lOO 



NATURE 



[June 4. 1903 



formation and subsequent partial resolution of inactive 

 acid may be maintained. In the discussion of 

 Harden 's results (p. 69), it is not clear why the lactic 

 acid formed should be optically active at all ; from the 

 description given it appears that the asymmetry of 

 the molecule must disappear altogether. 



Dr. Plimmer points out that many of the changes 

 caused by living organisms may possibly be due to 

 enzyme action. In addition to his experiments with 

 zymase, Buchner has lately submitted further experi- 

 mental evidence in favour of this conception, since, con- 

 jointly with Meisenheimer, he has proved that from 

 Bacillus acidificans longissimus an enzyme may be 

 prepared which converts cane sugar into lactic acid. 

 The same investigators have also shown that the con- 

 version of ethyl alcohol into acetic acid may be accom- 

 plished by an enzyme which they obtained from 

 vinegar bacteria. 



Buchner's work on zymase surely merits more than 

 the few lines which the author devotes to it, especially 

 since space is found for an account of many discoveries 

 which are of much less fundamental importance. 

 Reference might also have been made to Bredig's ex- 

 periments on inorganic ferments. Further, one can- 

 not help regretting that a brief account of Emil 

 Fischer's work on the decomposition products of 

 albuminoids is not incorporated in the volume. Those 

 are, however, minor objections. British workers in 

 different sciences will appreciate Dr. Plimmer's 

 account of biochemistry. A. McK. 



OUR BOOK SHELF. 

 Metallurgical Laboratory Notes. By Henry M. Howe, 

 Professor of Metallurgy in Columbia University. 

 Pp. xiv-i-140. (Boston: The Boston Testing 

 Laboratories, 1902.) 



The time has passed when practical teaching in metal- 

 lurgy was a synonym for little more than a course of 

 exercises in assaying. No one recognised this sooner 

 and more fully than Prof. Howe, and his students now 

 devote much of their time in the laboratory to carrying 

 out experiments illustrating the principles which 

 underlie the various processes of the treatment of ores 

 and metals in works. This little volume contains a 

 description of ninety-one such experiments of both 

 educational and instructive value, and constitutes the 

 first attempt to embody the new methods in book form. 

 The author expresses in the preface his feeling that the 

 series of experiments now published is incomplete and 

 shows a lack of balance, and probably many metal- 

 lurgists will find themselves constrained to agree with 

 him. Those teachers who are convinced that ore treat- 

 ment is still by far the most important branch of the 

 subject may object to a system in which the majority 

 of the experiments are directed to the study of the 

 treatment and properties of metals. Even the methods 

 will not command universal approval in this country, 

 where students are encouraged to learn to overcome 

 the difficulties occasioned by the use of indifferent 

 implements on the grounds that they will be better 

 fitted by such training to deal with, the more serious 

 difficulties unavoidably encountered in the industries. 

 The smoothing away of obstacles, and the reduction 

 to a minimum of the practice in manipulation, have 

 been characterised as " spoonmeat methods." It must 

 NO. 1753, VOL. 68] 



be admitted, however, that these views are likely to be 

 held most firmly by the professors who are least 

 adequately supplied with laboratory equipment. Prof. 

 Howe considers that in proportion as less time is de- 

 voted to details of maijipulation, more leisure is avail- 

 able to the student for*' the unwelcome task of think- 

 ing," than which nothing could be more important. 

 Perhaps it might be argued that practice in manipula- 

 tion would make the best laboratory workers, and that 

 practice in thinking would assist in turning out the 

 best general managers. The book is extremely wel- 

 come, and breaks ground that must soon be assiduously 

 cultivated. It will be carefully studied by all who 

 have the improvement in the training of metallurgists 

 at heart. T. K. R. 



Nature Studies in Australia. By W. Gillies and K. 

 Hall. Pp. v + 299. (Melbourne and London : Vv 11- 1- 

 combe and Tombs, Ltd., n.d.) Price 2s. 



The recognition of the importance of " nature-study," 

 if we are to know anything really worth knowing about 

 animals and plants, in Australia is a satisfactory sign of 

 the times, and an indication that throughout the world 

 the old-fashioned ways of teaching are to be abolished, 

 and also that the days of mere section-cutting and skin- 

 describing are numbered. The greater part of the pre- 

 sent little volume is devoted to birds (mammals oeing 

 left out), of the life-histories of which Mr. R. Hall has 

 for many years been an enthusiastic student, and we 

 must congratulate both authors on the mass of interest- 

 ing information they have concentrated into such a 

 small space with regard to a number of characteristic 

 Australian species. The majority of the numerous 

 illustrations are the results of the authors' own cameras, 

 and, although necessarily on a small scale, they are, for 

 the most part, excellent examples of bird-photography. 

 One great advantage possessed by the authors is that 

 their subject has a freshness which cannot be claimed 

 for descriptions of British bird-life, and this gives a 

 charm to their work which stay-at-home writers must 

 find it difficult to equal. We must confess, however, 

 to a feeling of dissatisfaction at the use of names like 

 " lunulated honey-eaters " for certain of the species, 

 which are certainly not examples of " nature-teach- 

 ing," and we are by no means sure that we quite like 

 the " pupil and teacher " style on which the work is 

 planned — it savours a little too much of " Sandford and 

 Merton." 



One fact appears of more than usual interest. It is 

 commonly stated in ornithological works that every 

 species of migratory bird breeds in the most northern 

 portion of its range. According, however, to the 

 authors, at least one Australian bird — the double- 

 banded or sand dotterel-^goes south to breed, travel- 

 ling to the south of New Zealand, " that is to say, as 

 far towards Antarctica as it can now get." 



Space, we regret to say, prevents our going deeper 

 into the contents of the work before us, the latter 

 portion of which is devoted to the lower vertebrates 

 and invertebrates. We can, however, safelv recom- 

 mend it to the best attention of teachers of nature- 

 study, if only for the fact that a book written on the 

 spot is worth a dozen compilations made elsewhere. 

 The price renders it within the reach of all. R. L. 



Considerazioni agrarie sul Piano di Capitanata. By 



Dr. Nestore Petrilli. Pp. 87. (Naples, 1902.) 

 This work consists of a monograph upon the agri- 

 cultural conditions which prevail in the great plain of 

 the Capitanata, constituting the northern part of 

 Apulia. Such monographs, which are regularly pro- 

 duced upon "the Continent, and provide great assist- 



