602 



NA TURE 



[November 4, 1922 



seed is not simply the plumule and radicle, but includes 

 also the cotyledons — we have not exhausted the list of 

 inaccuracies. 



Many of the illustrations are the work of boys at 

 Oundle School and are of creditable draughtsmanship ; 

 but for teaching purposes we prefer outline with a 

 minimum of shading in order that significant features 

 may receive due emphasis. 



The Discovery of the Circulation of the Blood. By Dr. 

 Charles Singer. (Classics of Scientific Method.) 

 Pp. x + 80. (London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1922.) 

 15. 6d. net. 

 This is the first of a new series entitled " Classics of 

 Scientific Method," and whets our appetite for its 

 successors. The series aims at providing in convenient 

 form reproductions of the great masterpieces of science, 

 together with an account of the action and re-action of 

 ideas which, through process of time, led up to the 

 crucial experiments carried out and described by some 

 great master. This account of Harvey's discovery of 

 the circulation of the blood is excellent. The first 

 chapter, in language freed so far as is possible of 

 technical terms, describes the structure and function 

 of the circulatory system as we now know it — a modifica- 

 tion of the paragraph on p. 8 dealing with the relation 

 of carbon dioxide and haemoglobin seems desirable — 

 and contains a clear diagram. The subsequent chapters 

 set forth in words and by illustrations the ideas held bv 

 the ancients regarding the vascular system, and how 

 the Renaissance of the fifteenth century and the work 

 of such men as Leonardo da Vinci, Servetus, and others, 

 culminated in Harvey's great discovery, of which a 

 detailed and most interesting account is given. 



Laboratory Exercises in Inorganic Chemistry. By Prof. 

 J. F. Norris and Prof. K. L. Mark. (International 

 Chemical Series.) Pp. x + 548 (every second page 

 blank). (London : McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., 

 Ltd., 1922.) 10s. net. 



The first question which must be considered in con- 

 nexion with a book of this kind is the class of students 

 for whom it is intended. The preface indicates that 

 it contains a first year's course for students who have 

 had " a good training in chemistry in the high school." 

 It is unsuitable for such students in England, as many 

 of the experiments would already have been done at 

 school, and many of the remainder would be regarded 

 as too difficult for Intermediate students. The " In- 

 ternational " character of the book is therefore open 

 to question. Although the book is not suitable as a 

 students' manual in English colleges, it should be very 

 useful in suggesting experiments to teachers, both for 

 lectures and for laboratory work. Many of the direc- 

 tions are given in unnecessary detail for students of 

 average intelligence : how to light a Bunsen burner. 

 for example, and there is a good deal of repetition. 

 The blank pages are included in the pagination. 



A Text-book of Organic Chemistry. By Dr. A. Berntli- 



sen. New edition, revised to date, by Prof. T. T. 



Sudborough. Pp. xvi -f- 90S. (London and Glasgow : 



Blackie and Son, Ltd., 1922.) 12s. 6d. net. 



Bernthsen's text-book, in its English translation, has 



proved of great value to students. It is therefon 



'iv tn note that the new English edition has 



NO. 2766, VOL. I IO] 



been carefully revised and large sections dealing with 

 important recent advances in the science added, as 

 well as numerous small supplementary paragraphs in 

 the old text. For a book of this character the minor 

 errors noted are surprisingly few, and are obvious to 

 the reader. One important omission may be noted : 

 on p. 78 it is stated that methyl alcohol " acts as an 

 intoxicant like ethyl alcohol," without a word as to 

 the very deleterious physiological action of methyl 

 alcohol. The printing and get-up are excellent, but 

 the binding is too weak for students' use. The 

 moderate price of the book, as well as the clear 

 and accurate character of its contents, will ensure its 

 continued popularity among students. The very full 

 references to physical properties make it also a handy 

 book of reference in the laboratory. 



Plumbers' Handbook. By Samuel Edward Dibble. 

 Pp. ix + 629. (New York and London: McGraw- 

 Hill Book Co., Inc., 1922.) 205'. 



The author of this handbook has had the co-operation 

 of several well-known American professional men, and 

 the result is a very valuable compendium relating to 

 plumbing, sanitary arrangements, gas-fitting, heating, 

 etc. The book is equally suitable for the practical 

 man engaged in carrying out schemes, and the student 

 who is learning his business. Of special interest to 

 the British reader is Section 14, dealing with codes, or 

 byelaws, as we should call them. These are extremely 

 suggestive, and if carried out systematically in the 

 United States will excite the envy of many British 

 workers who have still to endure primitive sanitary 

 conveniences. There is so much of value in this section 

 that it is impossible to quote any of the points in a 

 short review. 



Science is not neglected in this volume, and there are 

 sections dealing with metallurgy and chemistry. 

 There is also a section on elementary mathematics ; 

 we think that the arithmetical rule for cube root (p. 

 511) might have been omitted, especially as logarithms 

 are dealt with on pp. 508 and 509. The book can 

 be strongly recommended to all connected with 

 sanitation. 



Diptera Danica : Genera and Species of Flies hitherto 



found in Denmark. By William Lundbeck. Part VI. 



Pipunculida: and Phoridx. Pp. 447+137 text-figs. 



and index. (Copenhagen : G. E. C. Gad ; London : 



Wheldon and Wesley, Ltd., 1922.) 

 All students of the order Diptera will welcome the 

 continuance of this wholly admirable treatise. It is a 

 model of what a faunistic work should be and, unlike 

 so many volumes of a similar nature, it also includes 

 a useful summary of existing knowledge of the meta- 

 morphoses and habits of the insects with which it deals. 

 The author has also wisely added the dates of capture 

 of the various species : elementary facts of this kind 

 are so often omitted from faunistic works that the 

 reader is usually left with no idea as to when a particular 

 species is likely to be met with. Of the two families 

 dealt with in the volume before us, the Pipunculida? 

 include 25 Danish species out of about 75 palsarctic 

 representatives, and the Phoridae include 210 Danish 

 species out of a total of about 335 from the whole of 

 Europe. The work is well printed, clearly illustrated, 

 ami written in excellent English. 



