774 



NATURE 



[June 17, 1922 



text-books are discussed in a satisfactory and con- 

 vincing way: (i) the impossibility of trisecting an 

 angle, and (2) the construction of a regular polygon 

 of seventeen sides, by the methods of Euclidean 

 geometry. Prof. Dickson's book possesses all the 

 merits of an excellent text-book, and it is to be hoped 

 that its circulation will be a wide one. 



Department of Scientific and Industrial Research : 

 Fuel Research Board. A Handbook on the Winning 

 and the Utilisation of Peat. By A. Hausding. 

 Translated from the Third German Edition by 

 Prof. Hugh Ryan. Pp. xxiii + 506. (London : H.M. 

 Stationery Office, 1921.) 305. net. 



An account of some processes for the utilisation of 

 peat, particularly as a fuel, with references to German 

 patents is given in the volume under notice. The 

 mechanical details are better dealt with than the 

 chemistry, which is often ludicrously inaccurate. The 

 translator, indeed, often remarks on the latter point, 

 and on the inaccuracy of the calculations, but makes 

 no attempt to put things right. Some of the illustra- 

 tions {e.g. Figs. 16, 46 — which seem to be repeated 

 in 54, 68, 69, 71, etc.) are very poorly reproduced. 

 In spite of obvious defects the book contains a large 

 amount of practical information not otherwise avail- 

 able in English, and will be of value to those interested 

 in peat utilisation. An appendix, giving a reasoned 

 account of the complete failure of some recent schemes, 

 would have been instructive. The statistical informa- 

 tion should be compared with that contained in the 

 Final Repojt of the Nitrogen Products Committee, 

 which is probably more accurate. 



The Petroleum Industry : A Brief Survey of the 

 Technology of Petroleum based upon a Course of 

 Lectures given by Members of the Institution of 

 Petroleum Technologists on the occasion of the 

 Petroleum Exhibition, Crystal Palace, 1920. Edited 

 by A. E. Dunstan. Pp. vi-i-346. (London: The 

 Institution of Petroleum Technologists, 5 John 

 Street, Adelphi, n.d.) 145-. 6d. 



The petroleum industry is of peculiar interest and 

 importance to the British Empire, and all readers of 

 Nature will welcome the appearance of the present 

 volume. The series of lectures by experts have been 

 carefully co-ordinated, and the result is very readable. 

 All phases of the industry, from the prospecting for 

 oil to the various uses of the finished products, are 

 treated in a way which is a model of lucidity combined 

 with accuracy of detail, and the book cannot fail to be 

 of interest both to the specialist and to the general 

 reader. The illustrations are particularly good. In the 

 opinion of Sir Frederick Black " oil is not likely to sup- 

 plant coal, but should supplement it " — a wise counsel. 



Town Gas Manufacture : A Practical Introductory 

 Treatment of the Equipment and Processes of an 

 Average Gas Works, for Students, Junior Gas En- 

 gineers, and others connected with Gas Works. By 

 Ralph Staley. Pp. xii-|-io8. (London : Sir I. Pit- 

 man and Sons, Ltd., 1922.) 2s. 6d. net. 

 The scope of this book is sufficiently indicated by 

 its title and sub-title. The accounts of the manufac- 



NO. 2746, VOL. 109] 



ture of gas coal and water gas, including purification, 

 are brief but clear, and the illustrations are good. 

 There is mention of " great pressure setting up heat " 

 in stacks of coal (p. 6), and " high heats " (pp. 81-82), 

 meaning high temperatures. The account of the re- 

 action in the gas producer is out-of-date, while washing 

 with anthracene oil might have been mentioned as a 

 method of removing " naphthalene, that mysterious 

 bugbear." The fact that carbon monoxide is danger- 

 ously poisonous is also worthy of mention to junior 

 gas engineers. The book should be very interesting to 

 students of chemistry as well as to those intending to 

 enter gas works. 



A First Book of Chemistry for Students in Junior 

 Technical Schools. By Dr. A. Coulthard. Pp. viii + 

 156. (London : Sir I. Pitman and Sons, Ltd., 1922.) 

 45. 6d. net. 

 Dr. Coulthard's book has some features which dis- 

 tinguish it from the scores of " elementary " or " junior " 

 text-books which have appeared in recent years. It 

 is quite up-to-date in its information; the scope is 

 limited but is still sufficient to give a good view of the 

 fundamental laws of chemistry, although the atomic 

 theory is not included, the book finishing with equi- 

 valents. In connection with class work and practical 

 work (over a hundred good experiments are described) 

 the book should be found useful, and it may be re- 

 commended for use in junior classes. Ten years ago 

 a book of this size would have sold for two shillings at 

 the outside, but the price is probably reasonable now- 



Manuel de parfumerie. Par I. Lazennec. (Biblio- 

 theque Professionnelle.) Pp. 281. (Paris : J.-B. 

 Bailliere et Fils, 1922.) 8 francs. 

 M. Rene Dhommee is editing an encyclopedia of 150 

 volumes on " travail national," which is intended for 

 French artisans. The idea is good, and corresponds 

 in many ways with that of the " Life and Work " 

 Series now being published by Messrs. Macmillan. 

 The scope of the book is similar to that of Parry's 

 " Perfumes," recently noticed in Nature, but is not 

 quite so full on the scientific side. The technical 

 processes are described in detail, with illustrations, 

 and there are numerous recipes (which are not given 

 by Parry). The book should fulfil its object, and we 

 wish the editor success in his enterprise. 



Oils, Fats, and Fuels. By T. Hull. Pp. viii + 143. 

 (London: Blackie and Son, Ltd., 1921.) 35. 6d. 

 net. 



A very elementary account of the subject suitable 

 for students in technical schools and classes will be 

 found in this book. The chemistry of the materials 

 and processes are not dealt with, formulae and equations 

 being purposely omitted. There is no index. On p. 

 128 the composition of " modern coal gas " is given 

 as containing only 8 per cent, of carbon monoxide 

 and 3-5 of " oxygen, nitrogen, etc." This must refer 

 to genuine coal gas and not to the " modern " variety. 

 No mention of fat hardening is made. 



