16 FEBRUARY 1889, Page 26

Practical Metallurgy and Assaying. By A. H. Hiorns. (Macmillan.) —We

are not so sure as Mr. Hiorns is that no suitable text-book of practical metallurgy exists ; still, we have not too many of them, and the progress of that branch of science has, as much as any other, to be constantly written up to. Especially does this apply to electro-metallurgy and the analysis of iron and steel. The two last-named operations have become of such primary importance, that any fresh results are always looked forward to. Mr. Hiorns might perhaps have expanded some of the methods a little more ; but otherwise the volume seems a compact and useful one, and should answer its purpose as a handy reference-book well enough.