June 14, 1894] 



NA TURE 



147 



of discovery, name of discoverer, and condition of 

 occurrence in nature. 



The volume under review is full of illustrations, and the 

 tine plates in it are marvellous specimens of colour-print- 

 ing. Among the full-page coloured plates is one of gems 

 and precious stones, and another of birds. A third plate 

 of special interest is a splendid monochrome in which a 

 number of ancient coins are grouped. When the work 

 is completed it will contain nearly five thousand illustra- 

 tions, all especially drawn for it. Each picture has been 

 drawn so as to help to define a word, and the object of 

 the plates is to facilitate comparison. 



Whether the dictionary will, in course of time, "be 

 accepted as the standard by all who use the English 

 language," may be doubted. Many years will pass before 

 we spell honour without the u, and sulphur has evolved 

 into sulfur. But, putting these differences of spelling 

 aside, we have no hesitation in saying that, in point of 

 accuracy, the dictionary will compare favourably with any 

 similar compilation extant, while for comprehensiveness 

 I ombined with handiness, it is as good a work as could 

 be desired. Everything has been done to facilitate the 

 linding of words and to make the definitions trustworthy 

 when found. It passes the wit of man to suggest any- 

 thing which ought to have been done that has not been 

 done to make the dictionary a success. 



OUR BOOK SHELF. 



An Introduction to the Study of Metallur(;y. Bv Prof. 

 W. C. Roberts- Austen, C.B., F.R.S. third edition. 

 (London : Charles Griffin and Co., 1S94.) 



The part metallurgy has played in the industrial 

 progress and material prosperity of our country is so 

 ,^reat, that we hail with pleasure the appearance of 

 this enlarged edition of Prof. Roberts-Austen's book, in 

 which all that is important for a sound knowledge of the 

 principles on which metallurgy is based is set forth with 

 remarkable lucidity and ability. 



The issue of this edition marks, in fact, an epoch in 

 metallurgical teaching. 



Its especial value lies, not in mere descriptions of the 

 processes and appliances of metallurgy, but in the 

 admirable systematic course of study laid down for the 

 student in the fundamental scientific principles on which 

 the appliances used in metallurgy are constructed, its 

 l)rocesses based, and the character of their products 

 determined. Without a clear understanding of these 

 principles, it is needless to say, no knowledge of mere 

 practical details, however extensive, can be of any value 

 in enabling the metallurgist to cope successfully with the 

 difficult problems which often confront him both in 

 furnace and laboratory operations. 



The elaborate researches of the author in the 

 " thermal treatment of metals" and " thermal measure- 

 ments ' is a sufficient guarantee that these subjects will 

 be treated in a manner worthy of their importance. 

 (Chaps, iv. and v.) 



Chapter ix., a special feature of this edition of the 

 book, is a masterly compendium of the facts, principles, 

 theories and laws of thermo-chemistry, and the im- 

 portance of a correct application of these to the practical 

 work of metallurgy is wisely insisted on. In other text- 

 books and treatises the laws of stoichiometry have been 

 chiefly relied on for the guidance of the metallurgist in 

 interpreting and controlling the reactions which take 



NO. 1285, VOL. 50] 



place under the complex conditions which present them- 

 selves in furnace operations, and it has long been felt 

 that the results of many of these operations could only 

 be imperfectly explained or predicted by these laws. In 

 this chapter metallurgists are clearly shown that they 

 ''have no longer merely to deal with atoms and mole- 

 cules, but with the influence of mass," and that if they 

 are to advance their industrial practice "they must think 

 in calorics, and not merely employ the ordinary atomic 

 tools of thought." They will then be able to suggest 

 what reactions can take place under given conditions, to 

 indicate those which will be completed, and to avoid 

 those which are impracticable. 



Thus far we have mainly considered those chapters of 

 the book which deal with the fundamental principles of 

 scientific metallurgy, but the whole work is of the 

 greatest interest, and deserves the careful and earnest 

 study of all who are interested in the scientific advances 

 which have been made in metallurgy during recent times. 

 It is, in fact, indispensable not only to students, but to 

 all metallurgists. W. Gowland. 



Structural Botany {Flowerins; Plants). By Dukinfield 

 Henry Scott, M.A., Ph.D." F.L.S., F.G.S. With 113 

 Figures. (London : A. and C. Black, 1S94.) 



An introduction to the study of structural botany has 

 long been a desideratum in this country, where we have 

 hitherto been compelled to refer the beginner either to 

 works in foreign languages, or to such help as he may 

 glean from lecture courses. Dr. Scott's little book sup- 

 plies this need in a most admirable manner, and he has 

 thoroughly earned the gratitude both of teacher and 

 student alike for the freshness and clearness with which 

 he has presented his subject. We notice with satisfac- 

 tion that, amongst many other good points, there is an 

 intelligible account given of the transition of the structure 

 of the root to that of the stem, a matter concerning 

 which there exists a great deal of needless ignorance and 

 misapprehension in the minds of many students. Another 

 excellent character of the work lies in the large number 

 of new figures which it contains, an example which 

 might with advantage be followed by other writers, for 

 it is really not easy to see why the older illustrations 

 should be regarded with such superstitious (or is it in- 

 dolent ?) veneration, especially when this practice leads 

 to the exclusion of new figures, as is not unfrequently 

 the case. 



We can only hope that Dr. Scott will speedily fulfil 

 the promise hinted at in his preface, and provide, before 

 long, a second volume dealing with the cryptogams. 



The Lowell Lectures on the Ascent of Man. By Henry 

 Drummond. (London: Ilodder and Stoughton, 1894.) 



Mr. Drummond is well known as a brilliant and en- 

 thusiastic writer, and his latest book will be welcomed 

 by a wide circle of admirers. He approaches the study 

 of nature and evolution with the sympathetic eye of a 

 moral teacher who is possessed by a praiseworthy desire 

 to find wholesome and ennobling lessons therein. In 

 this he is successful. He has, however, a further pur- 

 pose, that of setting biologists right in matters of 

 biology. In this he is scarcely so successful. " Evo- 

 lution," he tells us in his preface, " was given to the 

 modern world out of focus, was first seen by it out of 

 focus, and has remained out of focus to the present 

 hour." The focus is adjusted in " The Ascent of Man." 

 We must, however, leave those of our readers who can 

 spare an hour or two for the perusal of the well-printed 

 volume, to see how far Mr. Drummond aids them 

 in acquiring a more definite and accurate conception of 

 evolution. They will, we feel sure, be impressed with 

 his eloquence and earnestness. 



