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Phosphoric acid, phosphates, and phosphatic fertilizers
Sept., 1927.]
BOOK REVIEWS.
417
The two volumes, however, seem to be rather belated. Volume vii, part I, devoted to oxygen (including the atmosphere, water and hydrogen dioxide) is by the editor and Dr. Douglas F. Twiss. The preface is dated November, 1923, and in the list of elements according to the periodic system it is stated that the atomic weights are from the international table of 1918. In some respects the data in the text are out of date. Thus, on page 166, it is stated that the highest point reached by an airplane is 32,418 feet (September, I919), but this altitude has been far exceeded. Similarly, Volume ix, part 2 (devoted to iron and prepared by the editor alone), is dated March, 1921, making the book over six years old. In view of the rapid progress of chemistry such delays of issue seem regrettable. The awkward system of volumes issued in parts is continued. The series is advertised to consist of ten volumes, but by this peculiar subdivision the subscriber does not know how many individual issues he must purchase. It is also doubtful if the arrangement according to tile periodic system is of practical advantage in a reference work. It may be of value in teaching the elements of the science and it has proved of value in directing research, although the system of atomic numbers seems to have been of more service, but the research worker and student in practical chemistry, to whom the series will be of most use, will find an alphabetical arrangement more convenient. The elements considered in each part should be indicated by symbols on the back. In several ways, such as the use of Roman numerals in the preliminary pages, the work shows British conservatism. A commendable feature is that in all references the year and volume are given, whenever the periodical has both these data. These volumes, as those previously reviewed, show that an immense amount of research has been devoted to the accumulation of data and the result is a comprehensive treatment of each subject. HENRY LEFF~XIANN. PHOSPHORIC ACID, PHOSPHATES, AND PHOSPHATIC FERTILIZERS. By Wm. H. Waggamau assisted by Henry W. Easterwood. American Chemical Society Monograph Series No. 34. 370 pages, illustrations, 8vo. cloth. New York, The Chemical Catalog Company, Inc., I927. Price, $7.5o. Phosphoric acid is interesting both from its importance in the phenomena of life and in the variety of combinations. " Without phosphorus no thought" was the dictum of a German chemist. Under the modern principles of scientific agriculture, it is one of the important fertilizers. It appears, however, as indeed might be expected, that mankind used phosphatic materials long before the exact composition thereof was known. In a historical note the author refers to the use of refuse material of various types, including bones, in tields and gardens. Guano was not introduced into use in Europe until 11540, but it had been used by the aboriginals in Peru long before Europeans ~,isited that region. It is stated that phosphoric acid was first recognized in I743 by Margraff, but it was much later when Gahn found phosphates to be an essential constituent of bones. In the historical note, the progress of the industry is described interestingly, including the introduction of phosphate powders for baking purposes and also the interesting and extremely important
418
BOOK REVIEWS.
[J. F. I.
development of Thomas and Gilchrist by which phosphatic iron ores may be utilized in the production of a high-grade steel. In the introduction, much space is given to the nature of the several oxides and the acids derived from them. Space is also given to the relations of phosphoric acid in the animal economy and its use in agriculture. A general account is then given of the mineral sources of phosphates. Then follows a comprehensive account of the phosphate deposits in various parts of the world, beginning with those of the United States. The different forms of phosphates as marketed are then considered, including phosphate baking powders, phosphates as water softeners and various miscellaneous uses among which are their applications in glass and china manufacture, in dental cements, photography, fireproofing and in fermentation processes. It will be seen therefore that this is a very comprehensive and commendable account of phosphates in all their practical applications. HENRY LEFFMANN. PHOTOGRAPHY : ITS PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS. By Alfred Watkins, F.R.P.S., Progress Medal,list of the Royal Photographic Society for I9IO; Past President Photographic Convention. Third edition, revised. xvi-336 pages, 20 × 15 cm., cloth. New York, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., I927. Price, $4. If photography as a hobby has fallen a bit out of favor in recent years, it is rather because a certain degree of stabilization of its extensive possibilities and perhaps too because of having to divide the honors of popular favor with the results of other scientific achievements. W e find few amateurs who do their own dark-room work and incidentally a certain amount of experimenting. Most of them are content to make the exposure which now is finished by the excellent facilities afforded by the myriad service stations which are in evidence everywhere. Photographic art may well rest on its oars in the present state of its development for there has accumulated a wealth of material which is continually finding commercial and technical application of a highly refined type. However, these recent developments are in the hands of workers in research laboratories of scientific institutions or manufacturing firms. So photography is to-day undergoing a process of refinement rather than of evolution, at least in the monochromatic field. In the color field there appear some signs of coming evolution that may displace the only partially satisfactory autochrome color process of the Lumi6res which has consistently maintained its supremacy over a long period of years. The author whose work has been long and widely known, especially in the field of exposure and development control, is especially qualified to present an authoritative account of the principles of photography and its applications, and if he does not describe all that is up-to-the-minute, he at least gives us a well-arranged though necessarily not exhaustive presentation of the varied elements which enter into practical photography. The all-important topics of exposure, development and printing and their control are in especially good hands and receive the sort of treatment which will make a strong appeal to the practical worker. Measures are given in avoirdupois, apparently a timehonored habit with photographic workers which seems out of keeping with
BOOK REVIEWS.
