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Master builders of sixty centuries
Aug., 1938.1
BOOK REVIEWS.
233
fact. It is so interwoven with stories in connection with the topic t h a t it should be popular reading. At times it is really delightful and gives the reader a sense of satisfaction in being interested while accumulating a very useful and appreciative knowledge. A comprehensive subject index in the back of the book gives it added value as a reference work. R. H. OPPERMANN. ON UNDERSTANDING PHYSICS, by W. H. Watson. I41 pages, 14 X 22 cms. New York, The Macmillan Company, 1938. Price $2.25 . The rapid progress in scientific research in recent years has resulted not only in certain satisfactory confirmations but has added the irritation of creating new and unexplained problems. The constant groping for t r u t h is sure to be helped by a recognition of the value of philosophy and with this in mind, the author offers this work which is based on developments in modern philosophy, largely due to Dr. Ludwig Wittgenstein. It is not a report of Dr. Wittgenstein's lectures, being only the reflection of the author himself which bears evidence of the influence of them, however. On the one hand the discussion here recorded proposes to interest physicists in philosophy in the Wittgenstein sense, and on the other an a t t e m p t is made to show its value for clarifying physics--especially mechanics. There are discussed discipline in philosophy, logic and psychology and physics, methods of representation, the nature of mechanism, the logic of substance and motion, and some aspects of the symbolism of mechanics and electricity. Some of the logical problems are taken up, t h a t have been thrown into prominence during the development of atomic mechanics. The treatment here differs from t h a t to be found in the writings of mathematical physicists and others who have dealt with them. The author contends that these matters should be regarded as logical problems and whether the analysis is complete or not will show itself in the same way as correctness or error in a mathematical theory, but of course the use of language is a more complicated affair than mathematics. R. H. OPPERMANN. MASTER BUILDERS OF SIXTY CENTURIES, by John Anderson Miller. 31,5 pages, illustrations, 14 X 21 cms. New York, D. Appleton-Century Company, I938. Price $3.oo. Travelers over the world often encounter works or structures built by the ancients t h a t have a general appeal. This appeal is primarily because of age. Seldom does it extend to recognition of engineering achievements t h a t today would seem almost unsurmountable when considering the materials, tools and facilities t h a t were available during the period of construction. The machine age has brought with it, among other things, speed in construction. Not the mere halving of time which has been more or less commonplace in the present generation but much more than that. For an example take such articles as nails or mortar and reflect on time as an element in construction without their use. The chipping of stone without hard metals which are available today is another example. A long list may easily be compiled which will reveal the patience and genius of engineers of by-gone eras.
234
BOOK REVIEWS.
[J. F. I.
The author of Master Builders of Sixty Centuries has a t t e m p t e d to bring historic feats of engineering into focus with what engineers are doing today. In accomplishing this there are accounts given of achievements such as the construction of the Great Pyramid at Ghizeh where one hundred thousand workmen labored for twenty years using bronze saws and tubular drills; how the Greeks built stone walls without mortar and the basis of Doric and Ionic architecture; the Great Wall of China, work on which involved the equivalent of the efforts of a quarter of a million men for a hundred years; the Roman water supply system; the mystery cities of the Mayas; and others. The book is a series of clearly written, interesting and informative chapters. In the foreword the author states t h a t it " i s not a history of engineering, nor a statistical analysis of famous structures, but simply an informal account of certain particularly interesting engineering achievements, presented from the standpoint of making them better understood by the average m a n . " R. H. OPPERMANN. THE FINE STRUCTURE OF MATTER, THE BEARING OF RECENT WORK ON CRYSTAL
STRUCTURE, POLARIZATION ANn LINE SPECTRA, being Volume II of a comprehensive treatise of atomic and molecular structure, by C. H. Douglas Clark. Part II: Molecular Polarization. 232 pages, illustrations. Part III: The Quantum Theory and Line Spectra. 256 pages, illustrations, 15 X 22 cms. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1938. Price $4.50 each. The first part of Volume II of this series of books, devoted to X-rays and the structure of matter, was reviewed in the M a y I938 number of the Journal of The Franklin Institute. In continuation of this work Part II is devoted to molecular polarization. It begins with a statement of the general theory on the dielectric constants of gases and then proceeds into a more detailed t r e a t m e n t of the constants of pure liquids, mixtures, solutions, and liquid crystals; concluding with the dielectric constants of solids. The results recorded here consist of an array of experimental facts which appear largely uncoordinated. It is shown t h a t dielectric constants are less important theoretically t h a n the corresponding molecular polarizations. The Debye theory of polarization, a t r e a t m e n t of which follows, is one of the leading themes of the book. Others are the derivation and meaning of dipole moments and F a j a n ' s theory of deformation. Related matter necessary for carrying out this plan is covered in adequate detail. A brief review of methods which have been found useful in considering the problem of various force-fields operating between molecules follows a detailed account of work on the Kerr Effect and dipoles. Polarization phenomena are presented as taking their place alongside the other main avenues of approach in providing valuable information a b o u t the structure and stereochemistry of organic and inorganic compounds. The Quantum Theory and Line Spectra is the title of Part III of the series of books. This has special reference to the newer adaptations of the q u a n t u m theory but no a t t e m p t is made to deal with the mathematical t r e a t m e n t of the mechanics except t h a t there is indicated where this method has achieved results bearing on items of discussion. After the general principles of line spectra are discussed, attention is directed to problems raised by the fine spectral lines observed using a high degree of resolution. This excludes the " h y p e r f i n e " structure of lines which is
BOOK REVIEWS.
