ern plant practice. The text abounds in errors which must be attributed to the original manuscript rather than to inadequate proofreading. I n English composition it is very poor. W A L ~C. R PRESTON THEPROCTEP. & GAUQI.H CO. IVORIDALH, OQlO
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Textbook of Organic Chemistry. ]OSEPH S. CHAMBERLAIN, Ph.D., Professor of Organic Chemistry, Ivhssachusetts Agricultural College. Second edition revised. P. Blakiston's Son & Co., 1012 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pema., 1928. axx 901 pp. 22 X 1 5 m . $4.00.
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The first edition of this book appeared in 1921. I n the present edition there are two new features: "A list of study questions and problems a t the end of each chapter, and references to laboratory preparations cited in Appendix 11, p. 847," for substances described in the text. The book is an excellent one for the beginner, as the author has been lavish in the use of graphical formulas and tables, and the explanations are in general good. The table of contents gives a real picture of the material covered in the book, taking up as it does some thirty pages. There is considerable evidence of re-writing and revision throughout, and nearly all for the better. The list of references for the laboratory has been verified and represents a good selection of laboratory experiments. The study questions are well chosen and free from ambiguity; they will serve as an excellent means of verifying the student's mastery of the subject matter. Some teachers of organic chemistry may not approve of the order in which the various groups are taken up, the alcohols being considered only after the amines, phosphines, arsines, nitrites, nitro compounds, and metallic derivatives. The reviewer does not feel that this order is a particularly desirable one. The chapters on proteins and carbohydrates are well presented and interesting. Es-
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pecially commendable is the chapter an diazo compounds. Some of the omissions and m n , on the other hand, are rather surprising There is no particular advantage evident in the mention of certain clinical laboratory tests in a b w k of this kind especially when the methods given are rather out of date. This applies in particular t o the old Folin-Shaffer method for uric acid (page 420), and the Doremus method for urea (both page 408). Neither of these methods is in wide use a t present, the methods of Benedict and Franks, or Folin and Wu for uric acid and the various modificationsor the urease method for urea having been in use for some years. The Hapkins-Cole reaction does not "show the presence of protein" (page 397), but only those proteins which contain the tryptophane group. I t would have been better to discuss the lactamlactim forms of uric acid with the main discussion of that substance (page 416), instead of leaving this important phenomepon until the end of the book (page 819). The boofhas no formal presentation of the history of organic chemism but there is plenty of information of this kind dispersed throughout the text with the discussion of historically interesting compounds, and the great names in the development of organic chemistry have not been neglected. No mention is made of the Cannizarro reaction by name, and the reaction is shown only for benzaldehyde. I n the discussion of the aldol reaction no explanation of the mechanism is given, no mention of labile hydrogen which is decidedly helpful t o the student in understanding the large number of reactions that can be treated in the same category. It is stated (page 609) that "benzaldehyde in its general reactions is like all aldehydes." I t is, accordingly, no wonder- that students are surprised to find that benzaldehyde does not reduce Fehling's solution. I n the opinion of the reviewer, the subject of stereochrmistry is given inadequate treatment.
The Thiele theory of partial valences is equipment of the laboratory, and denot mentioned, nor is the C m - B r o w n scription, care, and use of instruments rule t o be found in the index as such. are excellent, and the illustrations well As described in page 475, the student chosen. The descriptions of methods is required t o memorize two lists of radi- of analysis are concise, dear, and devoid cals. The general and equally reliable of unnecessary verbiage. If followed Vorlander modification of Crum-Brawn's rigorously, and with the necessary skill, dependable results will ensue. Certain rule has been also omitted. I n view of the present wide use of the quinhydrone modifications in technic which have met electrode and the Clarke and Lnbs series favor are omitted, but that is a matter of substituted sulfone phthaleins as of author's judgment and user's choice. indicators, the reviewer would like t o The careful inclusion of calculation have seen these substances included in a formulas will be very welcome to those bwk as comprehensive as this one, not sufficiently accustomed t o the arithrather than some of the less important metical manipulation of analytical data. In a book so replete with data and tables, compounds mentioned. The book is well printed on good paper. i t is excusable that some errors should The author and publishers are t o be appear and even statements that the congratulated an the excellence of the author on further consideration would proofreading as the book is remarkably modify. free from typographical errors. From a chemical standpoint, the Despite the faults found the reviewer theoretical chapters do not assume on enioved reading the book and he has no the part of the reader much mastery of . hesitation in recommending it as a fundamental science, without which any teachable text sure t o be of value t o both discussion of physiological and pathologistudents and teachers of organic chem- cal processes must be incomplete. Many istry. of his readers, not thus equipped, will L. C. MACTAVI~K rejoice at this, and will be satisfied with the general theories and facts presented. Where opinions in interpretation differ, the presentation is fair and reference t o Blood and Urine Chemistry. R. B. H. literature generous. Inspiration t o furGRAOWOHL, M.D., Director of the ther reading and deeper study should Gradwohl Laboratories, St. Louis, Mo. result. and I. E. Gradwohl, A.B., Instructor in the Gradwohl School of Laboratory Technic, St. Louis, Mo. C. V. Moshy Company, 3523-25 Pine Blvd., St. Louis. m e A B C of Hydrogen Ion Control. Mo., 1928. 542 pp. 117 illustrations W. A. TAYWR, Ph.D., Chemical Director. The LaMotte Chemical Products and 4 mlor plates. 17 X 25'14 cm. Co., Baltimore, Md. Fifth Edition, $10.00. 1929. 132 pp. 18.5 X 26.5 cm. IllusThe first sentence of the preface, t o trated. Free. the effect that the work is a textboak for ~
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laboratory workers and practitioners of medicine, invites the statement of opinion that a physician with only the usual training in chemistry should not assume the duties and responsibilities of a biological chemist, even with the help of a technician. The chapters on the installation and
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The fifth and enlarged edition of this booklet is in line with the steadily increasing numbers of practical applications of hydragen-ion measurements t o the various types of research and industrial work. The material presented is divided into five main portions: The Meaning of Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, including