417
The two volumes, however, seem to be rather belated. Volume vii, part I, devoted to oxygen (including the atmosphere, water and hydrogen dioxide) is by the editor and Dr. Douglas F. Twiss. The preface is dated November, 1923, and in the list of elements according to the periodic system it is stated that the atomic weights are from the international table of 1918. In some respects the data in the text are out of date. Thus, on page 166, it is stated that the highest point reached by an airplane is 32,418 feet (September, I919), but this altitude has been far exceeded. Similarly, Volume ix, part 2 (devoted to iron and prepared by the editor alone), is dated March, 1921, making the book over six years old. In view of the rapid progress of chemistry such delays of issue seem regrettable. The awkward system of volumes issued in parts is continued. The series is advertised to consist of ten volumes, but by this peculiar subdivision the subscriber does not know how many individual issues he must purchase. It is also doubtful if the arrangement according to tile periodic system is of practical advantage in a reference work. It may be of value in teaching the elements of the science and it has proved of value in directing research, although the system of atomic numbers seems to have been of more service, but the research worker and student in practical chemistry, to whom the series will be of most use, will find an alphabetical arrangement more convenient. The elements considered in each part should be indicated by symbols on the back. In several ways, such as the use of Roman numerals in the preliminary pages, the work shows British conservatism. A commendable feature is that in all references the year and volume are given, whenever the periodical has both these data. These volumes, as those previously reviewed, show that an immense amount of research has been devoted to the accumulation of data and the result is a comprehensive treatment of each subject. HENRY LEFF~XIANN. PHOSPHORIC ACID, PHOSPHATES, AND PHOSPHATIC FERTILIZERS. By Wm. H. Waggamau assisted by Henry W. Easterwood. American Chemical Society Monograph Series No. 34. 370 pages, illustrations, 8vo. cloth. New York, The Chemical Catalog Company, Inc., I927. Price, $7.5o. Phosphoric acid is interesting both from its importance in the phenomena of life and in the variety of combinations. " Without phosphorus no thought" was the dictum of a German chemist. Under the modern principles of scientific agriculture, it is one of the important fertilizers. It appears, however, as indeed might be expected, that mankind used phosphatic materials long before the exact composition thereof was known. In a historical note the author refers to the use of refuse material of various types, including bones, in tields and gardens. Guano was not introduced into use in Europe until 11540, but it had been used by the aboriginals in Peru long before Europeans ~,isited that region. It is stated that phosphoric acid was first recognized in I743 by Margraff, but it was much later when Gahn found phosphates to be an essential constituent of bones. In the historical note, the progress of the industry is described interestingly, including the introduction of phosphate powders for baking purposes and also the interesting and extremely important
418
BOOK REVIEWS.
[J. F. I.
development of Thomas and Gilchrist by which phosphatic iron ores may be utilized in the production of a high-grade steel. In the introduction, much space is given to the nature of the several oxides and the acids derived from them. Space is also given to the relations of phosphoric acid in the animal economy and its use in agriculture. A general account is then given of the mineral sources of phosphates. Then follows a comprehensive account of the phosphate deposits in various parts of the world, beginning with those of the United States. The different forms of phosphates as marketed are then considered, including phosphate baking powders, phosphates as water softeners and various miscellaneous uses among which are their applications in glass and china manufacture, in dental cements, photography, fireproofing and in fermentation processes. It will be seen therefore that this is a very comprehensive and commendable account of phosphates in all their practical applications. HENRY LEFFMANN. PHOTOGRAPHY : ITS PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS. By Alfred Watkins, F.R.P.S., Progress Medal,list of the Royal Photographic Society for I9IO; Past President Photographic Convention. Third edition, revised. xvi-336 pages, 20 × 15 cm., cloth. New York, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., I927. Price, $4. If photography as a hobby has fallen a bit out of favor in recent years, it is rather because a certain degree of stabilization of its extensive possibilities and perhaps too because of having to divide the honors of popular favor with the results of other scientific achievements. W e find few amateurs who do their own dark-room work and incidentally a certain amount of experimenting. Most of them are content to make the exposure which now is finished by the excellent facilities afforded by the myriad service stations which are in evidence everywhere. Photographic art may well rest on its oars in the present state of its development for there has accumulated a wealth of material which is continually finding commercial and technical application of a highly refined type. However, these recent developments are in the hands of workers in research laboratories of scientific institutions or manufacturing firms. So photography is to-day undergoing a process of refinement rather than of evolution, at least in the monochromatic field. In the color field there appear some signs of coming evolution that may displace the only partially satisfactory autochrome color process of the Lumi6res which has consistently maintained its supremacy over a long period of years. The author whose work has been long and widely known, especially in the field of exposure and development control, is especially qualified to present an authoritative account of the principles of photography and its applications, and if he does not describe all that is up-to-the-minute, he at least gives us a well-arranged though necessarily not exhaustive presentation of the varied elements which enter into practical photography. The all-important topics of exposure, development and printing and their control are in especially good hands and receive the sort of treatment which will make a strong appeal to the practical worker. Measures are given in avoirdupois, apparently a timehonored habit with photographic workers which seems out of keeping with