92 



KNOWLEDGE. 



March, 1915- 



explanations of such accessories as the petrol engine. 

 Some sixteen fine plates from photographs illustrate the 

 principal events, but it seems a pity that these have not 

 been inserted opposite the matter to which they refer. 

 Numerous other rather crude line drawings help to elucidate 

 the subject. The book is clearly written in unpretentious 

 style, and does not attempt to go at all deeply into techni- 

 calities. A good index would have added to its value. 



B. B. P. 



ASTRONOMY. 



Stellar Movements and the Structure of the Universe.- — ^By 



A. S. Eddington. 262 pages. 4 plates. 22 diagrams. 



8|-in. X 5J-in. 



(Macmillan & Co. Price 6/- net.) 



The book is on a selected yet comprehensive branch of 

 astronomy, the subject of stellar distribution being more 

 than two hundred years old. The two hundred and 

 sixty-two pages are divided into twelve chapters, each 

 of intense interest : they are written in a scientific yet 

 popular form, except Chapters VII and X, which are 

 mathematical. In addition to these twelve chapters there 

 are four plates of nebulae, twenty-two diagrams, and an 

 efficient index. 



We would like to make one or two comments. We have 

 an inherent impression that when a book is called a mono- 

 graph we may expect to find the book substantially complete 

 upon the subject, both in its historical and present-day 

 aspects : the dissociation of one from the other prevents the 

 author from afiordmg a more complete account to the reader. 

 The author has to assume that the reader knows the history 

 and the work of the pioneers in the subject, and one is apt 

 to get a superficial view of the state of the particular 

 branch of knowledge treated of. Our view may be too 

 comprehensive of what a monograph may be. True, the 

 author, in this instance, clearly states in his preface : 

 " No attempt has been made to treat the subject historically. 

 I have preferred to describe the results of investigations 

 founded on the most recent data rather than early pioneer 

 researches. . . . But it was outside my purpose to describe 

 the steps by which knowledge has advanced ; it is the 

 present situation that is here surveyed." If one will only 

 read the book — and it is a book in which every line should 

 be read carefully — with this qualification in view, he need 

 not allow his mind to wonder on omitted historical data ; 

 it is essentially a survey and a thoughtful assimilation of 

 researches in this particular and absorbing branch of 

 astronomy during the last twenty-five years. 



i\Iost of the chapters are crammed with selected state- 

 ments of facts derived from the numerous recent workers 

 in this subject, among whom the author has been one of 

 the most earnest and prolific investigators. Numerical 

 references and a bibliography are given at the end of each 

 chapter. It must not for one moment be understood that 

 this book is a mere collection of facts from others' work ; 

 the author both advances and explains many theories 

 throughout to account for the numerous phenomena which 

 stellar astronomy presents. We notice that the data in 

 Chapter I are not quite up to date, and the omission of 

 Professor H. C. Plummer's radial-velocities investigations 

 is conspicuous. We hope that, should another edition be 

 required, this and other omissions will be rectified ; and we 

 especially desire that one or even two chapters be added, 

 for historical interest, treating of the spade-work prior 

 to 1890. The book is well printed, but on surfaced paper. 

 We notice two misprints of Lalande on page 19. 



F. A. B. 



CHEMISTRY. 



Chemical Engineering. — By J. W. Hinchley, A.R.S.M., 

 Wh.Sc. 103 pages. 70 illustrations. 7^-in. x5-in. 



(J. & A. Churchill. Price 2/6 net.) 



The title of this book appears too comprehensive, since 

 it deals exclusively with the manipulation and transport 



of solid materials, and does not claim to cover the ground 

 where the engineer requires the assistance of the chemist. 

 Within its limits, however, it gives much useful information 

 as to the different types of machinery used in chemical works, 

 and shows which are the most suitable for special kinds of 

 work. Mechanical details are clearly described and illus- 

 trated, and the principles underlying the action of the 

 machines are explained at sufficient length. But it is a pity 

 to issue a valuabl:; little book of reference without an index. 



C. A. M. 



Elements of Qualitative Chemical Analysis. — By J. Stie- 

 Gi.iTz. 2 volumes. 312 and 153 pages. 8J-in. x5^-in. 



(G. Bell & Sons. Price 6/- net each volume.) 



The first volume deals with the general chemical and 

 physical principles underlying chemical analysis, and more 

 particularly with the laws of equilibrium and the modern 

 theories of solution ; while the second volume is intended 

 as a practical companion to the first, with which it should be 

 used simultaneously. The method of teaching is that 

 employed by the author in the University of Chicago, and 

 seems to be well adapted to develop the critical faculty in 

 students. Nothing is to be taken as proved, but every 

 theoretical statement is to be practically tested, and sys- 

 tematic questions are put to make clear the meaning of 

 every operation. There is no doubt but that anyone who 

 conscientiously works through these volumes will have a 

 thorough grasp of the principles of analysis, or that he will 

 have received a good preparation for quantitative work. 

 The second volume is interleaved with blank pages upon 

 which the student may note anything that strikes him at 

 the time of the experiment. 



C. A. M. 

 GEOLOGY. 



Proceedings of the Geologists' Association. Volume XXVI. 



Part I. — Edited by Horace Woollaston Monckton. 



104 pages. 11 plates. 7 figures. 9-in. x6-in.) 



(Edward Stanford. Price 2/6 net.) 



This part is an interesting one, and contains a paper by 

 Mr. Reginald Smith, in which some " Prehistoric Problems 

 in Geology " are considered, with a view to concentrating 

 the attention of the archaeologist and the geologist on 

 points which need to be cleared up, and which at present 

 obscure our notions of prehistoric man. 



Among the questions dealt with is the current view that 

 Britain was not finally separated from the Continent 

 before the period of La Madeleine, the last great division 

 of the palaeolithic Cave period. An implement exhibited 

 in illustration of the paper, found in situ in the raised 

 beach at Brighton, was of the St. Acheul type, which shows 

 that the beach was not older than the St. Acheul period. 

 An illustration, reproduced by permission (see Figure 75), 

 shows an implement which Sir J. Prcstwich found, in 1869, at 

 Downton, in the highest terrace overlooking the lower Avon. 

 Other matters discussed include the freshwater gravels of 

 Bournemouth, palaeolithic gravels at Ipswich, and in Ireland 

 and in Scotland. The remainder of the publication consists 

 of a brief report of the Session 1913-1914. and detailed 

 accounts of eight geological excursions. Some excellent 

 photo - micrographs of rocks which we are privileged to 

 reproduce (see Figures 73 and 74), obtained in Cornwall, are 

 introduced as illustrations in the account of the visit to the 

 St. Austell district. All the excursions are described in the 

 thorough and valuable manner for which the Geologists' 

 Association is justly famed. 



W. M. W. 



The Deposits of the Useful Minerals and Rocks.- — ByF. Bev- 

 SCHLAG, J. H. L. VoGT, and P. Krusch. Volume I. 

 Translated by S. J. Truscott. 514 pages. 291 illustra- 

 tions. 9-in. x6-in. 



(Macmillan & Co. Price 18/-.) 

 This book is the first volume of a treatise on ore deposits, 

 which promises to be the most comprehensive one yet pub- 



