752 ) 
[November, 
NOTICE S OF BOOKS. 
Spon's Encyclopedia of the Industrial Arts, Manufactures, and 
Commercial Products. Edited by G. G. Andre, F.G.S. 
Division I. London : E. and F. N. Spon. 
We have here the first sedlion of what promises to be a volum- 
inous, but at the same time a useful work. The arrangement 
adopted is to some extent like that of Muspratt’s “ Dictionary 
of Chemistry,” — that is, we have a series of what might almost 
be called distindl treatises arranged in alphabetical order. Thus 
the first half of the present volume is devoted to acids, from 
the acetic to the tartaric inclusive, the sulphuric being, however, 
placed before the hydrochloric, nitric, oxalic, &c. Such group- 
ings will render a good index absolutely necessary for purposes 
of reference. In the meantime it is difficult to say whether cer- 
tain substances are duly dealt with or not, since, if not found in 
what would seem their natural place, they may turn up after- 
wards under some general heading. This is the possible reason 
for the omission of the arsenic, phosphoric, &c., acids, under 
the sedlion “Acids.” 
Under the head “ Carbolic Acid ” we find mention of a curious 
fadl, biological rather than technological, but well worth putting 
on record. Even very brief contadl of the strong acid with any 
considerable surface of the lower part of the body is usually 
fatal, whilst the arms and upper parts may be thus wetted with 
comparative impunity. “ In one instance a man employed at a 
carbolic acid works, who often had his entire arms covered with 
the acid, died from the effedls of some of the same acid spilt 
upon his leg.” The enquiry is at once here suggested whether 
this fad! is unique, or whether the same rule applies to any other 
poisonous agencies. 
Picric acid is described under its elder synonym, carbazotic 
acid, the modern scientific name — trinitrophenol — not being 
given. A full list of the synonyms of every substance is, we 
think, greatly to be desired in a work like the present. 
In treating of arsenic the authors inform us that its price is 
ruled to a great extent by “ rings.” In the first six months of 
1878 a combination of merchants drove up the price from £y to 
£12 per ton in three weeks, all surplus stocks being got rid of 
by consignment to the United States. “ The combination, how- 
ever, broke down, and the price fell, almost as rapidly as it had 
risen, to £8 per ton. Such combinations are readily carried out, 
