In most cases a short historical sketch of the development of the official method is prefixed. In the preparation of this report M. Sidersky had the collaboration of chemists in the different countries, and he expresses his particular thanks to Maercker and von Grueber, of Germany, Strohmer, of Austria, Peterman, of Belgium, Masson, of Belgium, Hoogewerff, of Holland, Menozzi, of Italy, Dusserre, of Switzerland, and Wiley, of the United States. The French methods are those still in official use and adopted by the decree of the Minister of Agriculture, in May, 1897. The methods of Belgium, Holland, and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg are the same and, in their present form, were adopted by a commission which met at Goes, in January, 1899. The German methods are those adopted by the Union of the German Agricultural Experiment Stations, revised up to 1898. These methods were adopted by Switzerland on the 27th of July, 1897. The methods for Austria-Hungary were adopted at a meeting of the agricultural experiment stations of Austria-Hungary, held in Vienna the first of April, 1897. The methods for the United States are those adopted by the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, in September, 1895. Very few changes have been introduced in the official methods in use in this country since that time, but still some rather important ones should have been noted by the author, to whom the latest methods were sent. No date is given for the Italian official methods, but they are published as written by Prof. Menozzi. The methods of the international commission are those adopted at the Fourth International Congress, at Paris, in 1900. There is no space here to enter into details of the methods in the book, except to commend the publication of these international methods in full in a convenient form for comparison. It may be said that the methods for fertilizers are now so well established that it should be entirely possible for an international method to be adopted which would be followed not only by official chemists, but all other chemists studying fertilizer materials throughout the world. A comparison of the various official methods given shows a basic agreement on principles of analysis. A study of the different methods, however, reveals a great difference in details. This difference, however, the international commission sought to eliminate as much as possible by the establishment of the basic principles on which the analyses should be conducted, and a reference to the various official methods for the details in each case. This work points out in a most marked manner the functions still remaining to the international commission; viz., to secure at least practical unity in details of manipulation, as well as in the principles of the analysis. M. Sidersky is to be congratulated on the effective manner in which he has carried out the instructions given him by the International Congress. H. W. WILEY. A SHORT MANUAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY. BY A. DUPRÉ, PH.D., AND H. WILSON HAKE, PH.D. Third edition, revised and partly rewritten with special reference to the periodic law. London: Charles Griffin & Company; Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company. 1901. ix + 391 pp. Price, $3.00. The introductory portion which precedes the description of the properties of the various elements and their compounds is very concise, and needs must be so to condense within the space of 101 pages all the general principles of chemistry, together with much. information on physical and thermo-chemistry. In Chapter VI the authors say in a foot-note: "A rapid method, not commonly known, for converting centigrade degrees into Fahrenheit degrees, is as follows: double the centigrade degrees, and subtract from them one-tenth of their quantity; to the remainder add 32, and the result is the corresponding degrees Fahrenheit." This method while not new is very rapid, and deserves to become more widely known. Some "Typical Elements and their Compounds" are then considered, 96 pages being devoted to oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, boron, silicon, sulphur, and phosphorus. The remainder of the elements are then treated according to the periodic system of classification. The scheme followed in discussing the properties of the elements and their compounds is as follows: name; symbol and atomic weight; formula; molecular weight and percentage composition; occurrence in nature; physical properties; chemical properties; distinguishing tests; physiological action; preparation or manufacture; application; historical matter. Under the heading "Physiological Action," it would have. been well had the authors adhered to the original idea somewhat more closely. For example, under PH, nothing is said in reference to its poisonous character; again, sodium phosphate and potassium nitrate are not referred to as having any physiological action, while zinc sulphate, which is largely used as a mild astringent, is only mentioned as an emetic. On the whole the work is clearly and concisely written, and contains a vast amount of information in a comparatively small space. The book is poorly bound, many of the leaves separating entirely from the volume during the reading for review. J. A. MILLER. CHEMICAL Lecture ExperIMENTS. BY FRANCIS GANO BENEDICT, PH.D. New York: The Macmillan Co. 1901. xiii + 436 pp. Price, $2.00. Dr. Benedict's purpose in preparing this book is, as he says, "primarily to furnish teachers with a large number of reliable lecture experiments." His aim is, also, to suggest experiments that may be performed with an ordinary laboratory equipment. Although excellent manuals of this kind have been prepared in this