750 



SCIENCE, 



[N. S. Vol. IX. No. 230. 



on the carbohydrates and on uric acid ; of v. 

 Baeyer, Claisen, Waitz and others on the work 

 in their respective iields. 



The introduction occupies 77 pages, and 

 among other subjects includes condensed pres- 

 entations of the aims of physical chemistry and 

 stereochemistry, of the work based on the 

 optical and magnetic properties of carbon com- 

 pounds, and of that based on measurements of 

 conductivity. The book is written tersely and 

 clearly. The nomenclature in common use is 

 retained, but that recommended by the Geneva 

 Conference is also given. The literature and 

 historical references are abundant. 



Professor Smith's translation is very good. 

 A slip is on page 122, where wine is said to be 

 obtained from ' St. John's berries ; ' a term not 

 found in the Century Dictionary. The German 

 word ' Johannisbeeren ' means currants. The 

 volume before us contains the results of the 

 latest work on the subject, and, as the second 

 (and last) volume on the aromatic series is 

 promised by the publishers during the present 

 year, the student purchasing this excellent book 

 may feel confident that he has the last word on 

 the subject up to the date of publication. 



E. Renouf. 



Physical Chemistry for Beginners. By De. Ch. 

 VAN Deventee. With an Introduction by 

 Professor J. H. Van't Hoff. Authorized 

 American edition from the German edition. 

 Translated by Bertheam B. Boltwood, 

 Ph.D., Instructor in Physical Chemistry in the 

 Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University. 

 First edition, first thousand. New York, 

 John Wiley & Sons; London, Chapman & 

 Hall, Limited. 1899. Pp. 154. 

 In the preface it is stated that ' ' in the book 

 at hand the author has endeavored to collect 

 the most important results of physical chem- 

 istry in such a manner that this important 

 branch of modern chemistry may be accessible 

 to those who have not made an exhaustive 

 study of physics and mathematics. The re- 

 quirements of students of medicine and phar- 

 macy, as well as of elementary chemistry, have 

 been especially considered in the preparation of 

 this work." 



Chapters are devoted to the fundamental 



laws of composition, the properties of gases' 

 thermochemistry, solutions, phenomena of light 

 and the periodic system. It would seem that 

 a chapter on electrochemistry would add to the 

 value of the book. 



The work has been used by Van't Hoflf in 

 connection with his lectures on chemistiy to 

 students in Amsterdam, and is spoken of as 

 having furnLshed him welcome assistance. 



The work of translation has been done with 

 care by Dr. Boltwood, his purpose being, in 

 part, to place in the hands of his own students 

 a book which shall contain a clear and concise 

 statement of the fundamental facts of physical 

 chemistry. 



Harey C. Jones. 



books received. 



Das Tierreich. 7 Lieferung, Demodicidm und Sarcop- 

 tidie. G. Canestrium and P. Keamee. Pp. xvi 

 + 193. M. 9.20. 8 Lieferung, Scorpioncs tmd 

 Pedipalpi. KARL Keaepelin. Pp. xviii -|- 265. 

 M. 12.60. Berlin, R. Friedlander und Sohn. 1899. 



Steinbruchindustrie imd Sleinlruchgeologie. O. HERR- 

 MANN. Berlin, Borntraeger. 1899. Pp. xvi + 

 428. M. 10. 



Essai critique sur Vhypoihese. des atonies dans la science 

 contemporaine. Arthur Hannequen. Paris, 

 Alcan. 1899. Second Edition. Pp. 457. 



Hie Neicer Bemedies. Virgil Coblentz. Philadel- 

 phia, P. Blakiston's Son^ & Co. 1899. Third Edi- 

 tion. Pp. vi + 147. ^1.00. 



The Psychology of Reasoning. Alfred Binet. Trans- 

 lated from the second French edition by Adam 

 GOWANS White. Chicago, The Open Court Pub- 

 lishing Co. 1899. Pp. 191. 



SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS AND ARTICLES. 

 The first article in the American Naturalist 

 for May is by H. S. Jennings, and is a continua- 

 tion of ' Studies on Reactions to Stimuli in Uni- 

 cellular Organisms.' The present part, III., 

 treats of ' Reactions to Localized Stimuli in 

 Spirostomum and Stentor,' the writer reaching 

 the conclusion that the organisms react as in- 

 dividuals and not as substances. But while it 

 will not do to think of their reactions as those 

 of chemical substances, neither will it do to at- 

 tribute to unicellular organisms the psycholog- 

 ical powers of higher animals. Under the title 

 of ' Vacation Notes, II., The Northern Pacific 



