November 4, 1920] 



NATURE 



307 



various systems of supply. It includes a number 

 of important ^theorems relating' to distributing 

 networks, with the measurement of their insula- 

 tion resistances and with the determination of the 

 positions of faults. 



The subject of dielectric strength is one on 

 which Dr. Russell is a well-known authority, and 

 the chapter on this subject is exceedingly good ; 

 it includes a number of useful tables for sparking 

 voltages in air. There is a chapter on the grad- 

 ing and the heating of cables, and another 

 on electrical safety valves, the book con- 

 cluding with a chapter on lightning conductors. 

 If the theories here given and their practical ap- 

 plication were more clearly understood by all 

 central station men, there would be a considerable 

 reduction in the weight of copper which is now 

 laid down in cable systems. It is to be hoped 

 that an increasing amount of consideration will 

 be given to the design of cables and distribution 

 networks, and for this purpose the new edition 

 of Dr. Russell's book will be of great value. 



The Carbon Compounds. 



.4 Text-book of Organic Chemistry. By E. 

 de Barry Barnett. Pp. xii + 380. (London : 

 J. and A. Churchill, 1920.) Price 155. net. 



SINCE almost all lecture courses on organic 

 chemistry follow certain main lines, it is to 

 be expected from financial reasons that new text- 

 books on the subject will not diverge far from the 

 older books in their general treatment of the 

 material. All that can be expected from the 

 authors is the infusion of fresh interest by a varia- 

 tion in the scope of the books and in the handling 

 of details. This is to be regretted ; but it is ap- 

 parently almost inevitable. 



Within these limitations Mr. Barnett has written 

 an excellent book. It is clearly put, very well 

 illustrated, furnished with formula; much superior 

 to those usually found in text-books, and in addi- 

 tion possesses certain features distinguishing it 

 from the ordinary run of its class. The most 

 original of these is the guide to the literature of 

 organic chemistry which terminates the introduc- 

 tion, and this is supplemented by references to 

 books at the end of those chapters where further 

 information may be required. By these means the 

 student will gain a truer perspective of the sub- 

 ject, and will not be inclined to assume that his 

 textbook has made him a past-master in the 

 field. 



If there is any fault in the book, it lie» m the 

 fact that the author appears to over-estimate the 

 mental quickness of the ordinary student. The 

 NO. 2662, VOL. 106] 



theoretical side of the subject is dealt with as a 

 whole at the beginning of the volume, and it 

 seems probable that the book would gain con- 

 siderably if this part of it were extended. Also, 

 cross-references to this section in the body of the 

 text would improve the work. 



The commercial applications of organic 

 chemistry are emphasised more frequently than 

 in most text-books, and enough information is 

 given about the heterocyclic section to enable the 

 student to appreciate its importance from the 

 point of view of naturally occurring materials. In 

 a new edition some description of indicators other 

 than phenolphthalein might be given, and pos- 

 sibly a brief reference to the flavones and antho- 

 cyanins included in the heterocyclic section. 



The book is laudably free from errors, and no 

 misprint in it is likely to give any trouble to a 

 careful reader. The only important slip appears 

 to be the erroneous formula for chloropicrin given 

 on p. 150. 



As a whole the book is marked by its fresh 

 treatment of the material, and is to be welcomed. 

 Its main drawback lies in its price. 



A. W. S 



Our Bookshelf. 



Anthropology and History: Being the Twenty- 

 second Robert Boyle Lecture, delivered before 

 the Oxford University Junior Scientific Club on 

 June 9, 1920. By Dr. W. McDougall. Pp. 25. 

 (London: HumplTrey Milford ; Oxford Uni- 

 versity Press, 1920.) Price 2s. net. 



The object of this instructive lecture is to illus- 

 trate the importance of the study of anthropology 

 as an adjunct to the study of history. Anthro- 

 pology is not exclusively concerned with the mea- 

 suring of skulls, or with the study of primitive 

 man, save for the sake of cultured man. Without 

 it, it is impossible to understand the causes of the 

 rise and fall of nations, to forecast their future, or 

 to guide the statesman from the experience of the 

 past. An alien culture can rarely be imposed upon 

 a people by external power and authority. As 

 examples of the effect of race upon culture, the 

 lecturer points to the disappearance of Buddhism 

 from India and its progress in Tibet and China ; 

 the relative distribution of the Roman Catholic 

 and Protestant forms of Christianity in Europe; 

 and the power of expansion as illustrated by the 

 success of Great Britain and the failure of France 

 to create a colonial empire. These last, capacity 

 and incapacity, were evolved in the prehistoric 

 period, because no adequate explanation of them 

 m the historical period can be postubted, and 

 similar diverse qualities are assigned by the 

 earliest historians to the ancesti^l stocks of both 

 peoples. 

 The races capable of producing and su.staining 



