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Dielectric phenomena—electrical discharges in gases
July, I93O.]
BOOK REVIEWS.
12 3
The work begins with a brief account of the early history of chemistry but the description soon passes to conditions subsequent to the revival of learning. A few pages are devoted to a brief but commendable summary of the progress of the science through the latter half of the iSth and the first half of the I9th centuries, this period being closely contemporaneous with Kopp's 4th period, that of quantitative analysis. In this era the work of Berzelius is especially noticeable. The chapter on atoms and molecules gives, of course, the usual notice of the remarkable development of the atomic theory by the Greeks. Unfortunately, we have but small fragments of the writings of these men, but at a later period the Epicureans f a v o r e d t h e theory strongly. In this connection the mind reverts to the story in Acts about the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who discussed theology and morality with Paul. We, unfortunately, have no record of the discussions but it would be certainly interesting to know whether the Epicureans attempted to apply the principles of the atomic theory to the solutions of cosmic problems. About the first century of the present era the Roman philosopher and poet, Lucretius, who was a follower of Epicurean philosophy as Horace was of Epicurean ethics, gave in some detail the applications of the atomic theory to the general principles of chemical combinations. He compares the atoms of the elements to the letters of the alphabet and the compounds to the words of a language, a method of illustration which is still in use. Passing from these historical discussions, the general principles of organic chemistry as now understood, are set forth in simple language and interwoven neatly with theoretical material; the many applications which have developed from research are presented in vivid form to the reader, thus the value of theory and the necessity for constant co6peration between it and practice are exemplified. Many examples of structural formula are given. Modern research, is plentifully set forth, and illustrations of important industrial procedures are used. There is also, a series of full-page plates in which the imagination has been allowed a moderately free reign. One of the most interesting is the picture of Kekul6, seated in an easy chair watching the flames of a soft coal fire, in which the hexagon appears. The book is well printed on excellent paper, contains a very large amount of information and will be very useful to the general reader, and even of considerable interest and value to t h e student beginning the serious study of organic chemistry. HENRY LEFFMANN. DIELECTRIC PHENOMENA~ELECTRICAL DISCHARGES IN GASES. By S. Whitehead, B.A. Edited with a preface by E. B. Wedmore, M.I.E., F. Inst. P., 175 pages, 42 diagrams, I2mo. New York, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc. Price $4.00. The rapid development of high-tension distributing systems for electricity has served to attach increasing importance to t h e study of dielectric phenomena. In this volume, S. Whitehead has devoted his attention to one particular phase of the subject~Electrical Discharges in Gases. Because of the immense importance of this subject in the industrial field, further research is now being encouraged by the Electrical Associations. Through this book the author renders valuable aid by collecting and summarizing the data dealing with this subject. It is interesting to note that the number of empirical
12 4
BOOK R E V I E W S .
[J. F. I.
equations which have been developed for the purpose of explaining and predicting t h e behavior of the several types of electrical discharges. Yet, there arises the early realization t h a t m a n y factors still are unknown and not accounted for and t h a t much of the available information remains unrelated and not susceptible to interpolation. The subject m a t t e r has been arranged under three general headings: (I) Introduction (Discharges in General), (2) Sparking, and (3) Corona. Under Appendices will be found descriptions and derivations of mathematical formulas dealing with the subject of discharges through gaseous dielectrics. The book should be extremely valuable as an introduction to and reference for the study of electrical discharges in gases. T. K. CLEVELAND. ASTRONOMY. A~ INTRODUCTION. By Robert H. Baker, Professor of Astrono my in the University of Illinois. 504 pages, illustrations, 8vo. New York, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., I93o. Price $3.75. Star-gazing has been an occupation of mankind from a very early period. It would seem t h a t as soon as the human being reaches a condition of conscious appreciation of the environment t h e sights of t h e sky would invite attention. However, this m a y be, we know that astronomy is an ancient science. Heavenly bodies bear in their names clear evidence of the study of t h e m in t h e days of mythology, and even today many intelligent persons believe in the influence of the stars upon the course of individual life and hold t h e m to be more or less prophetic in their indications. Modern works on astronomy, such as the book before us, pay no attention to astrology but deal with the purely scientific features of the study of stars. Much progress has been made in astronomy of late years, aided particularly b y the application of photography and telescopes of high power. After a general presentation of the aspects of t h e sky and a description of some of the larger telescopes and their housings, the earth is studied in its cosmic relations, followed as usual, by descriptions of the sun and its a t t e n d a n t planets, asteroids and satellites. It is worth noting t h a t in speaking of t h e moon the author very positively asserts t h a t its orbit is always concave to the sun. This corrects a widespread error, not only of people at large, but presented even diagramatically in a work published a few years ago by a British astronomer. On one point the reviewer must speak in slightly unfavorable criticism. In the section on Mars, we must, of course, expect some words about the Martians. This interesting planet, with its obvious resemblance to our own earth in some respects, notably in the markings and in t h e polar caps, has always been a point of speculation. As a matter of fact, we have no data whatever upon which to base judgment as to whether Mars is inhabited b y intelligent beings nor can we make a n y statement concerning any other of the many millions of celestial bodies. In the first place we do not know the limits of life. We have only one phase of life before us. Living organisms, t h a t is, beings t h a t have consciousness and the powers of reproduction may be constituted upon an entirely different foundation t h a n t h a t of the beings around us. The only position t h a t the honest scientist can take in this matter is to give it up. In t h e case of Mars, t h e public mind has been seriously misled by the lack of critical attitude on the part of the astronomers. To a great extent, this has been due to the writings of the late Percival Lowell
BOOK REVIEWS.
