The Chemistry of Anesthesia. John Adriani. 536 pages. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, 111., 1946. Price $7.00. J. HIS book should be literally a "bible" to those who are interested in the chemis try of anesthesia. Every person who has anything to do with anesthetic and allied drugs or their use will find much of great value in it. A good working knowledge of chemistry is necessary for the proper use of anesthetic agents and this volume has correlated most of the available useful information. It is unfortunate that in Chapter X V I I there is no mention of Intocostrin, the purified aqueous extract of curare, which during the past few years has become recognized as a valuable ad junct in anesthesia. The book is divided into three parts, the first having to do with the inorganic phases of chemistry related to anesthesia; the second is essentially the chemistry of depressant drugs; and the third deals with the biochemical aspects of anesthesia and is devoted to chemical changes in tissues induced by the adminis tration of anesthetic drugs to man and animals. T w o sentences on page 327 may well sum up the whole book; "narcosis is a deviation from normal function. If one is to explain the deviation from the normal, should he not first understand fully the normal." T o know anesthesia one has to know among other things "the chemistry of anesthesia". The publisher has done his work well and there are few typographical errors. The bibliography is extensive and properly classified. There is an extremely useful glossary and appendix. This book fills a real need. L. H. WRIGHT
White Versus Brown Flour. F. L. Dunlap. 267 pages. Wallace and Tiernan Co., Inc., Agents for NovadelAgene Corp., Newark, N. J. 1945. Complimentary. 1>I UTRiTiONAL and economic issues im plied by the title of this book have been the subject of controversy for over a century. Probably no staple food has received more attention than flour, and it is also probable that there have been more speculation and unsupported conjecture poured into such discussions than in the instance of most foods. In fact, the virtues loosely attrib uted to certain types of "brown" flours became the basis for cults which were evolved around some of these assumptions. During extensive and protracted wars
702
the type and quantity of flour included in civilian ratios became an acute problem. Adequate nutrition, both quantitative and qualitative, is one of the major factors of strategy. We now find ourselves mov ing into a period when the pattern of flour and bread production can be evolved on a more rational basis than is possible under the stress of war conditions. Dr. Dunlap's presentation of the properties of different types of flour, "white" and "brown", be comes very useful in that connection. H e has included data related to nutritional characteristics of these several sorts of flour, including biological values, amino acids, enrichment with vitamins and min erals, the significance of phytic acid and its salts in the m tabolism of calcium, and observations on mass feeding. I n each section of this book D r . Dunlap has quoted extensively from the literature, presenting pros and cons of controversial issues. In this manner a useful accumula tion of data and discussion has resulted which should be of considerable service to critical students of this subject. The docu ment assists in pointing the way toward a rational appraisal of the value of different types of flour in human nutrition, and to practices that may be followed in improv ing flour and bread from the nutritive standpoint. C. H.
Their Derivations" (C. J . Carr and J. C . Kranz, Jr.); "The Chemistry of t h e Nucleic Acids" (R. S. Tipson); , 4 The Fractionation of Starch" (T. J. Schoch) ; "Preparation and Properties of Starch Esters" (R. L. Whistler); "Cellulose Esters of Organic Acids'"' (0. R. Fordyce); "A Discussion of Methods of Value in Research on Plant Polyuronides" ( E . Anderson and L. Sands). The editors have achieved their inten tion to have critical, integrated reviews rather than mere literature surveys. T h e value of the book is further increased by the fact that the articles are intelligible t o the average chemist rather than only to t h e specialist. The "Advances" may well be expected to become in the future o u r standard reference volumes and summaries of carbohydrate researches. The book will be of genuine value n o t only to carbohydrate chemists, but also to those engaged in related fields, whether scientific or industrial. The theoretical work will be suggestive t o workers in allied pursuits who possess t h e ability to trans pose it to their own problems. The first volume of t h e "Advances" is one of high merit and t h e editors should be encouraged in their further work which is of distinct value to t h e chemical profes sion. ROBERT S. A R I E S
Science and Scientists i n the Netherlands Indies. Pieter Honig and Frans Verdoorii, editors, xxiv -f 491 pages. Board for the Netherlands Indies, Surinam, and Curacao, of N e w York City, 10 Rockefeller Plaza, N e w York 20, N . Y., 1945. Price, S4.00.
