VOL.9. No. 11
RECENT
growth of this industry the authors have rendered a distinct service. H. K. BENSON U ~ l v s n s r r vor.w*snrworox s e * m e , WAS".
Annual Review of Biochemistry. Volume 1. JAMES MURRAY LUCK,Editor, Stanford University. Stanford University Press, Stanford University. California. 724 pp. 15 X 22 cm. 1932. vii 15.00.
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The literature of the natural sciences has gmwn so fast in recent years as a rcsult of productive research in all fields of scientific activity that most of us find ourselves buried today in the midst of technical and scientific journals. New publications are being created yearly to meet the demand of specialists. I n fact. science has become so specialized that researchers and teachers find themselves ~uhmerged in an accumulating pile of scientific papers, and a5 a result it is now absolutely impossible t o keep abreast of the times. One is practically compelled under present-day conditions to restrict his reading very closely t o the confines of his own special field of work. Furthermore, as science progresses there is no indication that this condition will be greatly improved in the futwe. Ror these reasons any reliable contribution of the character of the one under review is welcomed by every worker in science. It is an extensive survey of a rapidly expanding field of scientific activity covering many border lines of human interest, and the review s w e s as a scientific clearing house, so to speak, for the mijrdination of the results of the many researches in biochemistry. The most significant contributions to the various subjects discussed have been reported by authors who have made important contributions, and have been distinguished for the character of their personal researches. While it is to be expected in such a review, covering so extensive a line of activities, that some omissions might be detected, the attention has been centered
BOOKS
2007
largely upon selected topics considered of major importance and significance, and it is the opinion of the reviewer that the survey is sufficiently comprehensive to properly cover the major lines of work. Some idea of the scope of the work reviewed by the different collaborators is indicated by the following list of subjects discussed: permeability, biological oxidations and reductions, enzymes, chemistry of fats, lipins and sterols, amino acids and ' pmteins, metabolism of sulfur and phosphorus, carbohydrates and glycosides, nutrition, vitamins, hormones, chemistry of muscle, liver, and bile, the brain and nerves, animal and plant pigments, ternenes, saponins, chemistry of bacteria, immuno-chemistry,and biachemistryof fungi. The review has been made possible by the advice and eoijpeperation of a group of workers in this country and abroad. Acknowledgment is made in the preface of the book of a generous subsidy covering three years of the Review bv Mr. Francis Garvan and The chemicai Foundation, and also for financial assistance from Dr. Richard J. Block. All the contributions are a Ksponse to a wide request for help and the editors have experienced difficulty i' in restricting their review t o its present size. While such spontaneous coaperation is admirable, it does not seem necessary or practical to devote so much space yearly to such a review number. There is great danger here of duplication of effort. Biochemistry and organic ehemistry are today so closely interlocked that many items in the present review might well have been omitted and more completely discussed in a review of organic chemistry. For example, the chapter by Professor H. Fischer and II. W. Neumann does not do justice to a development in organic synthesis which is recognized as a classic contribution in organic chemistry. The chapter by Professors Karrer and Helfenstein on plant pigments is another ease and is strictly a report of a development in pure organic chemistry, and does not necessarily find its true place in a biochemical review.
2008
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
One of the most valuable featwes of the hook h the extensive compilation of literature references cited a t the end of each chapter of the hook. These citations are very complete and mast helpful for all future workers. The review as a whole is well written, neatly printed, and should find a place in every library where biachemical research is being promoted. T. B. JOHNSON YILB UNIVERSITY
New H*VBN,CONN.
Chemical Encyclopaedia. C. T. KmcZETT, F.I.C., F.C.S. Fifth edition. D. Van Nostrand Co., New York City, 1014 pp. 15 X 22 cm. 1932. viii $10.00.
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In his endeavor t o keep abreast with the times the author hasexpanded his "Chemical Encyclopiedia" t o include nearly 1200 new words not found in the fourth edition, and has enlarged i t by more than 200 pages. The work contains many rare words not found in the ordinam chemical dictionary such as; nitrozan, necoi plastic wood, kokaseki, nelrtrons, ucuku6a mi, etc., togethe with a number of less common and recently coined trade names such as: "Nitrapo," "Feculose," "Kynazite," "Mianin," "Okmal," "Persil," etc. On the other hand one will look in vain for more common chemical terms, such as; neosalvarsan, atomic hydrogen flame, cementite, pearlite, hydral, Jones redudor, carbamic acid, biwet, phptin, dcuta, cicutoxin, fluosilieic acid, sulfoninm, arsonium, etc. The book contains no illustrations, about 10 tables, large and small, per 100 pages, and almost no graphic formulas. Estimating that the book lists sin thousand words, only four thousand of these are given any definition or description a t the place listed. The remaining two thousand appear in the alphabetical tabulation by name only, together with reference to some other word or periodical under which the word sought will eventually be found if time and patience is avail-
NOVBMBER, 1932
able to read through pages of extraneous matter till the term is encountered. To illustrate: Look up the word Centigrade. Under this word we find: See Heat. On the fifth page under Heat we find the Centigrade scale described. Then again, look for Coal Tar. Under this we find see Coal and Tar. Turn to Coal and read twelve pages before coal tar is incidentally mentioned, after which it becomes necessary to read the article on Tar as well. Following are a few words as listed, but which the reviewer feels should have heen accorded descriptions in the places located: CyandationSee Ores (The Cyanide Process), Gas-See Coke Ovens, G e i s S e e Colloid Chemistty and Gelatin, Carbon B h c k S e e Carbon, Aldhoses ( s i c ) S e e Carbohydrates, HalogensSee Elements, Alkaline Earth MetalsSee Bases, BoraxSee Boron, Ceramics"Pertaining to P o t t e r y S e e paper on Grogg," etc., ChrcoaLuSee M. S. Shah on Comhustion of Charcoal, J. C. S. 1929," Acid EggsSee Data Sheets. Some erroneous or very unusual statements are found in the hook, for example: Kelp, "the ashesof h u n t seaweeds containiy: sodium carbonate," etc. Acidic, "In a modern view of electrons, acids are bodies which can part with a proton t o bases." Water, "According to Armstrong (H. E.) water is a saturated solution of hydrone (OH*) a t all temperatures." Silicic Acid (Si(H0J). The formula is erroneous and meta silicic acid (H.Si03 not given. Hydrodcs, "A termreserved for the compounds containing the group OH, e. g., KHO and AI(OH)a." It is quite comman t o find the hydronyl gmup written HO. What about CIHaOH and CIHEOH? When the salts o f a certain element like sodium are listed under that element, no alphabetical order is foliowed either with respect t o name or formula; for example, sodium sulfocyanide comes before chlorate, and that before silico fluoride, and that before aluminate, etc. The reviewer feels that any work meriting the name Encyclopedia should treat.
