76 Notices respecting New Books. 



one immense word. Thus in the number of the Berichte just 

 to hand we find a paper on the condensation of " Tetramethyl- 

 phenylamidoerotonsaureester." In the present state of nomencla- 

 ture some compromise between these two extremes seems the most 

 practicable way of dealing with complex names. 



The relative complexity of the two main divisions of Chemistry 

 is well seen in the introductory explanations which each editor 

 contributes to his own branch. Mr. Muir finds less than a page 

 sufficient to enable those who consult the Dictionary to understand 

 the plan of the articles on Inorganic and general Chemistry, while 

 Dr. Morley has had to contribute an introduction to the articles on 

 Organic Chemistry of seven pages in length. This last introduction 

 is based on the code of instructions drawn up by the late Mr. 

 Watts for the use of the abstractors for the Chemical Society's 

 Journal, and will be found of the greatest use, nay, absolutely 

 indispensable before the scheme of the organic portion of the work 

 can become thoroughly familiar to those who use it for reference. 

 The plan laid down in these instructions has been fairly well 

 adhered to j but we must express regret that Dr. Morley has not 

 made use of his present opportunity of helping to some extent the 

 systematizing of our nomenclature by entirely sweeping away such 

 trivial names as resorcin, pyrocatechin, and hydroquinone, which 

 are all distinctly phenolic substances. 



In concluding this notice we have only to congratulate English 

 chemists on this distinctly valuable addition to their literature, and 

 to express satisfaction at the manner in which the editors have 

 performed their task in the completion of the first instalment of 

 what must necessarily be a very onerous undertaking. It is to be 

 hoped that- the succeeding volumes will be brought out with all 

 possible speed, for at the present rate of discovery in chemical 

 science the first volume of a big dictionary may be almost out of 

 date before the last volume appears, if too long an interval is allowed 

 to elapse. We may add that Technological Chemistry finds no 

 place in the present work, as this branch of the subject is to form a 

 separate treatise now being edited by Prof. Thorpe. 



A Treatise on Alcohol, ivitli Tables of Spirit Gravities. By Thomas 

 Stevenson, M.D. Second edition. London : Gurney and 

 Jackson. 1888. 



The set of tables contained in this small volume of 73 pages have 

 been compiled from the most trustworthy sources ; and it is inter- 

 esting to find that, after a searching examination into all the 

 determinations of specific gravities by previous experimenters, the 

 author gives the preference to the early experiments of Blagden 

 and Gilpin, carried out in the last century (Phil. Trans. 1790, 1792, 

 and 1794). Of these results he says : — " The accuracy and fidelity 

 with which the work was executed, and the refinement of the 

 methods employed, have called forth the warmest admiration and 

 praise from those who have taken the pains to examine their work, 

 which would do honour to the more refined science of our dav. 



