Notices respecting New Books. 393 
to the denudation of rocks and the transport o£ the dissolved 
and suspended radioactive materials to the ocean. The con- 
siderable amounts of radium contained in deep-sea sediments, 
even from the most central parts of the ocean, suggests that 
much of the uranium reaches the sea in solution or in very 
fine suspension, and in part ultimately finds a resting-place 
among the oozes everywhere slowly collecting. On this 
point I hope shortly to complete my determinations. If this 
is so, it is improbable that we will ever be in a position to 
form an equation between the river supply of radium and 
the oceanic radioactivity. 
XXXVIII. Notices respecting New Boohs. 
Lehrbuch der Gericktlichen Chemie. Bearbeitet von Dr. G-eorg 
Baumert, Dr. M. Denwstedt, imd Dr. F. Voigtlander. Erster 
Band. Braunschweig : F. Vieweg u. Sohn, 1907. Pp. xvi 
+ 490. 
A BRIEF notice of the second volume of the new edition of this 
authoritative work of reference appeared in these columns a 
few months ago, and the first volume, now before us, completes the 
Avork. The nature aud classiHcation of poisons are considered in 
a brief introduction. The work is divided into two parts, a 
" general " and a " special " one. In the " general " part, an 
exposition is given of the legal aspect of the subject, and some 
generalities connected w T ith toxicological analyses are dealt with ; 
the investigation of food-stuffs, utensils, toys, &c. for the detection 
of poisons is next considered, and finally useful and complete 
directions are given for the testing and purification of the more 
important reagents and apparatus used in analyses of this kind. 
The "special" part, which fills by far the greater part of the 
volume, deals in detail with the detection of the various poisons. 
It is divided into three sections. In Section I. are considered 
inorganic poisons, which are divided into metallic poisons, poisons 
belonging to the group of the alkaline earths and alkalies, those 
belonging to the group of acids and the halogens, and, lastly, 
poisonous gases. Arsenic receives exceptionally full treatment. 
The section on organic poisons deals with cyanides, carbolic acid, 
chloroform, alcohol, &c, alkaloids, ptomaines, organic acids and dye- 
stuffs. Section III., which is very brief, deals with the conduct of 
analyses in general. An Appendix contains a brief digest of the 
various laws relating to poisons. Notwithstanding the fact that 
the work is primarily addressed to chemists, and that it deals with 
a subject surrounded with great difficulties, the style is so simple 
and attractive that a member of the legal profession should have 
no difficulty in reading it, and in deriving from it information which 
would prove of great assistance to him in the investigation of 
criminal cases. 
