532 Notices of Books. [Oaober, 



records many useful paragraphs which would otherwise be soon 

 lost in our ephemeral literature. 



Mr. Timbs gives us, as usual, an obituary list of persons 

 eminent in science, art, and literature, who have died during 

 the year. A popular account is then given of most of the inventions 

 in the mechanical and useful arts, and the principal discoveries 

 in physical and natural science. The doings of the British 

 Association at the Brighton Meeting come in for a full share of 

 notice ; and, finally, we have a table devoted to a summary of 

 meteorological observations in 1872. 



If Mr. Timbs's year-books cannot pretend to fully chronicle 

 the progress of science, or to equal in completeness some of the 

 German Jahrbucher, it must nevertheless be admitted that they 

 are extremely handy books of reference, and may be fairly and 

 favourably compared with the little yellow-covered volumes 

 which we are in the habit of receiving from Paris — Figuier's 

 " L'Annee Scientifique et Industrielle." 



Report on the Filtration of River Waters, for the Supply of Cities, 

 as practised in Europe, made to the Board of Water Com- 

 missioners of the City of St. Louis. By James P. Kirkwood, 

 C.E. New York : D. Van Nostrand. London : Triibner 

 and Co. 1869. 



The supply of wholesome water for domestic purposes is one of 

 the most important questions of the present day, and in collect- 

 ing and publishing the most recent experience as carried out in 

 different towns of Europe, the Board of Water Commissioners 

 of St. Louis have done a great public service ; and from a 

 perusal of the volume now before us we have no hesitation in 

 stating that in the selection of Mr. J. P. Kirkwood for that duty 

 their confidence has been in no way misplaced. The principal 

 portion of this Report is devoted to the different forms of 

 filtering beds used at the water-works in the principal towns of 

 England, France, Germany, and Italy, whilst in the Appendices 

 descriptions are given of the duty performed by the London 

 pumping engines and their boilers, as an important subject in 

 connection with the general question. The book is also 

 copiously illustrated with well-executed engravings, which adds 

 considerably to its value as a standard work of reference. 



The amount of silt carried by rivers from which a water supply 

 is drawn is, of course, an important question, as well as the 

 nature of the districts through which they run, and the amount 

 of contamination their waters receive from surface drainage off 

 highly-manured fields and from the drainage of manufacturing 

 districts. In a few places what is called the natural filter is in 

 successful use. Where artificial filters are required, as is most 

 generally the case, the materials used for their construction are 



