BOOK REVIEWS plet action rts in this presentation. Remarks on specificity and chemical taxonomy indicate this author has missed some literature. I n this and other aspects of a fast-moving field the hook is inevitably dated. For the general reader, it would have been helpful t,o have a eoneluding chapter to summarize and integrate the interpretations within ibs pages. This is however too much to expert a t this stage in our knowledge or, rat,her, ignorance. The henefits that are most likely to accrue to students seeking orientat,ion are in the way of vigorous intellectus1 exercise in a simificant asoect of modern hiochemistry and possible intensive inspiration of a. few individuals t,o pursue one or more of the many intellectual stimuli. Perhaps one of these will bring our knowledge of sequence of units in nucleic acids to the point now attained for sequences of amino acid residues in protein molecules. When that day arrives, understanding of the coding process should be much surer. This reviewer is struck by one of the necessarily many kinds of omission. Kone of the experts included seem very seriously to consider the notion of a eontribvtion by protein molecules to internal control of amino acid sequence. Instead they virtudly all rely in their premises on nucleic acid, which takes on the suthoritv of an outside rteent. Is it heritage of authoritarian, or even supernaturturalistic, preconceptions from which science emerges only slowly?
SIDNEY W. FOX Florida Slate lTnzuemity Tallahasree Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry. Volume 13
Edited by Melville L. Woljmn and R. Stumt Tipson. Academic Press, Inc.. New York, 1958. xi 386 pp. Tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $11.
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This volume continues a series of v-ellwritten authoritative articles a-hich summarize and modernize diverse aapects of the carbohydrates. Those who have used previous volumes will alno find much of value and interest in the present volume as well. The editors have selected topics ranging from theoretical to applied. Organic, biological m.u industrial aspects are considered, The chapters and authors are ns follows: Formation and Cleavage of the Oxygen Ring in Sugars, by F. Shsfizadeh; The Lobry de Bruyn-Alberda van Eckenstein Transformation, by John C. Speck, Jr.; The Formazsn Reaction in Carhohydratte Res~arch,by L. Mester; The FourCarhon Saccharinic Acids, by James D. Crom; The Methyl Ethers of Z-Amino-2Drony Sugars, by Roger W. Jeanloz; Glycosyl Ureides, by Irving Goodman; The Nonulossminic Acids, by F. Zilliken (Continued on page A71B)
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BOOK REVIEWS and M. W. Whitehouse; Polyaaccharide Hydrocolloids of Commerce, by Leonard StoloR; Alkaline Degradation of Palysaccharides, by Roy L. Whistler and J. N. BeMiUer; and Starch Nitrat,e, hy George V. Caesar. The volume is intrw doced by an obituary of Carl Neuherg, hy F. F. Nord. Many of these review go far beyond tho scope implied in the t,itle. In no case are the articles mere summaries of avnilahle literature; to the contrary the authors have t,nlwn confiiderable pains to provide rrit,icnl art,icles, which are readable and understandable without a great deal of background in carbohydrate chemistry. This feature will be a relief to the refugee from revie~rs written in telegraphic, itRst,ract, or onoaentenee-in-the-reviexv-toeach-paper-reviewed styles too common these days. The working carbohydrate chemist, or teacher of carbohydrate chemistry, . . hiochemistry, or organic chemistry will not,ire the impact of modern organic chemistry in the carbohydrate field. Organic reaction mechanisms and modern stereochemistry (molecular conformstions, etr.) are increasingly heing invoked to correlate and interpret the behavior of carhohydrates. Thc paper, printing, and binding are good, and only a few errors (typographical nr ot,hmwisrl were aouarent (I am sonsitive to misprints, because in one volume my name read "Fench" instead of "French"). The authors and editors deserve t,hanks from the many who will wclcome and use this latest valumr of "Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry." ~
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DEXTER FRENCII Iowa Slate College A nrrs Rocket Propellants
F'rancis A . Warren, Southwest Research Institute. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New Yark, 1958. viii 218 pp. Figs. 16.5 X 23.5 em. $6.50.
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The trcmcndoue growth in number and size of rockets and missiles in recent years and the stress on research leading t,o space flight has provoked in the minds of most people an interest in and an awareness of t,he science of rocket propulsion. Roeognising the need for more information on the nature of propellants and their uses, the author has produced a hook intended for the newcomers in the field. The author describes in simple language the naturc and characteristics of liquid and solid propellnnts, their manufaebwe and processing, and the parti(:ula14p import,ant subject of safety. Significant rlevelopmmts in rocket propellants w e not omitting refol.enees to who have made outstanding contributions, their association, and their accomplishments. The t ~ c a t m e n tof the future of propellants is most commendable and offers opportunities for exciting speeulnt,ion on space flight. The test contains a number of simply e r e c u t ~ dhut (Continzmd on page A71C)
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