Chemistry and Physics. 89 



lating to oils, fats and waxes, as well as to essential oils, alkaloids, 

 synthetic dye stuffs, and drugs. Much valuable information is 

 given in regard to analytical processes, including many technical 

 tests and quantitative determinations. h. l. w. 



3. Dictionary of Explosives; by Arthur Marshall. 8vo, 

 pp. 159. Philadelphia, 1920 (P. Blakiston's Son & Co.).— This 

 book in its main part gives an alphabetical list of the special and 

 proprietary names of explosives with descriptions of their charac- 

 ter, and in a great many cases their percentage compositions. 

 There are more than 400 names in the list. There is a preliminary 

 classification of the names according to the applications of the 

 products in coal mining, blasting, as high explosives and as propel- 

 lants. There is a final index of constituents where the names 

 of the explosives containing each constituent are given. The 

 book is of interest in showing the astonishing development of 

 explosives in recent times, and in explaining the compositions of 

 these materials. h. l. w. 



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

 12mo, pp. 14-4. Philadelphia, 1920 (P. Blakiston's Son & Co.). 

 — This little book from England, in its second edition, gives a 

 very clear and impressive account of the exceedingly important 

 application of foreign substances for the purpose of facilitating 

 chemical reactions. There is a good introductory chapter deal- 

 ing with general principles, then the industrial applications of 

 catalysis are well discussed in connection with sulphuric acid and 

 chlorine manufacture, the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, the 

 hydrogenation of oils, and many other processes. There are 

 given many references to the literature. h. l. w. 



5. American Liibricants; by L. B. Lookhart. 8vo, pp. 341. 

 Easton, Pa., 1920 (The Chemical Publishing Company).— This is 

 the second edition, revised and enlarged, of a book designed par- 

 ticularly as an aid to the user of lubricants. The refining of 

 petroleum is described, the theories of friction and lubrication 

 are satisfactorily discussed, the applications of lubricants in 

 many special cases are taken up, the physical and chemical test- 

 ing of lubricants are described, and many specifications are given. 

 The subject is very well and thoroughly treated. h. l. w. 



6. Fuel Oil in Industry ; by Stephen 0. Andros. 8vo, pp. 

 244. Chicago, 1920 (The Shaw Publishing Company).— This 

 book gives a good account of an important subject. The applica- 

 tion of fuel oil in various industries is described, many useful 

 tables and interesting statistics are presented, and these are 107 

 illustrations, including diagrams of apparatus and many repro- 

 ductions of excellent photographs. The book is to be highly 

 recommended to those interested in the subject. h. l. w. 



7. Spectra of Isotopes, — Previous investigations by spectro- 

 scopic methods have indicated that the wave length of the bright- 

 est line X = 405 8 A of ordinary lead differs by a small fraction of 

 a unit from that of lead of radioactive origin, but the amount was 



