BOOK REVIEWS
CHEMISTRY FOR SANITARY ENGINEERS, by
Clair N. Sawyer. 367 pages, diagrams,
6 X 9 in. New York, McGraw-Hill Book
Co., hlc., 1960. Price, $9.50.
Books on the subjects not already over-
written are always welcomed for filling the
gap. Chemistryfor Sanitary Engineers fills a
vital need but its acceptance will not be based
on this alone. Dr. Sawyer, one of sanitary
engineering's foremost scientists, has prepared
a readable, concise text for the student and a
handy reference for the professional engineer
and plant operator.
Except for advanced degree candidates,
there is little opportunity for undergraduates
in the field to obtain training in all the vari-
ous chemical subjects so integral to sanitary
engineering. This book serves to effect such
coverage. It is divided into two parts: the
first nilm chapters summarize the basic priuci-
ples of such topics as biochemistry, radio-
chemistry and colloidal chemistry; the next
24 chapters are devoted to various sanitary
chemical tests for water, industrial waste
water, and sewage. The experienced sanitary
chemist will find these sections to be compli-
mentary to the A S T M Manual on Industrial
Water and the Standard Methods. Actual ana-
lyrical procedures are not presented but the
ilnportance of the test, the physical-chemlcal
or biological principles behind the methods,
and the applications are described. The clar-
ity of the presentation on pH, acidity, and
alkalinity merits review of these flmdamental
but frequently misunderstood relationships by
the experienced engineer as well as the stu-
dent. The description of the role of nitrogen
is another example of well developed but easy-
to-follow presentation.
There are relatively few references. Future
editions might be enhanced by addition of up-
to-date bibliographies for use by the advanced
student or practicing engineer, lustrumental
chemical analytical procedures such as those
employing visual and infrared spectrographic
and chromatographic methods might also be
included. Their applications, especially in
research work, are becoming more important
in the field.
In this reviewer's opinion, Chemistry for
Sanitary Engineers will be a worthwhile ad-
dition to the library of those in the fields of
water or waste treatment, water-slde corrosion
or sewage treatment.
ROBERT A. BAKER
The Franklin Institute Laboratories
DIGITAL AND SAMPLED-DATA CONTROL SYS-
TEMS, by Julius T. Tou. 631 pages, dia-
grams, 6 X 9 in. New York, McGraw-Hill
Book Co., Inc., 1959. Price, $15.00.
This excellent book is an important accession
to the few books on sampled-data control
systems recently published. It will be useful
both as a text book and as a reference.
Most of the chapters begiu with an iutro-
duction, giving the reader some idea of what
to expect. A conclusion at the end of many
chapters emphasizes the main points pre-
anted. The chapter arrangement is extremely
logical, and the material within the chapters
shows much more than just casual organiza-
tion. The writing is clear and concise and
sufficient tables and diagrams are included to
enhance presentation greatly.
The first two chapters are of introductory
nature. The use of root locus for design
of continuous systems has been skillfully
expounded.
The next four chapters deal with system
analysis. The theory and application of both
Z and modified Z transform methods are given
thorough treatment. System design, error
analysis, statistical method, and finite sam-
piing are covered in the remaining three
chapters.
Multirate sampled systems are discussed.
One chapter is devoted to the description of
the analog-digital conversion principle. Ny-
quist and Bode plots as well as root locus
method in sampled-data systems have also
been appropriately presented.
Many problems given in the appendix are
extremely helpful to all students. A ready
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