BAILEY
Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry. Vol. I . W. W. Pigman and M. L. Wolfrom, editors. 374 pages. Aca demic Press, Inc., 125 East 23rd St., New York, N . Y., 1945. Price, §6.00. I N this book, which is the first of a pro jected series of annual volumes under the same title, thirteen research workers have presented us with critical reviews of special topics in the broad field of the carbohy drates, including the sugars, polysac charides, and glucosides. It deals with the subject mainly from the scientific and theoretical standpoint and constitutes an exhaustive and up-to-date treatise of the extensive scientific work donvB on this subject. The scope of the book can be seen from topics treated: "The Fischer Cyanohydrin Synthesis and the Configurations of Higher Carbon Sugars and Alcohols" (C. S. Hudson); "The Altrose Group of Substances" (N. K. Richtmyer); "Carbo hydrate Orthoesters" (Ε. Pascu); "Thioand Seleno-Sugars" (A. L. Raymond); "The Carbohydrate Components of Car diac Glycosides" (R. C. Elderfield); "Metabolism of the Sugar Alcohols and
CHEMICAL
W E who live in w h a t a r e commonly designated "civilized" countries are often astonished to find t h a t regions we con sider savage have equaled or bested u s in some purely civilized pursuit. T h e pres ent volume presents material to cause such astonishment regarding the Dutch pos sessions in the East Indies which have been so much in the news of recent years. Clearly the development of the sciences in these once remote islands belies any thought that they are peopled solely by lovely dancers, uncouth savages, and otiose planters. Necessarily the volume describes conditions as they existed before the Japanese invasion of 1942, since i t is even yet difficult to learn its effects except in general and in a few areas. But in spite of this obvious handicap, the volume presents an impressive picture of those features of the islands which are permanent and unchanging, as well as of the scientists and scientific organizations that had grown up and existed there prior to World War II. All of the facets of the vast territory covered are considered and described as seen through the eyes of scientists. The resulting picture presents the possibilities of future industrial development and of
AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
HIS oxidized cellulose is prepared by oxi dation of cotton cellulose by ΝΓ204.* It is a powerful cation absorber; the absorption of sodium ions from sodium chloride solutions is nearly quantitative. It is easily hydrolized by acid or basic media and is depolymerized by
T
heat and moisture. Samples in research quanti ties in powder form will be supplied on request· *Yackel and Kenyon, Journal of The Chemical Society, 64,121 (1942J.
American
New Text la
(Subsidiary of Eastman Kodak Company) KtNGSPORT, TENNESSEE
VOLUME
2 4, N O .
5
MARCH
10,
194(5
703
BEYOND
Τ II Ε
F L Y L Ε A F =
scientific study latent in these isles of rubber, quinine, and spice. Although the editors deny a n y intention of presenting an encyclopedia, they have very nearly succeeded in doing so and have compiled a work of greatest value t o everyone in terested in t h e products or t h e develop ment of the East Indies. It might even excite and attract as immigrants many of that keen-minded sort, who would delight in promoting t h e development of resources now latent.
encourage and assist English-speaking chemists interested i n learning to read chemical Russian is appearing in the Journal of Chemical Education under the title "Chemical Russian, Self-Taught".
