Marcu 28, 1912] 
NATURE 
8 
on 
analysing mixtures containing members of both 
the paraffin and the benzene series of hydro- 
earbons. Within its somewhat limited scope, the 
volume is a useful laboratory handbook. 
(2) The last remark applies also to M. Jacomet’s 
little work on the chemistry of tanning materials 
and leather. The recognised methods of examin- 
ing these products are given, including Proctor’s 
well-known tables for the identification of natural 
tannins, and those of Andreasch for the recogni- 
tion of the particular tannin which has been em- 
ployed in producing a given specimen of leather. 
In addition, sections are devoted to other sub- 
stances connected withthe leather industry, such 
_as glue, gelatine, gum, and other adhesives, var- 
nish, and polish; these sections are by no means 
the least valuable. The work is packed with the 
kind of information which the leather chemist 
“wants in his everyday tasks, and it deserves a 
cordial word of praise. 
(3) More than a third of this volume is taken 
up by copies of the French fiscal regulations rela- 
tive to soda and salt. Of the remainder, a sub- 
stantial proportion has reference to the analytical 
examination of denatured salt—that is, salt which, 
to exempt it from taxation, has been rendered 
unfit for table use by an admixture of various 
substances, ranging from wallflower essence to 
sulphate of mercury. For a free trade country 
this has only a remote interest. The rest of the 
book contains concise directions for the analysis 
of sodium and potassium hydroxides, and of such 
of the salts of these elements as have pharmaceu- 
tical or industrial importance. 
(4) The “alcohols ” which form the subject of 
this volume are the various ferms of ethyl alcohol 
used in manufactures. Spirituous liquors em- 
ployed as beverages are excluded. In addition to 
details of the methods for estimating secondary 
products (fusel cil, aldehydes, esters, acids) re- 
quired in the ordinary analysis of commercial 
alcohol, the chemical matter comprises descrip- 
tions of the official methods used in France and 
other countries for the detection and determination 
of various denaturing substances. These include 
methyl alcohol, acetone, ‘‘benzine,” ether, tur- 
pentine, mercuric chloride, pyridine, and so forth. 
A few unofficial processes are also given, but the 
author disclaims any attempt at bringing together 
all the known analytical methods which have been 
devised for examining alcohol. A chapter which 
will occasionally be useful to the specialist gives a 
résumé of the legislative enactments concerning 
industrial alcohol in European countries and in 
_ the United States. It has not been brought up to 
date, however, so far as the United Kingdom is 
concerned; the “ordinary”’ methylated 
NO. 2213, VOL. 89] 
SS 
2 
— a 
; alcohol 
A 
/less kept in view, and copious references 
described on p. 63 was abolished more than five 
years ago, and its place taken by “industrial” 
alcohol, denatured with five (not ten) per cent. of 
wood naphtha. 
The work includes a number of tables for use 
in aleoholometry. It is a serviceable volume, but 
is written, of course, especially from the French 
{| point of view. 
(5) Considering the small size of this volume, 
and its other contents, the authors have managed 
to give in it a very full account of the chemistry of 
cellulose, so far as we at present know it. The 
constitution of the cellulose molecule is still a 
matter of debate, though something substantial 
has been done towards the elucidation of the 
problem. In the celluloses and their compounds it 
has been shown that alcoholic, aldehydic, and 
ketonic properties exist, and theories of constitu- 
tion based on these and other facts have been 
proposed. Useful in a provisional and suggestive 
sense these theories certainly are, but none are 
| regarded as definitely established, and until the 
question is settled the chemistry of cellulose must 
remain a more empirical matter than that of 
benzene and its derivatives, for example. 
The present position can be gathered from the 
volume under notice, and the authors express the 
hope that their work will facilitate research by 
guiding the reader through the maze of published 
investigations. This it is well calculated to do. 
It does not, however, deal only, or mainly, with 
the pure chemistry of the subject. It is essentially 
a practical treatise, and gives working details of 
the examinations required in the various branches 
of the industry. The theoretical side is neverthe- 
are 
supplied. In the sections devoted to lignocellu- 
loses and paper there are numerous illustrations 
| of fibres and apparatus. 
| illustrations are given, or of very 
| and trustworthy one. 
Judging by the five examples now published, 
this series of handbooks promises to be a useful 
Case 
OUR BOOKSHELF. 
An Australian Bird Book: a Pocket-book for Field 
Use. By J. A. Leach. With introduction by 
Frank Tate. Pp. 200. (Melbourne: Whit- 
combe and Tombs, Ltd., 1911.) Price 3s. 6d. 
Tuis useful book is intended as a pecket-book for 
field use to enable teachers and observers gener- 
ally to name the birds they meet with. It deals 
with 395 species—a considerable proportion of the 
Australian avifauna, the balance being made up 
mainly of birds closely related to those of w hich 
rare birds re- 
stricted to a small area. The plan of the book is 
to indicate by numbers the strength and distribu- 
tion of the various families of birds over the world 
in general, and especially in Australia, and to give 
