:

AUSTRALIA'S FOREIGN TRADE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE, 1923.

Mr. S. W. B. MerGegor, H.M. Senior Trade Commissioner in Australia, has informed the Department of Overseas Trade that the statistics of Australian trade for the year ending 30 June, 1923, show that the imports were £131,808,673, as compared with £127,846,535 for the previous year, a decrease of £9,923,452.

The balance of trade favourable to Australia in 1921-22, amounting to £24,780,099, has become an adverse balance of £13,895,590 in 1922-23.

The accumulation of Australian funds in London, together with new loan money, has had a stimulating effect on imports and some reaction, temporarily unfavourable to British trade, must be expected.

The decrease in the value of exports in 1922-23 is largely due to the fall in the value of wheat, which which accounts for £20,136,000 of the decrease as compared with 1921-22. The increase in the value of wool exported was £9,163,000.

There has been a marked increase in the value of imported manufactured apparel and in textiles generally, the total for this class being £44,914,128 compared with £34,149,710 in 1921-22. Some falling off in these lines of trade must now be anticipated.

The total value of imports of metals, metal manufactures, and machinery was £35,195,931, compared with £25,096,571 in 1921-22, of which chassis for motor cars are valued at £6,117,179, compared with £2,927,759 in the previous year. This extraordinary increase in the value of the imports of motor cars is an indication of the prosperty of Australia generally, and growing feeling that a motor car is a necessity for the efficient conduct of town or country avocations.

Information as to countries of origin and destination of imports and exports respectively will not be available for several months.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

Redwood and Eastlake's Petroleum Technologist's Pocket-Book, Revised by A. W. EASTLAKE, M.I.MIN.E., A.M.I.MECH.E. Pp. 546. Second Edition. London: Charles Griffin & Co., Ltd.. Exeter Street, Strand. W.C.2. 1923. Price 15s.

The need for a small handy work of reference on petroleum has been met by the publication, in 1915, of this pocket-book. Its proved usefulness has led to the appearance of a second and revised edition by Mr. Eastlake, to which Sir Thomas H. Holland, Vice-President of the Institution of Petroleum Technologists, etc., has contributed a Foreword.

Chemists and technologists may be reminded that the volume contains much condensed information concerning the Geology, Physics, and Chemistry of Petroleum. A good deal of space is devoted to production, which is followed by a section on refining, transport, storage and testing. In addition to statistical tables, weights and measures, there is also a miscellaneous section, which gives a list of the Courses of Instruction in Petroleum Technology in various centres; an inclusive list of petroleum periodicals; Passport Regulations; Numerals, etc., in eight languages; etc.

Eight small but useful maps, indicating the sources of petroleum and other deposits, are contained in a pocket at the end.

The extent of the revision of this edition may be gauged by the fact that over 100 pages have been added, but the bulk of the book is the same, since it is printed on thinner (but very good) paper.

The book reflects credit upon all concerned with its publication, and should prove to be of especial value to petroleum technologists.

The Phase Rule and the Study of Heterogeneous Equilibria. An Introductory Study, by A. C. D. RIVETT, M.A., D.Sc. Pp. 204. Oxford: At the Clarendon Press. Price 10s. 6d. net.

The theoretical importance of the Phase Rule is not likely to be under-estimated so long as the work of Frofessor Ostwald is remembered. But the Phase Rule is not only important from the theoretical point of view. As Professor Rivett writes: "The study of heterogeneous equilibria, from the standpoint of the Phase Rule and the Principle of Le Chatelier and Braun, is one which every manufacturer would do well to require from his chemical staff. Whether or not costly evaporations are necessary, or recrystallisations, or extractions with

solvents, only systematic work will show. The cost of such investigation will usually be slight compared with the gains that will be made possible." In view of these facts, the small number of text-books dealing with the subject of the Phase Rule that are available seems to be totally incommensurate with the importance of the subject, and a very hearty welcome is therefore extended to this introductory study by Professor Rivett, which it is hoped will tend to stimulate further interest therein.

The work is strictly in the nature of an introduction, and, as the author points out, must not be regarded as constituting either a treatise or a book of reference; which fact, perhaps, explains the absence of an index. The author's aim has been to discuss types of systems which may be met, and ways in which such systems may be graphically represented, and to giving some examples of the manner in which conclusions of practical importance may be deduced.

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The author commences his treatment of the graphical representation of various systems by means of three dimensioned models, from which the more usual two dimensioned graphs are obtained by considering special planes. This is, as he points out, not the usual procedure, but, although students may have some difficulty in dealing with the three dimensioned models, the method certainly has the advantage of being more logical than the more customary one. In fact, the logical quality of Dr. Rivett's treatment throughout calls for favourable notice. In the Preface, for example, he calls attention to the fact that when we are dealing with mixtures containing more than one component there cannot be equilibrium between two phases unless each component is present in each phase. As concerns solid phases, this fact is (except in special cases) usually ignored, owing to the very small solvent power of solids. Unless, however, the formation of solid solutions is recogrised, the subject cannot be presented in such a way that conclusions shall strictly conform throughout to the basic principles summarised in the Phase Rule.

In dealing with mixtures of three components, considerable use is made of Gibb's equilateral triangle diagrams. There is also a long chapter dealing with four component systems, and another containing some simple thermo-dynamical considerations relavent to the subject.

H. S. REDGrove.

Rhus Dermatitis (Poison Ivy) - Its Pathology and Chemotherapy, by JAMES B. MCNAIR. Pp. IX. + 298. The University of Chicago Press, 5750, Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. $4.00 (post paid $4.15).

