A TEXTBOOK of BACTERIOLOGY and its APPLICATIONS.

By Professor Curtis M. Hilliard '09, of Simmons College, Boston. Ginn & Company.

The author of a textbook has in mind a certain group of students for whom he writes the book and from the preface of "A Textbook of Bacteriology and Its Applications," it is evident that Professor Hilliard has in mind the beginning rather than the advanced student. There are many textbooks of bac- teriology already published, some written in a popularly elementary and others in a very profound style. It must be difficult to produce a book that occupies a happy medium position, but to my mind the author has been especially successful in this because of the interesting way in which the material is presented. The book should stimulate the student to want to know more about the science.

The book may be divided into three general sections other than chapter headings. The first section—the introduction—is the history of bacteriology and its relation to other sciences. This . material is supplemented in Appendix A by two pages of dates giving the chronological development of the science and showing incidentally how recent is bacteriology as we know it.

The next section of five or six chapters (part of which was written by Mrs. Foster) deals with the method of study of bacteria and can be used as supplementing directions for laboratory work. Appendix B and C contain details of technique—standard methods and formulae much as found in other laboratory manuals.

The major portion of the book consists of chapters showing the application of bacteriology to fermentation, soil fertility, milk, water, food-stuffs and the relation of bacteria to various diseases, and outlines in a relatively non-technical manner the theory of the way that the body protects itself against microbial invasion.

The general scheme of the book is not unique for you will find much of the material and plan in other textbooks. However, the book appeals to me, and I think should appeal to the young student, as it carries along interest from one section to the next and gives the reader a brief but clear presentation of the general field of bacteriology.

The editor has just learned that in February 1928 the Century Company published "The Sunny Side of Asia" by Richard Maurice Elliott '10.

This interesting volume of travel is illustrated with photographs of Asia.