















ieee 
-Raiment and G. L. Peskett. Pp. 102. 
E. Arnold and Co., 1922.) 5s. net. 
fue book before us would be more appropriately 
entitled physiological than bio-chemistry, as in its 
eope it is almost entirely limited to the elementary 
“phy siological chemistry usually taught to medical 
ents. A short theoretical account of each subject 
es the practical work. Much of this is quite 
but the text is frequently marred by looseness 
or inaccuracy of statement, which requires stringent 
"yevision Baiote the book ix ‘placed in the hands of a 
student. Examples of this will be found in the account 
of Pe action of acids on teu (p. 45), the precipita- 
at the properties of the albumins 
16), and elsewhere. Again, histidine is omitted 
the list of amino-acids derived from proteins, 
amin B is stated to be associated with the fatty 
“ad cles of milk, and so on. 
The practical work is almost entirely confined to 
alitative test-tube experiments, the chief excep- 
ions being the quantitative methods of urine analysis, 
d, in an appendix, Kjeldahl’s method and the methods 
) - estimating reducing sugars. These experiments 
re clearly described and easy to perform. 
e do not, however, believe that practical bio- 
m istry can be satisfactorily taught in this way. 
ative work and, especially, quantitative methods 
essential even in the earliest stages, Unless this 
of exercise is freely introduced the student will 
no real grip of the subject, but will regard it 
ply as another dreary course of “ test-tubing.” 
: A. 
(London : 
alogical Office: Air Ministry. British Rainfall, 
The sixty-first annual volume of the British 
Organisation. Report on the distribution 
| Ft rain in space and time over the British Isles 
_ during the year 1921, as recorded by more than 
: 5000 observers in Great Britain and Ireland. Pp. 
_ Xxiv+300. (London: H. M. Stationery Office, 
_ 1922.) 12s. 6d. net. 
\AINFALL statistics over the British Isles have now 
een collected and published annually for a sufficient 
_ thanks to the foresight and persistent perseverance of 
_ the late Mr. G. J. Symons. Where observations do 
exist, a shrewd approximation of the average fall 
hag obtained by means of neighbouring measure- 
ate essential feature of the volume is a discussion of 
} drought in 1921, which was more remarkable for 
ce than for intensity over short periods, 
June and July were probably drier than any 
“two consecutive months in living memory. In England 
and Wales 1921 was probably the driest year since 
1788, and in London it was the driest for at least 
148 years. The south-east of England experienced 
the segs severity of the drought, and a part of 
Kent had for the year less than 50 per cent. of the 
average rainfall. A coloured map opposite to page 150 
shows graphically for the British Isles the relation of 
_ rainfall in 1921 to the average of 1881-1915. 
Rainfall is discussed in connexion with scarlet fever, 
and there is an article at the end of the volume on the 
fluctuations of annual rainfall. 
NO. 2780, VOL. T11] 


NATURE 
Handbook of Bio-Chemistry. By P. C. | Design in Modern Industry: The Year-Book of the 
181 
Design and Industries Association, 1922. With an 
Introduction by C. H. Collins Baker. Bp. 157. 
(London ; Benn Bros., Ltd., 1922.) 15s. net. | 
Tue Design and Industries Association, of which this 
appears to be the first Year-Book, is concerned with 
liaison work between the artist, the manufacturer, and 
the distributor, and aims at the improvement of 
British design through the intelligent and liberal use 
of the artist, both for ideal reasons and to meet foreign 
competition. The Association holds that good design 
is tested first and chiefly by fitness, and secondly by 
pleasantness in use. A teapot, for example, should 
have a spout that does not drip, a handle and spout 
that do not project unnecessarily (to save room in the 
cupboard and reduce risk of fracture), the lid should 
be securely held while the pot is in use, there should 
be the fewest, if any at all are necessary, of crevices 
and sharp angles, as these hold dirt and are difficult 
to clean, the cost should be reasonable, and so on. The 
illustrations include furniture, pottery, fabrics, kitchen 
equipment, metal work, printing, signs, tablets, shop 
fronts, etc. The designs as a rule are distinctly 
pleasing, and are appreciated by critical artists. The 
photographic reproductions are, with few exceptions, 
excellently done, but we hope that the Association 
in its second Year-Book will be able to intro- 
duce colour reproductions where they appear to be 
essential. 
Alcohol in Commerce and Industry. By C. Simmonds. 
(Pitman’s Common Commodities and Industries.) 
Pp. xii+119. (London: Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, 
Ltd., 1922.) 3s. net. 
THE late Mr. Simmonds had produced a larger and 
more detailed treatise on alcohol before undertaking 
the present small volume. It would therefore be 
anticipated that his treatment of the subject would 
be most expert. The present volume, in fact, is a 
wonderfully concise and complete account of the 
manufacture and uses of alcohol, and is well illustrated. 
It is perhaps scarcely realised by those not familiar 
with recent progress in chemical industry and engineer- 
ing how many uses are found for alcohol, and how 
many more promise to be discovered. Mr. Simmonds’s 
book will supply this information to the general reader, 
and the chemist will: also find much that is useful 
in it. 
Mathematics for Engineers. By W. N. Rose. (The 
Directly-Useful Technical Series.) Part I., including 
Elementary and Higher Algebra, Mensuration and 
Graphs, and Plane Trigonometry. Pp. xiv+514. 
(London : Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 1922.) ros. 6d. 
net. 
Tue first edition of this work appeared in 1918, and 
was reviewed in our columns (NATURE, vol. tor, 
p. 463). It has now been put to the test alike by 
teachers and students, and has proved its value. The 
third edition, now before us, has been thoroughly 
revised ; there are few additions, but we note one on 
elementary determinants which contains enough to 
enable the reader to understand certain methods 
employed in works on aerodynamics. 
