36S Scientific Intelligence. 



distilling off the sulphur dioxide and saving it, and after several 

 operations of concentration, oxidation, neutralization, etc., obtain- 

 ing alcohol by fermentation and distillation. The important 

 feature of this process appears to be the oxidation of the last 

 traces of sulphurous acid by means of potassium permanganate, 

 as this allows ordinary brewers' yeast to be used. The results of 

 several experiments, usually on a scale of about 500 gallons, 

 indicated promising yields of alcohol. The process removes 

 the poisonous properties from the sulphite liquor, and it dimin- 

 ishes largely the amount of organic matter. — Jour, Indust. and 

 Eng. Chem., viii, 226. H. L. w. 



3. Organic Chemistry ; by Victor von Richter. Volume I, 

 Chemistry of the Aliphatic Series. Translated by Percy E. 

 Spielmann. 8vo, pp. 719. Philadelphia, 1916 (P. Blakiston's 

 Son & Co.). — Three American editions of this important work, 

 translated by Professor Edgar F. Smith, have previously appeared, 

 the last of which was published in 1899. On account of the 

 rapid advances that have been made in the chemistry of the car- 

 bon compounds a new edition was desirable and is to be heartily 

 welcomed, for this is one of the most valuable reference books for 

 students of organic chemistry. The work of translation has now 

 been taken from America to England, and it appears to have 

 been carried out in a most satisfactory manner, following the 

 eleventh German edition. While the statement is made that the 

 translation has been carried out " After Prof. Edgar F. Smith's 

 third American edition," it is evident that very thorough work 

 has been done in the way of a new translation with suitable 

 revision. The size of the book exceeds that of the previous 

 American edition by nearly 100 pages, while the size of the pages 

 has also been considerably enlarged. The appearance of this 

 edition is of much importance to students of organic chemistry 

 who read English more readily than German, and it is to be 

 hoped that the second volume which treats of the aromatic series 

 will soon appear. h, l. w. 



4. Catalysis and its Industrial Applications; by E. Jobling. 

 12mo, pp. 120. Philadelphia, 1916 (P. Blakiston's Son & Co.).— 

 This little book, which is of English origin, is one of a series of 

 " Text-books of chemical research and engineering," edited by 

 W. P. Dreaper. It gives very interesting accounts of the main 

 principles and theories in regard to catalysis, and especially of 

 its practical applications, which are numerous and of the greatest 

 industrial importance. Sulphuric acid manufacture, industrial 

 chlorine, salt cake, sulphur recovery, fixation of nitrogen, surface 

 action and surface combustion, l^drogenation of oils, etc., dehy- 

 drogenation and oxidation, dehydration, and hydrolysis are 

 among the topics discussed. The book is semi-popular in style, 

 and it should appeal to a wide circle of readers. h. l. w. 



5. An Introduction to the Physics and Chemistry of Colloids; 

 by Emil Hatschek. 12mo, pp. 107. Philadelphia, 1916 (P. 

 Blakiston's Son & Co.). — This is another of the " Text-books of 



