NATURE 



[July io, 1919 



TEXr-BOOKS OF CHEMICAL ANALYSIS. 



(i) A Systematic Course of Qualitative Chemical 

 A7ialysis of Inorganic and Organic Substances, 

 with Explanatory Notes. By Prof. Henry W. 

 Schimpf. Third edition, revised. Pp. ix+187. 

 (New York : John Wiley and Sons, Inc. ; 

 London: Chapman and Hall, Ltd., I9i7.) 

 Price 75. net. 



(2) Essentials of Volumetric Analysis: An Intro- 

 duction to the Subject, Adapted to the Needs 

 of Students of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. By 

 Prof. Henry W. Schimpf. Third edition, re- 

 written and enlarg^ed. Pp. xiv + 366. (New 

 York : John Wiley and Sons, Inc. ; London : 

 Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1917.) Price 75. net. 



(3) An Advanced Course in Quantitative Analysis, 

 with Explanatory Notes. By Prof. Henry Fay. 

 Pp. vi+iii. (New York: John Wiley and 

 Sons, Inc. ; London : Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 

 191 7.) Price 6s. net. 



(i) '"pHIS volume is intended especially for 

 J- pharmaceutical students, and the author 

 has borne in mind the fact that such students can 

 devote but a relatively short time to the study of 

 analytical chemistry. Hence the endeavour has 

 been made to confine the work to those qualita- 

 tive chemical reactions, both organic and in- 

 organic, which it is considered essential for 

 students of pharmacy to master. An ample course 

 has been provided; but the book is frankly 

 didactic rather than educative. 



In carrying out the scheme, much use is made 

 of "charts " and tables of procedure, not only for 

 the analysis of mixtures, but also for examining 

 simple salts. A useful feature is the plentiful 

 employment of equations in explanation of the 

 reactions : this is a matter on which the average 

 student is often weak. Although the "organic " 

 part of the work has been written in reference 

 to the United States Pharmacopoeia, it will be 

 found quite serviceable by students in this 

 country. The matter is both well arranged and 

 well printed. 



In a work of this character there seems to be 

 no sufficient reason for including a section dealing 

 with elementary chemistry (atoms, valency, sym- 

 bols, salts, etc.). The sixteen pages devoted to 

 it cannot take the place of an ordinary chemical 

 text-book ; and that being so, they might be more 

 profitably devoted to analytical matters. It may 

 be noted that, in the chart on p. 72, sodium 

 metantimonate, instead of the potassium salt, is, 

 by an oversight, shown as the reagent to be used 

 in testing for sodium. 



(2) Like the foregoing work, this volume is also 

 designed for the use of pharmaceutical students. 

 Hence, in addition to descriptions of the general 

 principles of volumetric analysis, chapters are 

 included which initiate the user into methods of 

 dealing with medicinal substances. Such methods 

 are, for instance, those used in the estimation of 

 alkaloids volumetrically, and in the assaying of 

 vegetable drugs and galenical preparations. With 

 NO. 2593, VOL. 103] 



these may be mentioned the processes used for 

 the determination of phenols, nitrites, sugars, and 

 alcohol; assays of drugs, such as chloral and 

 resorcinol, and the examination of oils, fats, and 

 waxes. The chapters in question will be found 

 to be excellent introductions to these parts of the 

 subject. 



The earlier chapters give good explanations of 

 the general principles and practice of volumetric 

 analysis. They are provided with numerous 

 worked-out examples to explain the calculations 

 involved. 



Whilst, however, the book, on the whole, will 

 be found convenient and useful, it would be 

 improved here and there by a revision of the 

 wording. Such sentences as "the sensitiveness 

 of the indicators and its colour changes is ascribed 

 to ..." (p. 21) do not well express the author's 

 meaning. The revision of proofs, too, might have 

 been better done. Thus the statement that "oleo- 

 margarin requires about one mil of beef -fat '* 

 (p. 285) will be found rather cryptic by the 

 student, until he realises that somehow or other 

 "decinormal alkali " has been transformed into 

 "beef-fat" during its passage through the press. 



(3) Work of a rather advanced kind, suitable 

 for students who have already gone through a 

 good introductory course, is provided in this third 

 volume. The subjects chosen are such as to 

 afford experience in the methods used for assaying 

 minerals and metals. The analysis of silicates is 

 first dealt with, and this is followed by that of 

 spathic iron ore, pyrites, and titanium iron ore. 

 After a few more exercises, including the 

 proximate analysis of coal, the student is taken 

 on to the analysis of phosphor-bronze and the 

 determination of the numerous substances present 

 in various kinds of iron and steel. These 

 examples will indicate the nature of the experi- 

 mental work to be carried out. Except as 

 regards coal, the estimations are concerned with 

 inorganic substances only. 



A notable feature of the book is Prof. Fay's 

 explanatory notes, which will be found very help- 

 ful, as will also the original references provided. 

 The methods of analysis used are such as would 

 be employed in actual working practice, and the 

 book can be cordially recommended to the notice 

 of advanced students and their tutors. 



THE VALUE OF A GARDEN. 



A Garden Flora: Trees and Flowers Grown in the 

 Gardens at Nymans. By L. Messel. 1890-1915. 

 ^^'ith illustrations by Alfred Parsons. Fore- 

 word by William Robinson. Notes by Muriel 

 Messel. Pp. ix + 196. (London: Country 

 Life Offices and George Newnes, Ltd. ; New 

 York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1918.) Price 

 I05. 6d. net. 



'HPHE garden at Nymans, Sussex, is without 

 -'- doubt a particularly favoured spot. It rises 



to some 500 ft. above sea-level, and has a good 



loam soil overlying sandstone. As might be ex- 



