Chemical Technology

Abstract

ONE must not expect too much of a book which aims at treating, in less than 300 pages, the whole subject of electric lighting, from the generation of electric energy in the central station to the manufacture of the lamp for its consumption in the user's house. As a work of reference for technical men engaged in other branches of work, but coming occasionally into contact with electrical engineering, this book should prove useful, just as an article in an encyclopædia is useful. And just in the same way as an encyclopædia article is defective, it seems to us that the book before us fails; by endeavouring to give too much information it only succeeds in giving too little. These objections apply rather to tho scheme of the work than to the way in which Mr. Cooke has carried it out, which is as satisfactory as possible in the circumstances. In some instances the book is very much up-to-date; thus, it is probably one of the first text-books containing a good description of the Nernst lamp, though it is to be regretted that the type of lamp illustrated is not the one sold in this country. In other places there is an apparent want of knowledge of recent progress, as, for example, where the oscillograph is spoken of as an instrument of little value, the point-to-point method being described as more practical. These, however, are minor blemishes, such as must be expected in a comprehensive work in which different branches are not written by separate experts. On the whole the book is to be commended; the illustrations and curves are good and well selected.

Chemical Technology.

Vol. iv. Electric Lighting. By A. G. Cooke., and Photometry, by W. J. Dibdin, F.I.C., F.C.S. Pp. xviii + 378. (London: J. and A. Churchill, 1903.) Price 20s.