1879.J Notices of Books, 373 
time and resources, as the volume before us but too plainly 
proves. 
Practical Hints on the Selection and Use of the Microscope . 
Intended for Beginners. By John Phin, Editor of the 
“ American Journal of Microscopy.” Second Edition. 
New York. 1877. 
This little book will prove of great use to those for whom it is 
intended. The construction of the microscope is treated in a 
simple manner, so as not to confuse the beginner. The hints as 
to the selection of an instrument are very good, and especially 
adapted to a country like America, inundated with foreign micro- 
scopes, good, bad, and indifferent. These remarks will help the 
student to avoid purchasing what is useless to him. 
The portion devoted to manipulative processes is well com- 
piled, the directions plain and easy to follow. 
The Chemistry of Common Life. By the late James F. W. 
Johnston, F.R.S., &c. A New Edition, revised and brought 
down to the present date, by Arthur H. Church, M.A., &c. 
London and Edinburgh : W. Blackwood and Sons. 1879. 
The late Prof. Johnston had a peculiar talent which is possessed 
by very few scientific writers. In common with Faraday, Liebig, 
Tyndall, Huxley, and a few others, he enjoyed the power of 
being able to clothe the dry bones of scientific faCt with the 
warm and living flesh of lucid exposition and apt illustration. 
It is now nearly twenty years since the last edition of Prof. 
Johnston’s work was published, under the editorship of the late 
Mr. G. H. Lewes. Prof. Church, however, has had a great 
advantage over his predecessor, inasmuch as he had the oppor- 
tunity of consulting Prof. Johnston’s private and corrected copy 
of the “ Chemistry of Common Life.” Little has been added 
to Prof. Johnston’s original work, except in the way of correcting 
certain figures and statements. Prof. Church has performed his 
task of revision with great judgment. He tells us in the 
Preface that he has been compelled to add one entirely new 
chapter, which no doubt was suggested by the perusal of Prof. 
Johnston’s own notes. It is entitled “ The Colours we Admire.” 
In this chapter Prof. Church tells how brilliant colours of all 
hues have been got out of the coal-scuttle ; how chemists have 
• entered into competition even with the great Cybele herself, and 
have produced alizarin in the test-tube with as great facility as 
