538 



NATURE 



[August 31, 1916 



involved. But it must be allowed some time to 

 act, and must be applied thoroughly to every part 

 of the wound, not neglecting to remove foreign 

 bodies and provide for the due drainage of the 

 wounds. Further, it and all other antiseptics 

 must be applied early, since when the wound is 

 actually suppurating they are of little value, and 

 in such cases the patient's own resisting power, 

 aided by drainage, irrigation, artificially induced 

 lymph discharge, or other methods of removing 

 the bacterial toxins, is the main factor ensuring 

 his recovery. 



The author is almost as much opposed to the 

 use of hypochlorous acid and its salts. He only 

 makes mention of " Eusol," which has not the valu- 

 able property of hypochlorite of soda — namely, 

 of dissolving sloughs, which of itself aids materi- 

 ally in facilitating drainage. Those who have 

 seen stinking wounds become sweet very rapidly 

 under the application of this group of disinfectants, 

 or have seen wounds of the mouth treated with 

 Chloramine T, will feel that these substances 

 deserve stronger commendation. 



In the sections of this book devoted to the third 

 phase of the surgeon's work there is less disput- 

 able matter. In operations the use of local anaes- 

 thesia, supplemented if necessary by a general 

 anaesthetic, is advocated, and for the treatment of 

 the various groups of injuries excellent and defi- 

 nite rules are laid down, one of the best sections 

 being that on injuries of the peripheral nerves. 



The book is illustrated with a number of simple 

 drawings of splints and apparatus, which might 

 perhaps be amplified in a succeeding edition, show- 

 ing more exactly the details of their use. The 

 mass of compound fractures which has come for 

 treatment has resulted in the invention of numer- 

 ous, ingenious, practical devices for their fixation, 

 and for a surgeon to avail himself of these, it is 

 necessary that he should have exact working 

 details— for example, how to take the appropriate 

 measurements, and also, in the case of more elabo- 

 rate apparatus, where to procure the same. 

 There is also an interesting series of skiagrams 

 taken by Lieut. Edwards, the majority of which 

 show bullets in various situations in the body. 

 Might It be suggested that some of these plates, 

 which for the most part give no guide to the prac- 

 tical surgeon, could be replaced with advantage 

 by photographs of the various splints as fixed to 

 actual patients? 



THE WORTH OF CHEMISTRY. 



Chemistry in the Service of Man. By Prof. 

 Alexander Findlay. Pp. xiii + 255. (London: 

 Longmans, Green and Co., 1916.) Price 55. 

 net. 



THIS book is based upon a course of lectures 

 delivered in 191 5 by the author to the United 

 Free Church College at Aberdeen. As a teacher 

 of chemistry Prof. Findlay rightly considered 

 he could do no more useful ser\'ice than to give 

 his hearers, who would otherwise have little 

 opportunity of becoming acquainted with such 

 matters, some information concerning what the 

 NO. 2Ad.A. VOL. Q7l 



science of chemistry has been able to accomplis] 

 in the " uplifting " of mankind and in promoting 

 its material well-being. 



Although originally addressed to a Scottisl 

 audience, the author, in the selection and arrange 

 ment of his subject-matter, has been guided b; 

 other considerations than the purely utilitarian 

 His hearers, as a body, were presumably suffi 

 ciently enlightened to appreciate the philosophic 

 vein which runs through the method of its pre 

 sentation, and were able to set a proper value 01 

 his attempts to elucidate the abstract principle 

 he sought to inculcate. His purpose was t( 

 recount not merely "the manifold ways in whicl 

 chemistry has revolutionised life and has contri 

 buted, on the material side, to a civilised exist 

 ence," but also to indicate "some of the principle 

 which underlie chemical change and some part 

 the contribution which chemistry has made to ou 

 knowledge of the constitution of matter." In thi 

 happy blending of the philosophic and purel 

 scientific with the utilitarian and material the booi 

 may be said to fulfil the ideal of what such ; 

 work should be. The author treats his theme 

 with the dignity and reverence which, as a teache 

 imbued with the true spirit of science, he feel 

 instinctively they merit. The doctrine is soun 

 and accurate, and is set forth in sufficient fullnes 

 for the immediate purpose of exposition. At th 

 same time the lay reader, for whom of course th 

 book is mainly intended, will not be wearied 

 his interest weakened by technicalities or discus 

 sions of purely abstract principles. The tactfi 

 manner in which Prof. Findlay has managed t 

 steer a middle course in this respect is a-charac 

 teristic feature of his work. Moreover, he ha 

 not been unmindful of the signs and portents c 

 the times. They have afforded him ampl 

 material for a lay-sermon, which he has not faile 

 to drive home. The appearance of such a book i 

 the present juncture is therefore most opportun* 



The work opens with an exordium in which tf 

 province and scope of chemistry, both as a sciencj 

 and an art, are clearly and succinctly defined. | 

 presents, as might be anticipated, no special fe;| 

 tures of novelty to the trained chemist, but it 

 well written, and is a good illustration of Pro 

 Findlay 's power of lucid exposition and cle 

 thinking. In a few comprehensive statements 

 traces in broad outline the developments of t! 

 conception of the atomic constitution of matte 

 the gradual recognition of its various element 

 forms, and of the distinction between elemec 

 and compounds ; the perception that the form 

 energy with which chemistry is specially co 

 cerned acts in accordance with definite laws, sn 

 that it is a science of quantitative relatii 

 capable of rigorous mathematical treatment. I 

 the basis of this preparatory ground-work he 

 ceeds to illustrate and explain, in about a do? 

 chapters, some of the most important achies 

 ments of the science, each chapter dealing witiS 

 specific subject or group of correlated subjeb 

 such as Combustion and the Production of Fr 

 the Chemistry of Illuminants ; Energy, Fuel rJ 

 Explosives ; Cellulose and Cellulose Produc '• 



