REVIEW 25 REVIEW. A MANUAL OF OILS, RESINS, AND PAINTS. For Students and Practical Men. Vol. I. : ANALYSIS AND VALUATION. By HARRY INGLE, D.Sc., Ph.D., F.I.C. With Diagrams by the Author and J. A. L. Sutcliffe, A.I.C. London: Charles Griffin and Go., Ltd. 1915. Pp. 129. Price 3s. 6d. net. The author of this book has attempted within a comparatively few pages to deal with even a wider scope of subject-matter than the title might suggest to the reader’s mind.The work commences with a chapter on the chemistry of oils, gums, etc., followed by chapters on physical and chemical tests and classification of oils (mineral, essential, and fatty). The reader is then led to the consideration and examination of an immense number of products which are required in such industries as the manufaoture of soap, candles, lubricants, waxes, varnishes, paints, turkey- red oils, turpentine and turpentine substitutes, edible oils, coal-tar products, linoleum, etc.In view of all these subjects, it is necessary to take into account the statement made in the preface that the work is largely based on a course of lectures at heeds University. To students attending such or similar lectures-in which the necessary amplification is given by the lecturer-the book should prove of value, but to the general analyst the descriptions, etc., are mostly too short, unless supplemented by reference to other works.At the same time, the book provides a very useful scheme for the examination of the various technical products it deals with, without the addi- tion of a, long list of limitations and contradictions, which in many larger works only perplex and hinder the student, who is probably not able to gauge them at their proper worth.While fully admitting the value of the boob as regards the examina- tion of technical materials, there is practically no guidance whatever given to the general analyst as to the interpretation of most of the tests carried out.26 REVIEW The author is a little inconsistent in the space he has allotted to his various subjects.For example, seven pages are justly devoted to soap, which is well dealt with, though not sufficiently to include some of the modern detergent mixtures ; while waxes are dismissed in two pages, and margarine in three lines, yet nearly four pages of the very limited space are devoted to the once valuable, but now superseded, method of Hub1 and its theoretical basis. The book concludes with a useful set of tables of constants of various oils and fats, but, unfortunately, in some cases the limits given are so wide as to be little guide to those not familiar with typical figures.For instance, the iodine value of lard, given in the tables as from 46 to 70, and on p. 39 as from 67 to 88, is not only lamentably inconsistent, but would rather mystify a student who was called upon to examine a sample of lard. The printing of the book is excellent, the diagrams are clear, and it is evident that the proofs have been carefully corrected. E. RICHARDS BOLTON.