62 Si'ic/itift'v Inti'HUjinci'. 



ble than strontium sulphate (0-11 g. to the liter), J. I. D. Hinds 

 proposes the use of freshly prepared sodium sulphite solution for 

 the separation of the two metals in qualitative analysis. The test 

 is best applied in strong acetic acid solution. It appears that 

 much calcium sulphite is liable to be precipitated with the stron- 

 tium sulphite, and that the method requires close adherence 

 to prescribed conditions. Moreover, if the solution of sodium 

 sulphite is kept long the sulphate in it is increased by oxidation 

 and the reactions are not typical. It seems probable, therefore, 

 that the method is much less satisfactory than the well-known 

 treatment of the nitrates with amyl alcohol. — Chem. JSTeius, ciii, 

 157. h. l. w. 



3. Sketch of a Course of Chemical Philosophy, by Stanislao 

 Cannizzaro. 12mo, pp. 55. Edinburgh (The Alembic Club) ; 

 Chicago (The University of Chicago Press), 1911. — This, the 18th 

 of the Alembic Club reprints of celebrated chemical publications, 

 is the translation of an article published in 1858 by the eminent 

 Italian chemist, giving a summary of his course of lectures on 

 chemical philosophy. Here for the first time, forty years after 

 its publication, was the value of the hypothesis of Avogadro fully 

 recognized. The publication led to fundamental changes of chem- 

 ical formulas into the "New System"; HO became H„0, KO 

 became K 2 0, CaCl became CaCl,, etc., while at the same time it 

 was necessary to double the atomic weights of the elements now 

 considered bivalent and quadrivalent. It is a very clear and able 

 discussion, with such a modern aspect that only those who are 

 familiar with the chemical formulas of that time can fully appre- 

 ciate the changes that were being advocated. Permission to 

 publish this translation was received from the venerable chemist 

 only a few days before his death on the 10th of May, 1910. 



H. L. W. 



4. Qualitative Chemical Analysis, by Olin Freeman Tower. 

 2d edition, revised. 8vo, pp. 74. Philadelphia, 1911 (P. Blakis- 

 ton's Son & Co.). — The appearance of a new edition of this text- 

 book indicates that it has been favorably received. The course 

 of analysis followed appears to be well chosen, and differs in but 

 few particulars from those usually found in books of its class. 

 The directions for analysis are in tabular form, but are satisfacto- 

 rily full in regard to detail, and are accompanied by copious 

 explanatory notes. The striking peculiarity of the book is the 

 almost complete lack of chemical equations, and the view of the 

 author expressed in the preface that these " tend to kill initiative 

 on the part of the student." Probably the great majority of 

 teachers of analytical chemistry disagree with this opinion, believ- 

 ing that a thorough drill in chemical equations is desirable in con- 

 nection with this study. An introduction of 14 pages is devoted 

 almost entirely to the ionic hypothesis, and it is an excellent treat- 

 ment of this subject ; but the student can hardly be expected to 

 understand this thoroughly before taking up qualitative analysis. 

 It would seem better to base the ionic theory on the facts encoun- 