233
fact. It is so interwoven with stories in connection with the topic t h a t it should be popular reading. At times it is really delightful and gives the reader a sense of satisfaction in being interested while accumulating a very useful and appreciative knowledge. A comprehensive subject index in the back of the book gives it added value as a reference work. R. H. OPPERMANN. ON UNDERSTANDING PHYSICS, by W. H. Watson. I41 pages, 14 X 22 cms. New York, The Macmillan Company, 1938. Price $2.25 . The rapid progress in scientific research in recent years has resulted not only in certain satisfactory confirmations but has added the irritation of creating new and unexplained problems. The constant groping for t r u t h is sure to be helped by a recognition of the value of philosophy and with this in mind, the author offers this work which is based on developments in modern philosophy, largely due to Dr. Ludwig Wittgenstein. It is not a report of Dr. Wittgenstein's lectures, being only the reflection of the author himself which bears evidence of the influence of them, however. On the one hand the discussion here recorded proposes to interest physicists in philosophy in the Wittgenstein sense, and on the other an a t t e m p t is made to show its value for clarifying physics--especially mechanics. There are discussed discipline in philosophy, logic and psychology and physics, methods of representation, the nature of mechanism, the logic of substance and motion, and some aspects of the symbolism of mechanics and electricity. Some of the logical problems are taken up, t h a t have been thrown into prominence during the development of atomic mechanics. The treatment here differs from t h a t to be found in the writings of mathematical physicists and others who have dealt with them. The author contends that these matters should be regarded as logical problems and whether the analysis is complete or not will show itself in the same way as correctness or error in a mathematical theory, but of course the use of language is a more complicated affair than mathematics. R. H. OPPERMANN. MASTER BUILDERS OF SIXTY CENTURIES, by John Anderson Miller. 31,5 pages, illustrations, 14 X 21 cms. New York, D. Appleton-Century Company, I938. Price $3.oo. Travelers over the world often encounter works or structures built by the ancients t h a t have a general appeal. This appeal is primarily because of age. Seldom does it extend to recognition of engineering achievements t h a t today would seem almost unsurmountable when considering the materials, tools and facilities t h a t were available during the period of construction. The machine age has brought with it, among other things, speed in construction. Not the mere halving of time which has been more or less commonplace in the present generation but much more than that. For an example take such articles as nails or mortar and reflect on time as an element in construction without their use. The chipping of stone without hard metals which are available today is another example. A long list may easily be compiled which will reveal the patience and genius of engineers of by-gone eras.
234
BOOK REVIEWS.
[J. F. I.
The author of Master Builders of Sixty Centuries has a t t e m p t e d to bring historic feats of engineering into focus with what engineers are doing today. In accomplishing this there are accounts given of achievements such as the construction of the Great Pyramid at Ghizeh where one hundred thousand workmen labored for twenty years using bronze saws and tubular drills; how the Greeks built stone walls without mortar and the basis of Doric and Ionic architecture; the Great Wall of China, work on which involved the equivalent of the efforts of a quarter of a million men for a hundred years; the Roman water supply system; the mystery cities of the Mayas; and others. The book is a series of clearly written, interesting and informative chapters. In the foreword the author states t h a t it " i s not a history of engineering, nor a statistical analysis of famous structures, but simply an informal account of certain particularly interesting engineering achievements, presented from the standpoint of making them better understood by the average m a n . " R. H. OPPERMANN. THE FINE STRUCTURE OF MATTER, THE BEARING OF RECENT WORK ON CRYSTAL
STRUCTURE, POLARIZATION ANn LINE SPECTRA, being Volume II of a comprehensive treatise of atomic and molecular structure, by C. H. Douglas Clark. Part II: Molecular Polarization. 232 pages, illustrations. Part III: The Quantum Theory and Line Spectra. 256 pages, illustrations, 15 X 22 cms. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1938. Price $4.50 each. The first part of Volume II of this series of books, devoted to X-rays and the structure of matter, was reviewed in the M a y I938 number of the Journal of The Franklin Institute. In continuation of this work Part II is devoted to molecular polarization. It begins with a statement of the general theory on the dielectric constants of gases and then proceeds into a more detailed t r e a t m e n t of the constants of pure liquids, mixtures, solutions, and liquid crystals; concluding with the dielectric constants of solids. The results recorded here consist of an array of experimental facts which appear largely uncoordinated. It is shown t h a t dielectric constants are less important theoretically t h a n the corresponding molecular polarizations. The Debye theory of polarization, a t r e a t m e n t of which follows, is one of the leading themes of the book. Others are the derivation and meaning of dipole moments and F a j a n ' s theory of deformation. Related matter necessary for carrying out this plan is covered in adequate detail. A brief review of methods which have been found useful in considering the problem of various force-fields operating between molecules follows a detailed account of work on the Kerr Effect and dipoles. Polarization phenomena are presented as taking their place alongside the other main avenues of approach in providing valuable information a b o u t the structure and stereochemistry of organic and inorganic compounds. The Quantum Theory and Line Spectra is the title of Part III of the series of books. This has special reference to the newer adaptations of the q u a n t u m theory but no a t t e m p t is made to deal with the mathematical t r e a t m e n t of the mechanics except t h a t there is indicated where this method has achieved results bearing on items of discussion. After the general principles of line spectra are discussed, attention is directed to problems raised by the fine spectral lines observed using a high degree of resolution. This excludes the " h y p e r f i n e " structure of lines which is