D . H . KlLIiEFFER
Summer 1946
Atomic Energy in W a r and Peace. Gessner G. Hawley and Sigmund W. Leifson, 211 pages. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, Ν . Y . , 1945. Price, $2.50. T H I S small book o n a vital subject be gins with a popular account of atoms and molecules as known before t h e war, with particular reference t o explosives and t o atomic energy. It continues with an ac count of t h e various laboratories and plants which made u p t h e Atomic Energy Project, and concludes with a brief look ahead a t the coming era of atomic energy. The book consists of a large number of short sections, well chosen a s t o subject matter and arrangement, and illustrated with a number of diagrams and photo graphs. M a n y human interest touches are included. T h e book is well printed and attractive in appearance. Admittedly, however, this is a "quickie". I t s general standard of ac curacy is t h a t of t h e lower levels of news paper science. Although a real effort is made t o g e t down t o scientific "brass tacks", there are, unfortunately, a good many major errors and seriously mislead ing passages, and a multitude of minor ones, in the statement of scientific facts and principles and even on nonscientific matters. This is alike true with respect to prewar science, wartime developments, and forecasts of t h e future. T h e latter part of the book might be described as a garbled summary of t h e Smyth report. This book sets out t o do for the nonscientific public a j o b for which t h e need is urgent, but i n the reviewer's opinion does not do it well enough t o merit t h e atten tion of m a n y readers. In its broad out lines it m a y be useful, but any readerawho takes it seriously i s likely t o become con fused, and will acquire a large amount of misinformation. R . S. M U L L I K E N
Russian,
Since m a n y English-speaking chemists believe t h a t the Russian chemical litera ture confronts them with an unsolvable language problem, a series of papers t o
704
Defluorination
phate.
o f Superphos
E. J. F o x , W . L- H I L L , Κ. D .
JACOB, AND D . S. R E Y N O L D S
Microscopic Studies of Lyogels.
ERNST
A. H A U S E R AND D . S. LE B E A U
Boiling Points of Three Isomeric H e p tanes.
FRANK S. F A W C E T T
Effect of Freezing R a t e o n Vegetables.
Suggestions a s to Study Methods The Vocabulary Prob lem Russian Inorganic Chemical Nomencla ture Russian Organic Chemi cal Nomenclature Notes on Russian Grammar Glossary of Russian Technical Terms of Special Interest t o Chemists
F. A. L E E , W. A . J O A N N E WHITCOMBE
Aug. 1944
GORTNER, AND
Changes in Color of Dehydrated Eggs dur
Jan. 1946
ing Storage.
H . J. D U T T O N AND B . G.
EDWARDS
Spring 1946
Summer 1946
Specific Heats of Vegetable Oils from 0° t o 2 8 0 ° C. P A U L Ε . C L A R K , C . R. W A L D E L A N D , A N D R O B E R T P. C R O S S
Linseed Proteins.
A. K. SMITH, V . L.
JOHNSEN, AND A . C . B E C K E L
March Fall 1946
A collected reprint of these papers is planned for t h e fall of 1946, a t an esti mated cost of S 1.50. Orders should be placed with t h e Chemical Education Pub lishing Co., 20th and Northampton Sts., Easton, P a .
Analytical
Edition
Contents of t h e March Edition of Industrial and Chemistry are:
Analytical Engineering
Determination of Boiling Range of Chlori nated
Hydrocarbons.
DWIGHT
WIL
LIAMS
Amperometric Titration o f Mercaptans with Silver Nitrate. I. M. KOLTHOFF AND W . E. HARRIS
Determination of Tungsten i n Silicate Rocks.
March Industrial
Edition
T h e contents of the March Industrial Engineering Chemistry include :
and
Ε . Β. SANDELL
Equations of Thixotropic Breakdown for Rotational Viscometer. AND
HENRY G R E E N
RUTH N. WELTMANN
Measurement and Analysis of Small-Angle X - R a y Scattering. * M. H. JELLINEK, E R N E S T SOLOMON, AND I . FANKUCHEN
T e n t h Unit Process Symposium: Removal of Chlorine and G u m Formers from Alkylates.
R O B E R T G. H A L D E -
MAN AND WILLIAM A. P A R D E E
Monomercuration of Aromatic Hydro carbons. Toluene. A L L E N J. BARDTJHN A N D K E N N E T H A. K O B E Paracymene. T H O M A S F . DOTJMANI AND K E N N E T H A. K O B E
Vapor-Phase Nitration of Neopentane
Polarographic
Determination
aldehyde. PHILIP EMILE RUTNER
Determination
J.
of
Acet-
ELVING
AND
of Beryllium
in Ores.
