ON ELEMENTARY CHEMISTRY. 
169 
The last, and by far the largest division, has been devoted 
to organic chemistry. The author regrets that in the compo- 
sition of this portion of his work he has been compelled, by 
the short space allotted, to treat the subject in too brief and 
unsatisfactory a manner. The relative space on this subject, 
however, is greater than in the larger works, and the author 
has succeeded in giving a fulness of detail hardly to be ex- 
pected. The- subject is introduced by a chapter on the ultimate 
analysis of organic bodies, which is well illustrated with 
engravings. 
Substances of the saccharine and amylaceous class, with 
their derivatives, by the action of fermentation, acids and 
alkalies, are first considered. Afterwards, the benzyle and 
salacyle series, the vegetable acids and alkalies, the cya- 
nogen compounds, etc. The number and complexity of the 
subjects treated of, renders any notice of them individually 
out of place here • but it may be sufficient to state, that all 
important substances and processes have been dwelt upon, 
and a vast number of compounds of less interest noticed. 
The new views of Leibig, Mulder, and others, have been 
presented in the concluding chapters on animal chemistry, 
which brings the work down to the present time. 
With respect to the book itself, saving the objection that 
the type is rather small and closely set, the typography is 
good, and the paper quite equal to that of other similar 
works. On the score of exactness, it will be sufficient to 
mention that it has passed under theclose supervision of 
Dr. Bridges, who, besides correcting errors incident to a 
first edition, has added occasional notes of observations 
made since the issue of the English copy. 
W. P. 
