May, igo6.] 



KNOWLEDGE & SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



439 



completely separate their theoretical knowledge from their 

 laborator}' experience, has endeavoured in this manual of 

 qualitative chemical analysis to supplement the practical in- 

 structions by sufficient explanatory data to arouse in the 

 learner an intelligent interest in the operations under discus- 

 sion. In these theoretical explanations the author has made 

 judicious use of the ionic theory, employing it where the 

 earlier views are incomplete or misleading, but retaining the 

 older mode of representing double decompositions when this 

 formulation indicates with sufficient accuracy the reactions 

 taking place in the various analytical tests. The chapter 

 on reactions in solutions and the paragraph relating to the 

 solubility of magnesium hydroxide in ammonium chloride 

 are cases in point. The inorganic section of the book deals 

 very fully with the reactions of the ordinary metals and acids 

 and contains also the distinctive tests of certain rarer metals 

 and less common acids. The author states in the prefaces 

 to both editions of the work that only those reactions are 

 included which have been experimentally verified. At the 

 risk of adding to this practical revision, we venture to 

 suggest a few instances in which a little additional informa- 

 tion might be imparted without materially increasing the 

 size of the volume. 



Among the tests for bisnuith no mention is made of the 

 action of reducing agents; the interaction with alkaline 

 stannites is, however, of some interest, having been recently 

 the subject of a controversy concerning the alleged existence 

 of bismuth suboxide. 



The statement on p.6g that " the solutions [of chromium 

 salts| are violet or green depending on their concentration " 

 does not sufficiently take into account the effect of tempera- 

 ture on the colour and constitution of these dissolved salts, 

 and of the tendency for the cation Cr to form complex ions 

 with certain anions, such as .SO4 for example. 



Our experience is that the separation of the sulphides of 

 manganese and zinc from those of nickel and cobalt by 

 means of cold dilute hydrochloric acid is not always reliable, 

 and hence it might be well to give at least a brief reference 

 to the alternative method in which the four sulphides are 

 dissolved simultaneously, the separation being then effected 

 by successive treatment with caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, 

 ammonium acetate, and sulphuretted hydrogen. 



The acidified permanganate process for detecting chlorides 

 in presence of bromides and iodides is a useful alternative 

 method to those indicated in the text, and the only distinctive 

 test given for bicarbonates might be supplemented by a 

 reference to the behaviour of these substances towards 

 phenolphthalein or mercuric chloride. 



The organic section contains a useful chapter on " elemen- 

 tary " organic analysis in which a note should be introduced 

 pointing out the danger of employing the sodium or 

 potassium test for nitrogen with nitro-compounds of the 

 picric acid type. The remaining chapters deal with the 

 reactions of representative examples of the chief groups of 

 organic dorivati\es. The sections on alkaloids, carbohy- 

 drates, and organic acids merit special mention as the range 

 of examples is very extensive, and many quite modern tests 

 have been incorporated. Whenever possible, these organic 

 reactions have been tabulated, a system which facilitates 

 comparison and tends to render the practical work more 

 systematic. 



Full particulars for llie iircparalion of the reagents re- 

 quired in both inorganic and organic sections are given in 

 the appendix. 



Although a few trivial clerical errors still persist {c.(j. pp. 

 184, 210), the present edition bears the marks of careful 

 revision, and the author is to be congratulated on the large 

 amoimt of useful information which he has condensed into a 

 conveniint bulk. On this account the work may be re- 

 garded not only as an up-to-date laboratory manual, but 

 also as a serviceable book of reference on analytical 

 chemisliy. 



ETHNOLOOY. 



The Twenty-Third Annual Kcport of the Bureau of American 

 Ethnolo)<y (("lovernment IVintinj; Office, Washinj,'ton).-- When 

 ue take up a lar^-c and handsome volume of over 600 pages 

 and find that, in addition to many smaller illustrations, there 

 are no less than 139 excellent plates, mostly coloured, within 

 it, we can but wonder whether so splendid a work is worth all 

 the trouble bestowed upon it. This, of course, entirely 



depends upon the subject, which in this case is confined to an 

 account of one tribe of American Indians. The Zuni 

 Indians : Their Mythology, Esoteric Fraternities, and Cere- 

 monies, are described in the fullest detail by Mrs. M. C. 

