582 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXI. No. 798 



iermissa, unicolor-friesei and tlie typical uni- 

 color). The bumble-bees {Bombus) are ab- 

 sent from the Ethiopian region, though they 

 are known to occur in tropical South America. 

 W. M. Whkeleb 



Quantitative Chemical Analysis, Adapted for 

 use in the laboratories of colleges and 

 schools. By Frank Clowes, D.Sc. (Lon- 

 don) and J. Bernard Coleman, A.E.C.Sc. 

 (Dublin). Eighth edition. Philadelphia, 

 P. Blakiston's Son & Co. 1909. Pp. 565. 

 $3.50. 



This is a new edition of a well-known and 

 very popular book. The first edition appeared 

 in 1891, the seventh in 1905. This was re- 

 printed in 1907 and again in 1908, and here 

 is a new edition. What is the reason for this 

 popularity? We find it on comparing this 

 with other manuals, which are as a rule either 

 general or special, those of the general type 

 giving few special or technical methods, and 

 those of the special type dealing with a single 

 branch of analysis. In the present book the 

 authors begin with very thorough instruction 

 in general analysis and pass on to specialties, 

 such as the analysis of gas, water, milk, but- 

 ter, tanning materials, oils and fats, assaying, 

 iron and steel, etc. 



This comprehensive task is well done in this 

 edition iu 565 closely printed pages, by omit- 

 ting matters theoretical, and thus gaining 

 space. The directions for work are so clear 

 and comprehensive that an isolated analyst 

 should be able to overcome any difficulties 

 with its help. For example, 10 pages are 

 given to a thoroughly illustrated, very detailed 

 but empirical treatment of the subject of the 

 balance and weighing. Treadwell in his ana- 

 lytical chemistry gives also 10 pages to the 

 subject, but half this space is given to mathe- 

 matics and theory. 



In brief the present volume will appeal less 

 to the university-trained chemist, who has ac- 

 cess to a library of books on analysis, than to 

 the great number of analysts with only col- 

 lege or technical school training who need a 

 well-written comprehensive book, which simply 

 teUs them what to do and how to do it. 



Among the new methods described in the 

 preface may be mentioned additional methods 

 for the determination of melting and boiling 

 points, for the electrolytic estimation of 

 metals, for the volumetric estimation of hy- 

 drogen peroxide, formaldehyde, silver, tin and 

 antimony in alloys and various new technical 

 processes including the use of the bomb- 

 calorimeter in coal valuation, and a new sec- 

 tion on oils, fats and waxes to which Pro- 

 fessor Lewkowitch has contributed. 



E. Eenouf 



Elementary Chemistry. By Hollis Godfrey, 

 Head of the Department of Science, Girls' 

 High School of Practical Arts, Boston, 

 Mass. Longmans, Green & Co. 1909. Pp. 

 456. 



In the preface the author states that. 

 Four ideals have governed the writing of this 

 book. The author has desired to obtain sim- 

 plicity; to reach the vmderstanding of the stu- 

 dent; to rouse the pupil to a realization that the 

 science of daily life is identical with the science 

 of the school room; to include all the essential 

 facts and theories which could be rightly assim- 

 ilated in one year's work in elementary chemistry. 

 . . . No book which is a mere encyclopedia of 

 facts arranged without reference to their teaching 

 value can produce a maximum of effect. ... It 

 has been a constant purpose to bring forward 

 wide-reaching general truths in the form in which 

 they would most effectively impress the student. 

 In this book the author has followed a dif- 

 ferent path from the usual one and has pro- 

 duced a work which has much to commend it 

 for the purpose for which it is evidently in- 

 tended. Instead of confiming himseM to a 

 rather detailed study of a few of the simple 

 substances and preparing the way for a more 

 advanced course, the author has had in mind 

 the needs of those who will have no further 

 opportunity to study this subject and has cov- 

 ered in a very general way the more important 

 points in the fields of both inorganic and or- 

 ganic chemistry, emphasizing especially the 

 application of this science to daily household 

 life. Owing to the fact that this book would 

 probably be used by students more advanced 

 than those who would take an elementary 



