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THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



LITERARY NOTICES. 



INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC SERIES. 



The New Chemistry. By J. P. Cooke, Pro- 

 fessor of Chemistry in Harvard Univer- 

 sity. 326 pages. D. Appleton & Co. 

 Price, $2.00. 



It is well known that chemical science 

 has been recently undergoing a great change 

 in its theory of the constitution of bodies. 

 The Lavoisierean chemistry, or the dual 

 chemistry, by which all compounds were 

 supposed to be simply paired, as metal with 

 metalloid, acid with base, may be fairly said 

 to have passed away. New ideas have been 

 introduced which were but partially and re- 

 luctantly received at first, and were indeed 

 sharply resisted by the masters of the old 

 method, but which have at length forced 

 their way and grown into a definite system. 

 With the breaking up of the old method the 

 old nomenclature has been shattered, and a 

 new nomenclature has taken its place. In 

 chemistry, therefore, the present is a time 

 of transition and discomfort. What was 

 long settled, and upon which we reposed in 

 the confidence that it would never be dis- 

 turbed, has proved an insecure result of 

 imperfect knowledge, but which has served 

 the important oflice of bringing us up to 

 higher and more perfect views. There is a 

 sadness in parting with old familiar ideas, as 

 with old friends, but changes must come. 

 In chemistry, the facts had outgrown the 

 theories that expressed them. New facts 

 were discovered for which the old system 

 could find no place, and these accumulated 

 nmtil at length a new method of interpreta- 

 tion was attained, by which chemical phi- 

 losophy has been placed upon a broader and 

 it is hoped a more enduring basis. But, 

 whatever may be its permanence, it is now 

 fairly established, and so marked is its con- 

 trast with past theories, and so distinct are 

 its features, that it has become fully recog- 

 nized as " The New Chemistry." 



The new chemistry has been fully adopt- 

 ed by various authors in their text-books, 

 and partially adopted by others ; but only 

 with subdued satisfaction, as in the first 

 cases students have been frightened by the 

 formidable array of strange terms, defini- 

 tions, and ideas, and in the latter case they 



have been confused by the intermixture of 

 different systems. The great need, there- 

 fore, was for a new and compendious work 

 that should be simply devoted to an expla- 

 nation of the new system. Prof. Cooke, of 

 Cambridge, has undertaken this task in the 

 book before us, and most successfully and 

 admirably has he accomplished it. He had 

 already published a large collegiate text- 

 book of "Chemical Philosophy," on the 

 new method, which he has taught for years 

 to the classes of Harvard University. But 

 the demand was so urgent for a separate 

 volume, that should present in a clear and 

 popular manner the new aspects in which 

 chemical facts and principles are now re- 

 garded, that he was induced to undertake 

 it, in the interest of general education. He 

 prepared his views first as a course of lect- 

 ures, which were delivered at the Lowell 

 Institute, in Boston. It was there shown 

 that " The New Chemistry " may be made 

 attractive to a general audience, as these 

 lectures excited much interest, and were lis- 

 tened to with earnest attention throughout. 

 After being thus tested, they were thorough- 

 ly revised by their author, and are now 

 published, with illustrations, in a neat and 

 convenient form. No book in the whole 

 range of science was so greatly needed as 

 this, and it is fortunate for the public that 

 the want was supplied by such an able hand. 

 Not only the chemical student, but all who 

 are interested in this fascinating science, 

 and all who are concerned with the advance- 

 ment of scientific ideas, will find that this 

 volume bridges over the gap between the 

 old and the new, and will prove a most 

 valuable introduction to the larger treatises 

 which represent the present -state of the 

 science. 



This is the first American volume con- 

 tributed to the International Scientific Se- 

 ries, and, as it is unquestionably the best 

 book in any language upon the subject, it 

 will be sure to increase the already high 

 reputation of these publications. 



The International Eeview. Six Times a 

 Year. January, 18 74. 144 pages. Price, 

 $5.00 a Year. A. S. Barnes & Co. 



The first number of this periodical con- 

 tains six articles, as follows : I. Our Late 

 Panic. II. Fires in American Cities, by 



