Identification of Pure Organic Compounds

Abstract

IN his review of Mulliken's “Identification of Pure Organic Compounds,” vol. iv., on p. 581 of NATURE of October 20, your reviewer surely does the author an injustice. Perhaps he is unacquainted with the earlier volumes, as I am, at present, with the latest—that under review. But I can testify to the great value of volumes i. and ii., and have used them regularly for the last two years. In identifying the components of commercial dyestuffs and similar work, Mulliken's methods are far less troublesome and time-expending than the classical method described by your reviewer, and aptly termed by Mulliken in his preface “the Method of the Empirical Formula.” I have never experienced failure in preparing a characteristic derivative by following Mulliken's prescriptions, working with quantities of about 1/10 gram. In fact, his beautifully neat methods for manipulating small quantities deserve to be more widely known, and, in my opinion, it is a matter for regret that your review will prevent this.