Of all cutaneous eruptions caused accidentally by plant substances, that resulting from the poison oak or poison ivy is the most common in North America. The lack of any rational treatment for this common poisoning has led Mr. McNair into a protracted study of the isolated principle, in the hope that knowledge of its characteristic properties may serve as a basis for such treatment.

From a general botanical description of the plants, Rhus Toxicodendron, R. radicans, and especially R. diversiloba, which have long been known under the names of poison ivy or poison oak, it is shown that the fresh sap emulsion from the resin canals alone is dangerous. All other parts of the plant have been shown to be nontoxic. The poisonous properties also decrease as the fruit ripens.

The author has traced the chemical investigations into the nature of the poisonous principle lobinol which has been shown to contain only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and which is a phenolic compound. An exact knowledge of its chemical nature is of supreme importance if a rational remedy for its action is to be sought. The substance was originally regarded as a volatile alkaloid, and later as an acid until the absence of any carboxyl group was proved. Consequently the early remedies adopted were quite empirical.

The volume contains much interesting matter relating to pathological cases, immunity, and the chemo-therapy of the subject, and concludes with a comprehensive bibliography of botanical, chemical and pathological references.

We have received a copy of the Announcements of the Northampton Polytechnic Institute, giving particulars of the courses of instruction in the different branches of Scientific and Engineering Industries.

On this occasion the new issue deals with the evening work only. The wellknown work dealt with in the day section of the Announcements will be practically the same as last session, there being only small changes in details of syllabuses which can be made as the work develops.

The whole of the work includes day and evening courses in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical and Electrical), in Optical Engineering and Applied Optics, and in Horology. The Engineering courses include sub-sections in Automobile work, Aeronauties, and Radio-Telegraphy. In addition there are evening courses in ElectroChemistry, Metallurgy, and Domestic Economy and Women's Trades. The classes for the day courses commence on Monday, October 1, and those for the evening courses on Monday, September 24. Enrolments for the latter commenced on Monday, the 17th inst.

Full details of the syllabuses and the equipment are also given.

Anhydrous Aluminium Chloride, by OLIVER C. RALSTON. Pp. IV. + 38.

Fires in Steamship Bunker and Cargo Coal, by H. H. STOEK. Pp. IV. + 51.

The Motor Gasoline Surveys of 1920 and 1921 (A sequel to Bulletin 191), by N. A. C. SMITH. Pp. 41.

Mine Rescue Standards-A Tentative Study, prepared by a Committee appointed at the International Mine Rescue Standardisation Conference, September, 1921. Pp. IV. + 43.

Permissible Explosives, Mining Equipment and Apparatus approved prior to January 1, 1923, by S. P. HOWELL, L. C. ILSLEY, D. J. PARKER and A. C. FIELDNER. Pp. 22.

Sodium Sulphate: Its Sources and Uses, by ROGER C. WELLS. Pp. IV. + 43.

Geology and Ore Deposits of the Creede District, Colorado, by WM. H. EMMONS and ESPER S. LARSEN. Pp. IX. + 198.

The Commercial Granites of New England, by T. NELSON DALE. Pp. XV. + 488.

The Kotsina-Kuskulana District, Alaska, by FRED H. MOFFIT and J. B. MERTIE, JR. Pp. VII. 149.

Ilsemannite at Ouray, Utah, by FRANK L. HESS. Pp. 16.

Mineral Resources of the United States, 1920-Part I.

Mineral Resources of the United States in 1920-Introduction, by G. F. Loughlin. Pp. 155a.

Coke and By-Products in 1921, by R. S. MCBRIDE. Pp. 444.

Peat in 1922, by K. W. COTTRELL. Pp. 6. Surface Waters of Wyoming and Their Utilisation, by ROBERT FOLLANSBEE. Pp. X. + 331.

Geology and Ground-water Resources of Sacramento Valley, California, by KIRK BRYAN. Pp. XI. + 285.

The Industrial Utility of Public Water Supplied in the United States, by W. D. COLLINS. Pp. 59.

Comparative Tests of By-Product Coke and Other Fuels for House-Heating Boilers, by HENRY KREISINGER, JOHN BLIZARD, H. W. JARRETT and J. J. McKITTERICK. Pp. 21.

Tests of Low-Grade and Complex Ores in Colorado, by WILL H. COGHILL and C. O. ANDERSON. Pp. 67.

ate or glyceryl. Sept. 6.

Specifications Published this Week. 175987-Silica Gel Corporation.-Process of

re

covering liquid solutes from non-aqueous solutions.

202664 Saltrick, W. A.-Manufacture of ironchromium alloys.

Alkali thiesulphates, carbonates, and sulphocy anides.-Liquors containing alkali thiosulphates and other less soluble alkali salts such as carbonates, which may be products of gas-purifying processes such as those described in Specifications 169,996 and 170,572, are evaporated until the boiling point reaches 120° C. at atmospheric pressure, when the salts such as alkali carbonates separate, and the crystals are removed in a centrifugal apparatus. The solution is then cooled to obtain crystals of thiosulphate. The mother liquor may be further concentrated to obtain a second crop of thiosulphate crystals; the final mother liquor contains sulphocyanides. The thiosulphate crystals are washed and recrystallised, the mother liquor being returned to the evaporator.

Messrs. Rayner & Co. will obtain printed copies of the published specifications and abstract only, and forward on post free for the price of 1s. 6d.

each.