12 3
The work begins with a brief account of the early history of chemistry but the description soon passes to conditions subsequent to the revival of learning. A few pages are devoted to a brief but commendable summary of the progress of the science through the latter half of the iSth and the first half of the I9th centuries, this period being closely contemporaneous with Kopp's 4th period, that of quantitative analysis. In this era the work of Berzelius is especially noticeable. The chapter on atoms and molecules gives, of course, the usual notice of the remarkable development of the atomic theory by the Greeks. Unfortunately, we have but small fragments of the writings of these men, but at a later period the Epicureans f a v o r e d t h e theory strongly. In this connection the mind reverts to the story in Acts about the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who discussed theology and morality with Paul. We, unfortunately, have no record of the discussions but it would be certainly interesting to know whether the Epicureans attempted to apply the principles of the atomic theory to the solutions of cosmic problems. About the first century of the present era the Roman philosopher and poet, Lucretius, who was a follower of Epicurean philosophy as Horace was of Epicurean ethics, gave in some detail the applications of the atomic theory to the general principles of chemical combinations. He compares the atoms of the elements to the letters of the alphabet and the compounds to the words of a language, a method of illustration which is still in use. Passing from these historical discussions, the general principles of organic chemistry as now understood, are set forth in simple language and interwoven neatly with theoretical material; the many applications which have developed from research are presented in vivid form to the reader, thus the value of theory and the necessity for constant co6peration between it and practice are exemplified. Many examples of structural formula are given. Modern research, is plentifully set forth, and illustrations of important industrial procedures are used. There is also, a series of full-page plates in which the imagination has been allowed a moderately free reign. One of the most interesting is the picture of Kekul6, seated in an easy chair watching the flames of a soft coal fire, in which the hexagon appears. The book is well printed on excellent paper, contains a very large amount of information and will be very useful to the general reader, and even of considerable interest and value to t h e student beginning the serious study of organic chemistry. HENRY LEFFMANN. DIELECTRIC PHENOMENA~ELECTRICAL DISCHARGES IN GASES. By S. Whitehead, B.A. Edited with a preface by E. B. Wedmore, M.I.E., F. Inst. P., 175 pages, 42 diagrams, I2mo. New York, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc. Price $4.00. The rapid development of high-tension distributing systems for electricity has served to attach increasing importance to t h e study of dielectric phenomena. In this volume, S. Whitehead has devoted his attention to one particular phase of the subject~Electrical Discharges in Gases. Because of the immense importance of this subject in the industrial field, further research is now being encouraged by the Electrical Associations. Through this book the author renders valuable aid by collecting and summarizing the data dealing with this subject. It is interesting to note that the number of empirical
12 4
BOOK R E V I E W S .
[J. F. I.
equations which have been developed for the purpose of explaining and predicting t h e behavior of the several types of electrical discharges. Yet, there arises the early realization t h a t m a n y factors still are unknown and not accounted for and t h a t much of the available information remains unrelated and not susceptible to interpolation. The subject m a t t e r has been arranged under three general headings: (I) Introduction (Discharges in General), (2) Sparking, and (3) Corona. Under Appendices will be found descriptions and derivations of mathematical formulas dealing with the subject of discharges through gaseous dielectrics. The book should be extremely valuable as an introduction to and reference for the study of electrical discharges in gases. T. K. CLEVELAND. ASTRONOMY. A~ INTRODUCTION. By Robert H. Baker, Professor of Astrono my in the University of Illinois. 504 pages, illustrations, 8vo. New York, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., I93o. Price $3.75. Star-gazing has been an occupation of mankind from a very early period. It would seem t h a t as soon as the human being reaches a condition of conscious appreciation of the environment t h e sights of t h e sky would invite attention. However, this m a y be, we know that astronomy is an ancient science. Heavenly bodies bear in their names clear evidence of the study of t h e m in t h e days of mythology, and even today many intelligent persons believe in the influence of the stars upon the course of individual life and hold t h e m to be more or less prophetic in their indications. Modern works on astronomy, such as the book before us, pay no attention to astrology but deal with the purely scientific features of the study of stars. Much progress has been made in astronomy of late years, aided particularly b y the application of photography and telescopes of high power. After a general presentation of the aspects of t h e sky and a description of some of the larger telescopes and their housings, the earth is studied in its cosmic relations, followed as usual, by descriptions of the sun and its a t t e n d a n t planets, asteroids and satellites. It is worth noting t h a t in speaking of t h e moon the author very positively asserts t h a t its orbit is always concave to the sun. This corrects a widespread error, not only of people at large, but presented even diagramatically in a work published a few years ago by a British astronomer. On one point the reviewer must speak in slightly unfavorable criticism. In the section on Mars, we must, of course, expect some words about the Martians. This interesting planet, with its obvious resemblance to our own earth in some respects, notably in the markings and in t h e polar caps, has always been a point of speculation. As a matter of fact, we have no data whatever upon which to base judgment as to whether Mars is inhabited b y intelligent beings nor can we make a n y statement concerning any other of the many millions of celestial bodies. In the first place we do not know the limits of life. We have only one phase of life before us. Living organisms, t h a t is, beings t h a t have consciousness and the powers of reproduction may be constituted upon an entirely different foundation t h a n t h a t of the beings around us. The only position t h a t the honest scientist can take in this matter is to give it up. In t h e case of Mars, t h e public mind has been seriously misled by the lack of critical attitude on the part of the astronomers. To a great extent, this has been due to the writings of the late Percival Lowell