April 10, 1896.] 



SCIENCE. 



567 



book helpful. All descriptions of processes and 

 apparatus are necessarily much condensed, mat- 

 ters of detail being relegated to the larger hand" 

 books and monographs on special subjects, 

 which, in the opinion of the reviewer, is their 

 proper place. But the addition of references to 

 the larger and special works, either as foot- 

 notes or otherwise, would have materially in- 

 creased the value of the book without altering 

 its character as an elementary work. 



The present volume consists of two parts, the 

 first being devoted to a general introduction and 

 Part II. to Metallurgy. 



The four introductory chapters are each given 

 to a special topic. Chapter I. , ' The Chemistry of 

 Materials of Construction,' treats of the proper- 

 ties of stone, brick and concrete, roofing mate- 

 rials, the structural metals, and the strength, 

 permanency and preservation of these sub- 

 stances. Chapter II. deals with ' The Chemistry 

 of the Sources of Energy, ' viz. : solid, liquid and 

 gaseous fuels, electrical heating, measurement 

 of temperature, direct conversion of chemical 

 into electrical energy and the natural forms of 

 kinetic energy. ■ The Chemistry of Steam Rais- 

 ing ' is the title of the third chapter, which has 

 for its subjects, water and the methods of puri- 

 fying and softening it for use in boilers. ' The 

 Chemistry of Lubricants and Lubrication ' is 

 briefly disposed of in some seven pages, forming 

 the fourth chapter. 



Part II., comprising about one-half of the 

 book, is a fairly complete though condensed 

 presentation of the subject of Metallurgy in all 

 its branches. The commercially important 

 metals, some nineteen in number, are here in- 

 cluded, their chief ores described and the pro- 

 cesses of their extraction set forth in a brief and 

 readable manner. Many of the important ap- 

 pliances and parts of smelting and refining 

 plants are illustrated by cuts. Numerous tables 

 of analyses of ores and of finished products are 

 scattered through the text. In these days of 

 popular interest in mining and metallurgical 

 schemes, it would seem that this section should 

 lend the book an attraction to many persons in 

 commercial life, though they may have little or 

 no scientific education. The facts are so clearly 

 and tersely stated and illustrations are so fre- 

 quent that any one of average intellect, though 



not a chemist or engineer, should have no difli- 

 culty in understanding the work. Technical 

 terms and chemical symbols are frequently 

 used, it is true, but in the case of the latter the 

 common names of the substances are also stated, 

 hence no confusion need result. 



But it is to the teacher of chemistry and met- 

 allurgy, having to deal with young students, 

 where an elementary treatise, short and com- 

 pact in its nature is desired, that this book will 

 be most welcome. Here are found the essential 

 facts without those mystifying details which 

 often become magnified to undue proportions 

 in the mind of the student. 



A very complete index, free from mistakes 

 or misprints, closes the volume. 



If the second volume, covering the field of 

 manufacturing chemistry, be as well done as 

 this, a valuable addition will have been made 

 to the mass of chemical literature. 



Frank H. Thobp. 



The Chemistry of Pottery. By Karl Langen- 



BECK. Easton, Pa., Chemical Publishing 



Co. 1896. 12 mo., pp. 197. 



In this little book the author has collected 

 and systematically arranged some of the results 

 of an extended experience in the manufacture 

 of pottery and tiles. The chemical bearing of 

 each subject in its relation to the object desired 

 is made the chief element of the work. Analy- 

 ses of the materials are taken as the basis on 

 which to calculate rational formulse for the pro- 

 duction of certain results. 



The book is divided into fifteen chapters, each 

 treating of a separate subject, a few of which 

 may be mentioned. In Chapter I, Analysis of 

 Materials and Products, and in Chapter II. , Phys- 

 ical and Empirical Tests, are explained. The 

 svibject of Chapter III. is Pyrometry, a matter of 

 great interest to the pottery maker, since the 

 success of his work depends, in great measure, 

 on the proper heat in his furnace. Estimation 

 of the temperature becomes a matter of experi- 

 ence with the burner, Avho often acquires much 

 skill in producing some one kind of ware in a 

 given furnace. But if called upon to burn other 

 ware than that to which he is accustomed, or to 

 use different fuel, or a kiln of different construc- 

 tion, failure may be the result. The author 