 Stevenson. This tribe inhabits districts in Xew Mexico 

 and .'Vri^ona and is one of great interest. ■' They look to their 

 gods for nourishment and for all things pertaming to their 

 welfare in this world, and while the woof of their religion is 

 coloured with poetic conceptions, when the fabric is separated 

 threat by thread we find the wtb composed of a few simple, 

 practical concepts." The expedition sent by the Bureau of 

 Ethnology in 1879 to study this district remained at Zuni for 

 six months, and in subsequent years returned again for long 

 periods, so that the work has been very thoroughly accom- 

 plished, and apart from the interest of the peculiarities of the 

 tribe, it is a pleasure to see any one subject so exhaustively 

 treated of, and all interested in ethnology and the quaint 

 habits of wild people will welcome this great work with 

 delight. 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



Our School Out of Doors. — .\ Nature book for young people. 

 By the Hon. M. Cordelia Leigh (T. Fisher Unwin ; 2S.). This 

 is a most excellent little guide to everyday knowledge. The 

 various sulijects dealt with are included in shoit paragraphs 

 with clear headings, and a set of questions ends up each 

 chapter, ensuring a mastery of its les:ons. A number of good 

 illustrations add to the attractiveness of this practical little 

 book. 



SCHOLASTIC. 



Elements of Descriptive Geometry, by O. E. Randall, 

 Ph.D. (Ciinn and Co., New York; pp. 209). — This is a 

 treatise on geometrical drawing, or practical solid geometry, 

 dealing with the projection not only of rectilinear solids, 

 but also of curves and surfaces of single and double curva- 

 ture. It is intended primarily for students of engineering 

 drawing, for whom it is well suited. 



English Composition Simplified, by J. Logan (T. Murby 

 and Co. ; is. 6d.). Those who wish to have on their table a 

 concise and practical guide to English composition cannot do 

 better than procure this little work, which in unpretentious 

 fashion gives all the more recognised rules connected with it. 

 Nearly half the work, however, is devoted to skeleton and 

 specimen essays, which do not seem, to our thinking, to be of 

 any great practical value. 



SOCIOLOGY. 



Foundations of Political Economy, by William Bell Robertson 

 (Walter Scott Publishing Co. ; 5s.). This work has two aims 

 in view, the one being, we think, rather difficult to reconcile 

 with the other. These are to maintain a " strict adherence to 

 the methods of . . . the orthodox school " in the treatment 

 of political economy, while the other is " to sever from any 

 future connection with it tlie epithet ' dismal.' " Though we 

 cannot say that the work has caused us any great hilarity, the 

 subject treated of is put clearly and to the point. 

 MISCELLANEOUS. 



Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household .Management (Ward Lock 

 and Co.). New edition. This, though hardly to be classed 

 under the heading of scientific works, is thoroughly deserving 

 of notice as a most complete guide to all that pertains to the 

 culinary laboratory. The various methods of analysis inci- 

 dental to the preparation of bodily nutriments, and the obser- 

 vation of the reactions occurring in the cooking pot are, after 

 all, some of the most important investigations in human life 

 and happiness, and this very complete work should certainly 

 be in the possession of all who take a pride and an interest in 

 their internal mechanism. 



Sundials. — Messrs. Newton and Co. issue a special catalogue 

 of simdials and pedestals, which they make in every variety, 

 and to suit every position. The sundial has of late years en- 

 joyed a renaissance of popularity, due, no doubt, to the reviv- 

 ing interest in every kind of antique property, from Tudor 

 manor houses to .■\dams' mantelpieces ; and sundials are not 

 the least charming objects of an admirable taste. Those 

 which Messrs. Newton advertise are excellent in e.xecution and 

 design ; they enshrine all the old mottoes from " Light rules 

 me, the shadow thee," to the did.actic, " Sic Vita, Finis Ita," 

 on old Chelsea Church. Their workmanship, pattern, and 

 design are alike unexceptionable. 



