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'• The Journal of the Institute of Metals."-The second volume of the proceedings of that useful institution, of which Sir Wm. H. White, K.C.B., P.R.S., is the first president, has just reached this office. This institution has now set, out to encourage a complete study of nonferrous metals and their alloys, and its proceedings contain many practical papers and the discussions which followed their reading. A new and commendable feature is the inclusion, in this second volume, of a section which is devoted to abstracts of papers relating to non-ferrous metals and the industries connected therewith. The preparation of this section has entailed a considerable amount of labour, but it is one of the most-valuable features of the journal. All members of the institute receive free clothbcund copies of the proceedings, but interested non-members may obtain copies at one guinea each, pest free, on application to the secretary, Mr. G. Shaw Scott, at the offices, Caxton House, Westminster, S.W.
"Thornton on Patents " (21s, net. Charles Jones, Ltd„ of 27-29, Cursitor Street, E.C.) is a book that will appeal to a very large number of men—inventors, coowners of patents, patent agents, patent lawyers, and other members of the legal profession who only occasionally have reason to consult a work of this nature. Mr. Alfred Augustus Thornton, the author, is a consulting patent agent who bears an enviable reputation for ability and thoroughness, and his hook may rightly be said to contain the pith of the patent laws and practices of the United Eingdom and abroad. Learned members of the bar have written exhaustively on the legal aspect of many points respecting patents, but Mr. Thornton has now set out, practically and intelligently, all the various rules, forms, examples and precedents that should be kept in mind by every man who is of an inventive turn of mind, or who may become financially or otherwise associated with an invention. It is the vadc merum of patentees. A specimen case is discussed and analysed, and the correct use of every form of document which may be required in a difficiilt case is clearly laid out. The drafting of claims, and the revocation, restoration, and infringement of patents. are each dealt with in a masterful manner, yet so simply -that they may easily be understood by anyone of average intelligence. The relations between patentee and financier are discussed, and valuable hints are given relating to many things of which both patentee and business man should have full knowledge. After having read the book, we are convinced that the publishing company, in its prospectus, has correctly summed-up the need for such a work. It states: "As in law there is the solicitor, as in the field of human ailments there is the doctor, to turn to for advice—se in patents there is the patent agent. But, as in law a man will act on his own initiative and consult solicitor only when involved in litigation, as in illness he will call for the doctor only when seriously ill—so he will turn to the patent agent. somewhat later than he should. There is a kink in human nature which stops a man from asking for advice, for which he must pay, until he feels forced to do so—invariably a little too late . . . However, as a man will turn readily to a book which is on his shelf, such as an atlas or a dictionary„ SO we believe that those who acquire Thornton on Patents ' will, after having read it thoroughly, keep it close at. hand for ready reference." It is not intended to make " every man his own patent agent " but to guide and assist the layman in the initial stages of a patent.
" Iron and Steel " (Os. net. Archibald Constable and Co., Ltd., of 10, Orange Street, Leicester Square, W.C.),.
by Mr. .1. H. Stansbie, B.Sc. (Lund.), is one of the " Westminster Series " of technical works. That "iron is the most important of all the metals that have been pressed into the service of man " is not to be gainsaid for a moment., and, as iron forms the common baths from which are manufaetered all grades of steel and steel alloys many of which alloys have been produced in order to. meet the exacting demands of motor manufacturers—designers, works managers, tool-room men, machinists and pupils should consider that a part of their respective duties consists in the acquisition of a thorough knowledge of the manufacture, characteristics, and physical and mechanical properties of the materials which they daily handle. Mr. Stansbie seeks to impart, that knowledge to his readers. without the use of the usual jumble of technical-school jargon. This work is not intended to be a handbook for the expert metallurgist, but intelligent students and steel workers, even though they possess but a very elementary knowledge of iron and steel, may find much of interest and value in its 375 pages. The art of metallurgy is traced from its earliest and most-primitive stages to the most-modern methods of production of high-grade steel. Probably no material, metal or non-metal, is found in such profusion all over the surface of the earth as the. various ores from which iron is extracted, yet, oddly enough. in many engineering works, but few of the men have more than a hazy notion of the methods by which the metal is extracted from the ores, and how it is converted into commercial iron or steel. The more a worker knows of the comtituents and behaviour, under specific conditions, of the materials which he is handling daily, the more is he likely to turn out good work. Just that information which is calculated to he of use to the practical steel worker is contained in Mr. Stansbie's book. Its chapters deal with: blast fnrnaces ; the Bessemer precem; the open-hearth process; the mechanical treatment—forging, rolling, etc.of iron and steel ; the heat treatment — annealing, oarlmnizing, quenching—of steel; the examinatier] of the metal under the mierosoope, etc.