7 JUNE 1890, Page 24

Dictionary of Applied Chemistry. Vol. I., "A - 0y." By T. E.

Thorpe. (Longmans and Co.)—Professor Thorpe deserves to be congratulated on the appearance of so useful a work. It is a pleasure to refer to a technical work of this description and find that a knowledge of "applied chemistry" is within the reach of anybody. The most unscientific reader can turn to the articles on "Atmosphere," "Bleaching," "Bread," "Brewing," "Candles," "Colours," and "Disinfectants," and feel, after reading them, a great deal wiser than he or she did an hour before. It seems to us that a distinct attempt has been made by the editor and his assistants to render the articles readable. To say that he has succeeded, is to place the Dictionary very high indeed. An im- provement of this sort is valued even by technical people nearly as highly as accuracy; and by others a great deal more. It is a handsome volume, easily handled, and it is well illustrated. As a book of reference it needs no commendation. The two volumes to follow we shall look forward to with much pleasure.