Abstract
TECHNICAL dictionaries are multiplying rapidly to meet the growing needs of a progressive civilization, and the Philosophical Library, New York, is placing itself in the vanguard of publishers who respond to this demand. Its new illustrated technical dictionary will be welcomed by scientific and technical workers of almost every kind; the book should find a home in most general libraries. The explanatory sub-title gives a good idea of its scope, with the emphasis on the mechanical arts, and the illustrations, which have been supplied mainly by engineering firms of standing, will be found very useful. The multiplicity of subjects and the necessarily limited space will doubtless invite some adverse criticism concerning lack of balance; but what may be important to the engineer or 'wireless' expert may be of little interest to the chemist, and vice versa. A primary consideration is that first things should be placed first, and in this respect there is little to cavil at in the present work; only a few slips and omissions have been noticed. The definition given of permeability refers only to gaseous diffusion: electric and magnetic permeability are not mentioned. The Baume hydrometer is defined as a scale for measuring the density of a liquid. The chief use of ammonium sulphate, namely, as a fertilizer, is not given, nor is the use of urea in the manufacture of plastics. The uses of so many chemical products for so many purposes suggest that there is scope for a separate publication on this subject. It would be compendious and need constant revision, but it would be a boon to many manufacturers and industrialists; and it would form a useful companion volume to the present work of reference.
Illustrated Technical Dictionary
Maxim
Newmark
Containing Standard Technical Definitions of Current Terms in the Applied Sciences, Graphic and Industrial Arts, and Mechanical Trades; including Air Navigation, Meteorology, Shipbuílding, Synthetics and Plastics; with Illustrations, Technical Data and Interconversion Tables. Edited by. Pp. xii + 352. (New York: Philosophical Library, Inc., 1944.) 5 dollars.
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T., E. Illustrated Technical Dictionary. Nature 154, 193 (1944). https://doi.org/10.1038/154193a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/154193a0