﻿528 Notices respecting New Books. 



the condensation of aqueous vapour on electrified nuclei, the 

 general properties of conducting or ionized gases, ionic movements, 

 different cases of ionization, radio-activity, the dielectric constant 

 and dielectric strength of gases, the spark-discharge, the theory of 

 discharges through rarefied gases, various electrical measuring 

 instruments, and recent forms of high-efficiency incandescent lamps. 

 As will be seen, the range of subjects dealt with is very wide, and 

 it is hardly to be wondered at that in some instances the treatment 

 is rather sketchy. "We can warmly recommend the book to all 

 students desirous of having a clear and interesting account of some 

 of the most remarkable advances which have taken place in physical 

 science within recent years. 



A First Course in Physics. By Robert Andrews Mtllikan, Ph.D., 

 Assistant Professor of Physics in the University of Chicago, and 

 Henry Gordon Gale, Ph.D., Instructor in Physics in the 

 University of Chicago. Ginn & Co. Pp. viii + 488. 



There is no lack of effort in these days to make the study of 

 physics as interesting as possible to the beginner, and the latest 

 book having this aim in view we owe to two American writers. 

 The manner in which the subject is presented cannot fail to prove 

 attractive to the youthful mind, and one is tempted to envy the 

 good fortune of the present young generation in having its tastes 

 ministered unto in so pleasant a fashion. Any very striking display 

 of originality in an elementary text-book on physics is, of course, 

 hardly possible at the present day ; but the authors display com- 

 mendable good sense in the arrangement of the subject-matter, 

 and their method of handling it clearly reveals the skilful touch of 

 the trained teacher. An important feature of the work is the 

 method of illustrating scientific principles by examples drawn 

 from the region of applied science — an arrangement well calculated 

 to impress the pupil with the importance of science in modern life. 

 The book is embellished with sixteen portraits of the great makers 

 of physics. 



La Double Refraction Accidentelle dans les Liquides. Par G. de Metz. 

 Paris : Gauthier-Villars. 1906. Pp. 100. 



In this monograph, which forms No. 26 of the " Scientia " series, 

 the author gives a very complete account of the present state of 

 our knowledge regarding the phenomenon of double refraction in 

 liquids, and describes the various experimental arrangements for 

 the purpose of studying it. The effects of dynamical stress, 

 eddying motion, electric and magnetic stress are considered in 

 succession, while the remainder of the work is devoted to theo- 

 retical considerations, many of which are highly original and 

 uggestive. 



