Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-28
NEW BOOKS.

T51z NEW CHEMISTRY, by Joseph p. Cook, Jr.,
Frvtnr Professor OF Chemistry and MineralOgy
in Harvard University. New York: D. APP
pletOn & Co.
The International Scientific Series has
this aNew Chemistry as one link IN us
chain of the latest and most improved
works on science published by d. Appleton
ISCO.. N.Y. Progress in chemistry has been
rapid in the last Twenty-Five years and
both its application TO the Industrial arts,
and its generalizatiOnS IN the development
of national laws have been greatly extended
and generally acknOwlee. Its facts, unlike
those Of astronomy, abstruse mathematics
and physics, come home TO the cOnsldera-
tiOn of every thing that we eat, wear, or
use in any industry whatever.
A enew chemistry implies a nel1 and
more matured view of matter in all It's
forms and combinations, and probably, a
more exact exposition Of It's laws. Inc
volume before us is made up Of a series OF
popular lectures delivered at the Lowell In
stitute in Boston; and its statements and
Language are adapted to the understanding
of common readers, with some exceptions.
Prof. Cooke sympathiZes with the beautiful
idea of Oersted that '.T'ke lars Of Nature
are the thoughts of God" The careful
study of observed facts leads to truth, and
the careful consideration OF Truth leads
from nature and science up to the great
fountain Of all truth. GTayitatiOn IS prob
ably only one form Of infinite energy, and
our most advanced thoughts and knowE
ed.-e are another manifest alton Of the same
mysterious force. Science is the growth Of
unknown ages, not the offspring Of few
gifted minds, nor Of afew generations. 1he
Cbaldean astronomers had not
the science of Laplau, nor Of
Newton. vet by long observation
thew learned many facts worth knowing,
the Young English astronomer, Proctor, has
heen able to detect an error OF the tenth
mart of 4 second in the recent calculation
of a German astronomer of the time OF the
daily revolution of The planet Mars, grow
inc out of a mistake about l1ap-yeaTs one
and two hundred wears ago. Time, space,
energy and mathematics, aided by the most
improved instruments, are placing reason
inc man on an elevated plane, where he can
overlook the universe with serene cOmpO-
sure and satisfaction. The instruments Of
scientific research are themselves a great
marvel. There was a time in the not dis
taDt past when line of the twelfth part OF
an inch was esteemed a short distance. But
microscopes and their studies demanded
finer rulings. Now, NO5ert, German op-
ticiaD. regularly makes plates Of glass or
metal. with bands consisting of from ll,OOO
To Il2. 900 lines TO the inch. Onpage 20 OF
This anew Chemistry" is photograph OF
the 19th band, containing over ll2,OOO lines
to the inch. The photograph was taken Dy
one Of TOlle's microscopes 10 measure
the thickness of the thinnest possible soap
bubble, and of the molecules IN 1t, IS
rather nice operation.
If a person who is not chemist, DIS
solves a grain weight Of sugar in pound
of pure water, what is the exact size OF each
naFticIe Of sugar in the water? What is
The volume of a mOlecule of salt treated IN
the same way? Ones first impression is
that questions Of this character have no
particular value or Importance. But we
all live on plants, their seeds and fruits,
and on animals and their products, and
their very starting point is in dissolved
food. Without water and its solvent power,
| all life Is impossible. AthOusand blessings
and benefits accrue to civilized man from
the study of matter in the three forms OF
solids. LIQUIDS and gases, and OF the energy
that in one way and another, forces 1t into
| ali D,ssible forms Of life organized and dis
| orranized conditions. Every mechanic
every farmer and gardener, and every busE
| ness man, should have a clear idea o
energy in position, and energy IN action
| Few will deny that things may be done
trronq as we'll as right. Is 1t rlgh
| TO so misapply labor as TO reduce
the product one half or more? lgnor