294 
NATURE 
[May 13, 1915 

up as it does by its thorough investigation of 
local conditions and-the actual remains of the 
ancient buildings so many of the earlier trans- 
lators’ almost hopeless perplexities! One after 
another, the Procession Street of Merodach, the 
Sacred Way along which marched the annual 
solemnity of Babylon’s tutelary god; E-macu, the 
temple of Nin-maGuH, ‘The Exalted Lady,” several 
inscribed cylinders from which may be seen in 
the British Museum collection; the Gate of Nanda- 
Ishtar, with its superb enamelled figures; the 
palace of Nabopolassar (Nabt-apla-ucur), which 
Nebuchadrezzar restored with great splendour; 
the location of E-saG-1La, the temple of Merodach, 
and chief sanctuary of Babylon; the world-famed 
walls, and various connected structures, were 
determined and in part exposed to view. 
All this, though perhaps not exactly the kind 
of matter to stimulate the enthusiasm of one who 
reads merely to while away an idle hour, con- 
stitutes a highly important con- 
tribution towards an exact topo- 
graphy of Babylon, and to the 
right understanding of the in- 
scriptions of the Neo-Babylonian 
period; while it enables classical 
students to bring to the test of 
ascertained facts the descrip- 
tions of Babylon which we find in 
Herodotus and subsequent Greek 
and Latin authors, extracts from 
whose pages are given in Kolde- 
wey’s convenient appendix. It 
is to be hoped that current events 
in the East may prove no bar to 
the further prosecution of Dr. 
Koldewey’s meritorious and, 
indeed, necessary enterprise— 
even if it happen by the fortune 
of war that the whole or part of 
the treasures recovered by his 
continued labours should find 
their way to London instead of 
Berlin. 
It should be added that the 
author has been fortunate in his 
translator, the English of the book being generally 
accurate and readable—which is not always the 
case with translations from German originals. 
Cap Banc 
SCIENCE AND INVENTION. 
(1) M R. EDELMAN’S book commences with 
LV descriptions of a number of scientific 
experiments, illustrated by small but clear dia- 
grams. Some of these experiments will be 
familiar to all those who have taken an experi- 
mental course in chemistry and physics, but fresh- 
ness is given by including simple instances of 
technical applications of scientific principles. 
A Volume for All who are Interested in Progress."" 
1 (1) ‘‘ Experiments 
(Minneapolis, U.5.A.: Philip E. Edeiman, 
By P. E. Edelnan. Pp. 256. 
1914.) Price 1.50 dollars. 
(2) “Discoveries and Inventions ofsthe Twentieth Century.” By E. 
Cressy. Pp. xvi+398. (London: G. Routledge and Sons, Ltd., rgrq4.) 
Price 7s. 6d. net. 
NO, 2376, VOL. 95] 
Fic. 1.—Engine room of submarine looking forward. 
Thus, sections are devoted to “thermit,” the elec- 
trolytic cleaning of tarnished silver by contact 
with aluminium in a solution of soda and salt, 
the preparation of colloidal solutions of platinum 
and gold, ete. The following description of a 
method of soldering aluminium may prove useful 
(p. 47) -— 
Aluminium, 1 part; zinc, 4 parts. After the 
aluminium has been melted add the zinc, then a small 
quantity of fat. The mixture should be well stirred, 
after which it may be poured into stick moulds. 
To apply, scrape the article bright at place to be 
soldered. Use a little Venetian turpentine as a solder- 
ing fluid. A thin shaving of the solder may then be 
placed around the jcint and melted with a blow torch. 
It is impossible to mention the very large 
number of technical and scientific principles which 
are described and illustrated; it must suffice to 
say that these range from the production of 
| Pharaoh’s serpents, through electric motors and 


From ‘‘ Discoveries and Inventions of the 
Twentieth Century.” 
dynamos, to wireless telegraphy and X-rays. The 
last nine chapters are devoted to an analysis of 
the principles used in research and invention. The 
book is well got up, and forms interesting and 
instructive reading. 
(2) Although the twentieth century is_ still 
young, Mr. Cressy has found nearly four hundred 
pages to be none too many in which to describe 
the progress of inventions made therein. The re- 
markable improvements which have been made in 
the details of most industries are clearly brought 
before the reader. The modern applications. of 
water power, as exhibited in the water turbine 
and the Pelton wheel; the developments of the 
steam turbine; the Humphrey pump; improve- 
ments in gas, petrol, and oil engines, including 
| the Diesel marine engine, and the “Gnome” 
| engine for aeroplanes; these form a few of the 
developments described in the first few chapters. 
Electric lighting is next discussed, and some in- 

