^'"*De"!"i883!''"*}  Beviews,  etc.  635 
The  price  charged  for  about  2]  oz.  of  this  niixtiire  was  $3.30  b^^  express,  or 
$3. -50  by  mail,  including  postage. 
REVIEWS  AND  BIBLIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 
The  Elements  of  Chemistry ;  for  the  use  of  Schools.  Academies  and  Col- 
leges. By  Edwin  J.  Houston,  A.M.,  Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy 
in  the  Central  High  School  of  Philadelphia.  Published  by  Eldredge  & 
Brothers,  Philadelphia.    Small  8vo,  444  pages.    Price  |1.50. 
After  an  introductory  on  the  nature  of  the  chemical  force,  wherein  the 
constitution  of  matter,  atoms  and  molecules  are  described  in  their  physical 
relations,  as  distinct  from  chemical  changes,  the  author  takes  up  in 
Chapter  2d,  the  theory  of  chemical  combinations  ;  dividing  the  subject 
under  the  heads  of  definite  and  multiple  proportions,  atomicity  and  quan- 
tivalence.  Chapter  3d  is  devoted  to  the  theorj^  of  substitution  and  chemi- 
cal nomenclature ;  Chapter  4th  to  combination  by  volume.  Gay  Lussac's 
laws  and  the  theorem  of  Avogadro. 
Upon  the  subjects  to  which  these  four  chapters  are  devoted,  as  upon  cor- 
ner stones,  rests  in  a  great  measure  the  science  of  modern  chemistry.  Too 
much  care  could  not  therefore  be  taken  in  the  compilation  of  a  text-book 
for  students,  while  condensing  these  subjects,  to  set  them  forth  so  as  to  be 
c^ear  in  the  comprehension  of  the  reader.  Professor  Houston  has  per- 
formed this  somewhat  difficult  task  in  a  manner  which  leaves  but  little  to 
be  desired. 
Chapter  5th  treats  of  crystallography.  The  text  is  illustrated  by  51  excel- 
lent cuts,  which  are  an  invaluable  aid  to  the  study  of  this  subject. 
Part  Second  is  devoted  to  the  descriptive  and  experimental  chemistry  of 
the  gases  and  haloids.  The  metals  are  divided  into  two  groups,  Perissad 
and  Artiad,  and  are  taken  up  in  order  of  their  quantivalence.  This 
arrangement  is  calculated  to  assist  the  student  in  fixing  these  features  of 
the  elements  in  his  memory.  The  series  of  experiments  which  are  given, 
with  good  woodcuts  of  the  arrangement  of  the  necessary  apparatus,  will  be 
found  of  great  advantage  to  teacher  and  student. 
Part  Third.  Organic  chemistry.  This  wide  field  of  survey  is  difficult  to 
map  out  within  the  narrow  limits  of  a  text-book.  After  an  introduction, 
giving  the  methods  of  elementary  analysis  of  organic  compounds,  deter- 
mination of  molecular  fermula  and  weight,  theory  of  substitution  or 
replacement,  emp^^rical  and  rational  formula,  the  carbon  compounds  are 
classified  according  to  the  linking  of  the  carbon  nucleus^  viz.  : 
1st.  Single  linked,  or  saturated  compounds. 
2d.  Double  or  triple  linked,  or  unsaturated  compounds. 
3d.  The  close  chained  carbon  nuclei,  or  compounds  containing  more  car- 
bon than  the  preceding,  sometimes  called  the  "Aromatic  group." 
4th.  Compounds  of  unknown  constitution.  In  this  class  the  author 
includes  the  alkaloids  and  albuminoids  of  vegetable  origin. 
Each  section  of  the  book  is  followed  by  a  syllabus  and  questions  for 
review. 
