come. 



One cannot put this volume down without 

 thinking of the great days when Mr. Quinan 

 worked at Storey's Gate. The unique profes- 

 sional knowledge derived from many years of 

 technical experience, the unremitting work of a 

 powerful and vigorous mind, and the irradiating 

 influence of a great, genial, and unselfish per- 

 sonality were unreservedly, put at the disposal 

 of the British Empire. An atmosphere of good 

 fellowship and of equal comradeship in work per- 

 vaded every branch. Everyone who came under 

 the influence of Mr. Quinan was stimulated to put 

 forth his best in the general cause. 



These volumes will constitute an enduring 

 memorial to the work of one of America's greatest 

 sons, a man who did as much as anyone to win 

 the Great War, and in doing so won the respect 

 and affection of all who knew him. 



F. G. DONNAN. 



Experimental Science in India. 

 The Life and Work of Sir Jagadis C. Bose: An 

 Indian Pioneer of Science. By Prof. Patrick 

 Geddes. Pp. xii -1-259. (London: Longmans, 

 Green, and Co., 1920.) Price 165. net. 

 ' I ■'HE author of this biography was fortunate in 

 his subject : it was no hard task to write an 

 interesting chronicle of so eventful a life and of so 

 striking a personality. Sir J. C. Bose is equally 

 fortunate in his biographer : his life and work are 

 set forth with conspicuous literary skill, scientific 

 knowledge, and sympathy with the East. The 

 result is a singularly instructive and eminently 

 readable book. 



The story of his life shows that Sir J. C. Bose 

 had to contend, at all stages, with difficulties of 

 every kind. The first and most fateful was that 



