REVIEWS. 



Allen's Commercial Organic Analysis. Volume III. 4tli ed. Cloth, pp. x+635. 

 Price $5 net. Philadelphia, P. Blakiston's Son & Co. 1910. 



This volume is entitled Hydrocarbons, Bitumens, Naphthalene and 

 its Derivatives, Anthracene and its Associates, Phenols, Aromatic Acids, 

 Gallic Acid and its Allies, Phthalic Acid and the Phthaleins, and 

 Modem Explosives. A table for the comparison of Centigrade and 

 Fahrenheit degrees covers 10 pages, and the index 5 pages. 



While the value of this volume is not to be denied and it will be 

 much appreciated and find application in every chemical laboratory, it 

 is open to objections. The critic realizes that every user of this 

 book will find portions to meet with his highest praise and other parts 

 which will not appeal to him. Since the %'olume is part of a work on 

 "Commercial Organic Analysis" it is perhaps not just to expect too 

 much; yet in some places the treatment of the subjects under discus- 

 sion is more than ample and leads one to expect too much, perhaps, in 

 other places. A pleasing amount of detail, theoretical discussion, and 

 references are noted in some parts of the book and other portions are 

 merely a collection of more or less crude, analytical processes as employed 

 by the hurried analyst. In this respect the work is not well balanced, 

 a condition to be expected since each author follows his own bent. 



It is with regret that one notes the rapidity with which a work of 

 this nature becomes antiquated. The volume is hardly from the press 

 before many new and valuable processes, not included, are in use. The 

 treatment of cellulose nitrates and nitroglycerine and of the explosives 

 of which these compounds are the ingredients of chief importance is 

 very satisfactory, but the consideration of blasting explosives in general 

 is very incomplete and the methods given will prove adequate only in the 

 analysis of the majority of smokeless powders and of djmamites, gelatine 

 dynamites and blasting gelatines of a comparatively simple composition. 

 Practically no mention is made of potassium chlorate, ammonium nitrate, 

 nitronapthalene, nitrostarch, trinitrotoluene, and other explosive com- 

 pounds, the use of many of which is rapidly increasing. 



A very large proportion of modern blasting explosives is intended 

 for especial purposes and modified to secure absence of excessive 

 fumes, flame, and deterioration under conditions of great moisture or 

 cold. The analyst should be informed as to the more common methods 

 by which these ends are attained in order that his examination may be 

 made intelligently. 



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