July 26, 1917] 



NATURE 



423 



place, it is doubtful whether systematic chemistry, 

 entirely divorced from elementary physics, is a 

 useful introduction. It is further open to ques- 

 tion whether the notion of atomic weights, 

 chemical equations, and valency can be assimi- 

 lated at this stage ; yet these subjects are dis- 

 cussed within the first twenty pages. Finally, 

 we submit that it is unnecessary and undesirable 

 for a beginner to be introduced to more than a 

 small fraction of the whole gamut of the elements 

 and some of their chief compounds, even though 

 they may find some application in the arts and 

 manufactures. No doubt the book is intended to 

 be associated with laboratory practice or some 

 form of experimental demonstration, for there is 

 not a single illustration representing chemical 

 apparatus. For so small a volume, which is not 

 much lare-er in dimensions than the "People's 

 Books," the price of 2s. 6d. seems excessive. 



(2) The chief novelty in Dr, Caven's little book 

 on qualitative analysis is the arrangement. 

 Instead of presenting the reactions for the 

 individual metals in their group order, as is 

 usually done, the author directs the student first 

 to the study of the individual reagents, so that 

 the basis of group classification may become 

 evident at the outset. Thus the action of heat 

 and other dry tests are taken first, and are fol- 

 lowed by the action of solvents and, finally, by 

 that of the group reagents. This forms Part i., 

 while Part ii. is devoted to the usual description 

 of reactions for the metals and acids, taken in 

 group order. Part iii. contains a short summary 

 of the process of analysis. 



The author considers that this arrangement has 

 proved more satisfactory in actual practice than 

 the older scheme, and, moreover, regards it as 

 more scientific. No doubt the first claim is well 

 founded on its alleged success ; the second merely 

 turns on a choice between the inductive and the 

 deductive method, but who shall sav which is the 

 more scientific? J. B. C. 



OUR BOOKSHELF. 



The Statesman's Y ear-Book, Statistical and His- 

 torical Annual of the States of the World for 

 the Year 191 7. Edited by Dr. J. Scott Keltic, 

 assisted by Dr. M. Epstein. Fifty-fourth annual 

 publication. Revised after official returns. 

 Pp. xliv + 1 504 + plates 4. (London : Macmillan 

 and Co., Ltd., 1917.) Price 12s. 6d. net. 

 The new edition of this valuable year-book has 

 been slightly reduced in size without lessening its 

 usefulness. Considerable difficulties have had to 

 be faced in the revision of the statistics of bel- 

 ligerent, and especially enemy, countries, but 

 these have been overcome in many cases. The 

 value of the book is enhanced by the figures in 

 most countries being given for at least the last 

 pre-war year in addition to later years, where the 

 latter were available. There are four maps, show- 

 ing respectively : States engaged in the war up 

 jto May 10, 1917; Arabia, with political divisions; 

 |the railways of South America ; and the canals and 

 inland waterways of the United Kingdom. The 

 NO. 2491, VOL. 99] 



additions and corrections contain material received 

 too late to be embodied in the work, and include a 

 section on Arabia. Accurate information about 

 Russian railways is difficult enough to obtain in 

 peace time, and the editors have been wise to give 

 a list of lines "being built, approved for construc- 

 tion, or projected " without further discrimination. 

 The Amur line, however, is now built, and we 

 believe has been in use for a year or more. Among 

 other useful matter in the introductory tables are 

 the figures for the world's production of various 

 metals, sugar, and grain. The list of the chief 

 events of the war is brought up to May, 1917, and 

 a further list of the chief books on the war is 

 added. 



Microscopic Analysis of Cattle-Foods. By T. N. 

 Morris. Pp. viii + 74 + figs. 54. (Cambridge : 

 At the University Press, 1917.) Price 2s. net. 

 It is curious that whereas the chemical analysis 

 of cattle-foods has given rise to a considerable 

 array of text-books, the equally, or often more, im- 

 portant microscopic analysis has hitherto been 

 neglected by the English writer apart from its 

 treatment in the pages of Winton's standard 

 treatise on vegetable foods in general. 



The latter has been judiciously drawn upon in 

 the compilation of the present work, which is put 

 forward as "a brief guide in the recognition of 

 the common legitimate constituents of cattle- 

 foods," and makes no claim to be exhaustive. 

 Within its few pages it gives an admirable sum- 

 mary of information on methods of examination 

 and the chief histological characters of the com- 

 mon cereals, pulses, oil-seeds, cruciferous seeds, 

 and nuts. The information is clear, concise, and 

 accurate, and the accompanying diagrams are in 

 many cases excellent. \^ery few of the common 

 impurities of cattle-foods are omitted, the chief 

 exceptions one notes being" coffee husks, dari, 

 gram, and sesame. A note might also have been 

 included on the castor bean, which has frequently 

 played a sinister part as an ingredient of oil-cakes, 

 and in alleged non-toxic form is now seeking a 

 place as a legitimate cattle feeding-stuff. No 

 reference is made to animal matters, such as meat 

 and fish refuse, which are now coming into in- 

 creasing use on the farm. The book should prove 

 very useful to the agricultural student, and within 

 its limits also to the agricultural analyst. 



Science and Industry: The Place of Cambridge 

 in any Scheme for their Combination. By Sir 

 Richard T. Glazebrook. Pp.51. (Cambridge: 

 At the University Press, 191 7.) Price 15. 6d. 

 net. 



Readers will be glad that the Rede lecture for 

 this year, delivered by Sir Richard Glazebrook on 

 June 9, is now available in book form. We 

 were able to publish the greater part of the lecture 

 in our issue for June 21 (vol. xcix., p. 333), and it 

 will suffice here to say that we hope the essay will 

 be widelv studied, dealing as it does with matters 

 of the highest importance which must be handled 

 boldly if the future welfare of the nation is to be 

 assured. 



