398 
NATURE 
[JUNE 20, 1912 
to fourteen years of age. The first volume of the 
series is adapted to children of nine to ten, and 
the second to children of ten to twelve. 
In the preparation of such a book, the author 
is always confronted with the difficulty of adapting 
technical knowledge without sacrificing accuracy ; 
but in this volume the difficulty is well overcome. 
From a simple, yet sufficiently minute, study of 
typical plants, the exposition passes to the problem 
of breathing and reproduction in plants, and, by 
a natural transition, to the study of the human 
body. There are lessons on the general skeleton, 
the bones, the muscles, foods, digestion, water, 
drinks, and stimulants, and also special lessons 
on respiration, the voice, the senses, the skin, the 
liver, the blood-vessels, the blood, the nervous 
system, and education. 
These subjects are included in the first 160 
pages, which form Part I. Part II. contains some 
70 pages, which treat of the leading points of 
first aid and nursing. The volume is profusely 
and carefully illustrated, and will serve at once 
the purpose of a school reading-book and of a 
handbook for the teacher. It is a virtue that the 
technicalities are not over-explained—a fact 
common in books “written down” to children. 
(1) Vorbereitungsbuch fiir den Experimentalunter- 
vicht in Chemie. By Prof. Karl Scheid. Pp. 
vili+ 620+ 2 tables. (Leipzig and Berlin: B. G. 
Teubner, 1911.) Price 13 marks. 
(2) Chemisch-technisches Praktikum. Uebungsbei- 
spiele aus der chemisch-technischen Analyse fiir 
Studierende an technischen Hochschulen und 
Universitaten. By Dr. W. Moldenhauer. Pp. 
vii+206. (Berlin: Gebriider Borntraeger, 
1g11.) Price 6 marks 80 pfennigss. 
(3) Biicher der Naturwissenschaft. Herausgegeben 
von Prof. Dr. S. Giinther. 11 Band, Chemie 
und Technik. By Dr. G. Bugge. Pp. 190+ 
7 plates. (Leipzig: Philipp Reclam, jun., n.d.) 
(1) A LEcTURE assistant with Prof. Scheid’s book 
at his disposal is provided with ample means for 
demonstrating the chief phenomena of chemistry. 
The book is compiled with the fullness of detail 
characteristic of the country from which it comes, 
and describes the methods used in carrying out 
some 3000 experimental demonstrations. Many of 
these are marked as suitable for use by a class, so 
that the book serves to some extent also the pur- 
pose of a laboratory manual. 
(2) Dr. Moldenhauer’s book on _ technical 
analysis deals with coal, water, gas, sulphide-ores, 
nitrates, vitriol, soda, Weldon-mud, Stassfurt 
salts, superphosphates, basic slag, manures, iron 
and iron-ores, zinc and zinc-ores, galena, oils, fats, 
and waxes, soaps, glycerin, and lubricants. The 
book also contains a short introductory chapter 
and a series of density tables. The chapter on 
nitrates includes a photograph of the ‘imposing 
Rjukan power station,” the only lighter touch in a 
book which should be of standard value to the 
chemist engaged in the analysis of “heavy” 
chemicals. 
(3) A small semi-popular manual of applied 
NO. 2225, VOL. 89| 
chemistry in thirteen chapters. A notable feature 
of the book is the series of seven admirable 
quarter-plate photographs, ranging from blast fur- 
naces to bacteria, which form the frontispiece. 
The Great Star Map: being a Brief General 
Account of the International Project ‘known as 
the Astrographic Chart. By Prof. H. H. Turner, 
F.R.S. Pp. vii+159. (London: John Murray, 
rOi2))) Price 2s. 6d. nets 
Pror. TuURNER’S labours and interest in the making 
of the greatest star map, now approaching at 
least partial completion, eminently fits him for 
the position of historian, while his characteristic 
lucid and cogent style makes his history readable 
by, and interesting to, even the general reader. 
The introduction briefly states the purpose of 
the work, reviews the previous attempts to survey 
the heavens, and recounts the improvements in 
instruments and methods which rendered possible 
the hopeful undertaking of so stupendous a task. 
Prof. Turner’s account of the first Paris Con- 
ference, in 1887, is characteristically full of 
interest, while the discussion of the various 
schemes proposed, the unselfishness of collabora- 
tors, such as Dr. Common, in sinking their own 
pet schemes, and the method of measuring the 
plates, holds the reader enthralled by the display 
of that true scientific spirit which has been a 
feature of the whole work. 
Further on we read of some of the important 
results already accruing, such as the “solar clus- 
ter” and its possible analogues, the ratios of stars 
of different magnitudes, the relative efficiency of 
various optical systems, &c. 
But it is by future generations of astronomers 
that the principal harvest will be reaped, and on 
this account the form in which the results of the 
measures are recorded is of primary importance. 
Prof. Turner gives a very simple account of the 
trend of the earnest discussions of this matter, and 
the conclusions which have been arrived at from 
time to time. 
The Statesman’s Year Book, 1912. 
publication. | Edited by Dr. 
Pp. 1428+ ]xxxiii+g9 plates. 
millan and Co., Ltd., 1912.) 
Tue utility of the “Statesman’s Year Book” 
increases with every issue. The forty-ninth 
volume contairis the usual compact and accurate 
information to which we are accustomed, and 
handles current events as admirably as usual. 
Maps show the census returns of the United States 
and India, the changed boundaries in Africa, as 
well as the parts of the United States and Canada 
which have been surveyed. The introductory 
tables provide an important statistical summary 
of the resources and productions of the British 
Empire. 
The results of recent censuses have been in- 
cluded so far as possible. The volume as a whole 
tends to make one wonder what improvement can 
be made to celebrate the approaching jubilee of 
this valuable annual. 
4oth Annual 
Scott Keltie. 
(London: Mac- 
Price tos. 6d. net. 