country, in Germany and in England, no one will, I think, consider this book of Dr. Benedict superfluous. The experiments are so well chosen and so clearly described with so many valuable and practical hints, that even a novice should have no difficulty in making them successfully. The omission of many experiments requiring fragile or costly apparatus may cause some regret, but since descriptions of most of them are to be obtained from the text-books that will probably be found in nearly all school or college libraries, their exclusion does not detract seriously from the value of the book. The greater portion of the text is devoted to the illustration of the properties of the non-metals, but some very interesting experiments on the metals and their compounds are described. Any teacher will, I think, find this work a useful addition to his library. L. B. HALL. RESEARCH PAPERS FROM THE KENT CHEMICAL LABORATORY OF YALE UNIVERSITY. EDITED BY F. A. GooCH. In two volumes. 8vo. Vol. I, xvi +411 pp. Vol. II, xii + 415 pp., with 20 figures in the text. New York: Chas. Scribner's Sons. Price, $7.50. These papers are reprinted chiefly from the American Journal of Science in honor of the Bicentennial of Yale University. The mechanical execution of the volumes is superb. A large majority of the papers are by Professor Gooch himself and it is probable that he was more or less concerned with others where his name does not appear. Yale University and Professor Gooch may well feel proud of the amount and quality of the work carried to completion in this laboratory during the time covered by these volumes. The subjects treated are mostly in analytical chemistry, to which these papers are a most substantial contribution. E. H. AMERICAN HANDY-BOOK OF THE BREWING, MALTING, AND AUXILIARY TRADES. BY ROBERT WAHL AND MAX HENIUS. Chicago: The authors, 294 S. Water Street. 61⁄2 X 44 inches; xvi +1266 pp. Copiously illustrated. Price, $10.00. The chapter headings will give an idea of the contents. They are Arithmetic; Algebra; Mensuration; Weights and Measures; Physics; Mechanics; Elements of Machinery; Power; Transmission of Power; Steam Engines; Refrigeration; Pumps; Brewery Buildings; Chemistry; Brewing Materials; Micro-organisms; Yeasts and Fermentation; Pure Yeast Culture; Malt House Outfit; Malting Operations; Brewery Outfit; Brewery Operations; The Bottling Department of a Modern Brewery ; Figuring in the Brewery; The Brewers' Chemical Laboratory; The Brewers' Microscopical Laboratory; Lubricants and Lubrication; Legal Relations of the Brewer Beer Dietetics and Economics; Miscellaneous Information; Bibliography; Dictionary of Technical Terms; Publications Consulted; Index. The book will be of use to others than brewers. The information given seems to be full and accurate, and shows evidence of great care in preparation. The mechanical execution-printing, binding, illustrations-is excellent. E. H. HANDBOOK ON SANITATION. A Manual of Theoretical and Practical Sanitation. For Students and Physicians; for Health, Sanitary, Tenementhouse, Plumbing, Factory, Food, and other Inspectors, as well as for Candidates for all Municipal Sanitary Positions. BY GEORGE M. PRICE, M.D., Medical Sanitary Inspector, Department of Health, New York City, etc. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 1901. xii+317 pp. Price, $1.50. This little handbook covers a large field very briefly and in very simple language. The first part is devoted to a brief discussion of the principal topics in sanitary science. Exception must be taken to the positive statements with regard to certain of the diseases which are said to be traceable to soil influences because recent investigations in sanitary science have demonstrated conclusively that most of these diseases arise independently of soil conditions. The same criticism must be made with regard to the statements respecting the detrimental influence upon health of the sewer air. The portion of the book treating of the duties and operations of the sanitary inspector will be of special service to those qualifying for such positions. The use of the word "sanitation" to designate the profession of sanitary inspector is not to be commended as it is confusing and misleading because sanitation is not a profession. In part four of the book are given the different sanitary laws of the state and city of New York under which tenement-houses, plumbing, drainage, and ventilation of buildings, schools, and milk are inspected, as well as the regulations governing the disinfection of tenements and buildings in infectious diseases. D. H. BERGEY. LEITFADEN FÜR DEN UNTERRICHT IN DER ANORGANISCHEN CHEMIE. Zweiter Teil. BY DR. JOACHIM SPERBER. Zurich: Verlag von E. Speidel. 1901. 163 pp. This book is the second part of the volume bearing the same title which was reviewed in this Journal, 22, 222. This volume treats entirely of the oxygen acids of the various elements, giving a detailed description of the methods of preparation of the oxides and the corresponding acids, and a full description of the properties of each. The commercial manufacture of sulphuric acid is treated in great detail, but the more recent contact process is not mentioned. The recently developed electrolytic processes for the manufacture of chlorates, alkali, and bleaching-powder are described satisfactorily. In the opinion of the reviewer the author has erred in introducing to too great a degree the structural formulas which are used throughout the book. Particularly is this the case with the sodium-potassium sulphite, which the author uses to introduce the subject of isomerism, especially so since the recent work of Fraps seems to throw considerable doubt on the existence of isomeric salts of sulphurous acid. HENRY FAY. |