[Book Reviews]

Abstract

THIS book is intended by the author to embody the tests for those substances which a medical student is required to identify at the first examination of the Conjoint Examining Board in England. The attempt to compress this information into 53 small pages has resulted, as might have been expected under the circumstances, in a cram-book. Indeed, the only justification, if such it can be called, for the addition of another to the many works on qualitative analysis is that the book contains in the minimum space the knowledge required for a special examination. This knowledge is, however, frequently of a questionable nature. Thus, “calcium sulphate, CaSO₄ (gypsum),” is described as a “white amorphous powder;” “sodium carbonate, Na₂CO₃,” as a “white solid, crystalline or amorphous;” “ferric chloride, Fe₂Cl₆, a yellow amorphous powder” and so forth: statements of a kind which, although they constitute a large portion of the book, are both fragmentary and inaccurate. The endeavour to attach valency values to the metals is carried out in all cases with the exception of iron, to which no value is affixed. The reason for this omission is not obvious, as the author does not hesitate to call lead a dyad, antimony a triad, &c. Amongst minor points the use of potassium antimony tartrate for potassium antimonyl tartrate, of arsenic acid for arsenic pentoxide, may be noticed.

Practical Chemistry for Medical Students.

By Samuel Rideal (London: H. K. Lewis, 1890.)