M A R Y H . FLETCHER, CHARLES W H I T E , AND M I L T O N S. SHEFTEL
E.
Determination of Inorganic Phosphorus in Plant Materials. W . A. P O N S , J R . , AND J O H N D . G U T H R I E
Quantitative Determination of Ergosterol, Cholesterol, and 7-Dehydrocholesterol.
A. P. H O W E AND
FRANCES W. L A M B , ALEXANDER M U E L LER, AND GEORGE W. B E A C H
Hydrolysis and Isomerization of Chlorotoluenes to m-Cresol. R. N O R R I S
Most Economic Sampling for Chemical
and Neohexane. H. R. H A S S
SHREVE AND C H A R L E S J. M A R S E L
Hydrocarbon
Azeotropes
of
Benzene.
R O B E R T F . MARSCHN/ER A N D W E N D E L L P . CROPPER
Empirical Equation for Theoretical Mini mum Reflux. E D W A R D G. AND C H A R L E S F. M O N T R O S S
SCHEIBEL
Thermal Evidence of Crystallinity in Linear Polymers. W . O. B A K E R A N D C S. F U L L E R
Weathering of Soft Vulcanized Rubber. J A M E S C R A B T R E B A N D A. R . K E M P
The
System
Ammonium
monia-Water.
Nitrate-Am
J. F . SHTJLTZ A N D G. V.
ELMORE
Hydrolysis and Catalytic Oxidation of Cellulosic Materials. R. F . NICKERSON AND J. A. H A B R L E
Volumetric Behavior of 1-Butene.
R. H .
O L D S , B. H . S A G E , A N D W . N . L A C E Y
Structure and Plasticity of Undried Cot t o n Fibers. EARL THOMAS K E R R
Chemical Self-Taixght
Thermal
Chemical Propellants.
E. BERKLEY AND
FREDERICK B E L
LINGER, H . B. F R I E D M A N , W . H . B A U E R , J. W. E A S T E S , A N D W. C. B U L L
Vapor Pressure-Temperature Nomographs. S A M U E L Β . LIPPINCOTT A N D M A R G A R E T M. LYMAN
Storage of Dried Fruit.
E . R . STADTMAN,
H . A. B A R K E R , VICTORIA H A A S , Ε . Μ . M R A K , A N D G. M A C K I N N E Y
CHEMICAL
Analysis.
C. W E S T CHURCHMAN
New Method for Determination of Man ganese. J A M E S J. L I N G A N E AND R O B E R T KARPLUS
Fractional Separation o f Hafnium and Zirconium by Means o f Triethylphosphate. HOBART HARRY FREUND
Determination
H.
WILLARD
AND
of Tocopherol in Plant
Tissue. MONROE WARD G. KELLEY
E.
W A L L ANTD E D
Method of Evaluating Metal Cleaners. SAMUEL SPRING, H O W A R D I . F O R M A N , AND LOUISE F . P E A L E
Fluorometric Attachment for Beckman Spectrophotometer. M A R T H. F L E T CHER, CHARLES E . W H I T E , AND M I L T O N S. SHEFTEL
Microchemistry Spectrophotometric Determination of .Traces of Nickel. O . R. ALEXANDER, E D I T H M. GODAJR, A N D N". J. L I N D E
Amperometric Microtitration o f Very Dilute Chromate Solutions. I. M . KOLTHOFF AND D . R . M A Y
Rapid Estimation of Rubber in Guayule Latex Dispersions. R. T . WHITTENBERGER AND B . A. B R I C E
Modified All-Dithizone ^Method for Determination of Traces of Copper. S. L. M O R R I S O N A N D H A R R I E T PAIGE
L.
N o t e s on Analytical Procedures
AND ENGINEERING
NEWS
