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The Final Penalty
Reviews (Editedby A. R.Brorwnlie) THE FIKAL PESALTY
The Hanging question Ed., Louis Blom-Cooper (Duckworth and Co. Ltd., London, 1969, 138 pp., hardback 301-, paper 151-) The recent Parliamentary debates on the abolition of the death penalty lend an added interest to this fascinating little volume of eighteen essays published for the Howard League for Penal Reform. Eminent people from different walks of life give their reasons for opposing the return of capital punishment. These include a psychiatrist, psychologists, a magistrate, three professors and a prison doctor. Among the contributions which will be read with interest both by abolitionists and by retentionists are the essays by Professor Rupert Cross canvassing several secondary but none the less persuasive arguments for abolition, and by Sir Charles Cunningham pointing to practical considerations. For the moment at least it seems that the decision to abolish the death penalty will remain, but the discussion will no doubt continue. Those for whom the controversy is not yet over will find this little book both stimulating and informative. Richard O'Rrien
NETTLES, DAISES A X D LONG PURPLES
The Forensic Examination of Paints and Pigments David R. Crown (Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, 1968, 264 pp., 14 Dollars) The title of this book immediately suggests a useful practical book that fills a gap in the literature. To produce such a work one needs a considerable knowledge of paint technology, colour chemistry, analytical techniques and forensic science. Perhaps this is too much to ask of any single author, and one might have to settle for something less than the best in one or more of these fields. Unfortunately it is not obvious from the book that any of these matters is the author's forte. As far as pigments are concerned the five-volume "Colour Index" contains the most authoritative and comprehensive information on the chemistry and properties of dyes and pigments, and to select the information on pigments from that source would be a useful compilation. Table I1 of the book under review occupies nearly 70 pages and appears to be mainly taken from the Colour Index. Pigments are listed as inorganic, natural organic, or synthetic organic under their appropriate colours, though the classification "purple" appears, which does not occur in the Colour Index. There are some curious entries, Bone White, for example, is said to be a White Natural Organic Pigment with the composition Ca3(P04). Cal COs. Toluidine Red is said to be "0-nitro ptoluidine coupled with 2-naphthol" on p. 83. I t should be m-nitro p-toluidine or 2-nitro p-toluidine. Further the information is not always self-consistent. On p. 79 one reads that the metals that may be found in Pigment Rubine 3G are calcium, strontium, barium and manganese and possibly aluminium. On p. 126 the same pigment is listed as possibly containing these metals with the exception of manganese. This sort of thing does not give confidence in the reliability of the information in the book, but to check it entirely would be an immense task. 57
The Hanging question Ed., Louis Blom-Cooper (Duckworth and Co. Ltd., London, 1969, 138 pp., hardback 301-, paper 151-) The recent Parliamentary debates on the abolition of the death penalty lend an added interest to this fascinating little volume of eighteen essays published for the Howard League for Penal Reform. Eminent people from different walks of life give their reasons for opposing the return of capital punishment. These include a psychiatrist, psychologists, a magistrate, three professors and a prison doctor. Among the contributions which will be read with interest both by abolitionists and by retentionists are the essays by Professor Rupert Cross canvassing several secondary but none the less persuasive arguments for abolition, and by Sir Charles Cunningham pointing to practical considerations. For the moment at least it seems that the decision to abolish the death penalty will remain, but the discussion will no doubt continue. Those for whom the controversy is not yet over will find this little book both stimulating and informative. Richard O'Rrien
NETTLES, DAISES A X D LONG PURPLES
The Forensic Examination of Paints and Pigments David R. Crown (Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, 1968, 264 pp., 14 Dollars) The title of this book immediately suggests a useful practical book that fills a gap in the literature. To produce such a work one needs a considerable knowledge of paint technology, colour chemistry, analytical techniques and forensic science. Perhaps this is too much to ask of any single author, and one might have to settle for something less than the best in one or more of these fields. Unfortunately it is not obvious from the book that any of these matters is the author's forte. As far as pigments are concerned the five-volume "Colour Index" contains the most authoritative and comprehensive information on the chemistry and properties of dyes and pigments, and to select the information on pigments from that source would be a useful compilation. Table I1 of the book under review occupies nearly 70 pages and appears to be mainly taken from the Colour Index. Pigments are listed as inorganic, natural organic, or synthetic organic under their appropriate colours, though the classification "purple" appears, which does not occur in the Colour Index. There are some curious entries, Bone White, for example, is said to be a White Natural Organic Pigment with the composition Ca3(P04). Cal COs. Toluidine Red is said to be "0-nitro ptoluidine coupled with 2-naphthol" on p. 83. I t should be m-nitro p-toluidine or 2-nitro p-toluidine. Further the information is not always self-consistent. On p. 79 one reads that the metals that may be found in Pigment Rubine 3G are calcium, strontium, barium and manganese and possibly aluminium. On p. 126 the same pigment is listed as possibly containing these metals with the exception of manganese. This sort of thing does not give confidence in the reliability of the information in the book, but to check it entirely would be an immense task. 57