cal properties of some of the cyclohexanones follows (such tables are usually omitted in other portions of the book). The remainder of the sub-section is devoted to a description of the properties of the individual ketones, some of which have been mentimed in the table. Copious literature references are given. Sub-section (. 8 ) follows the same " eeneral order (Ring ketones of the cyclohcrenes). N u r e extensive tahlec are occaiionnlly usrd to advantage in sttmmmioinr: the names, formulac, and proprrties of membrrs of :r r l ~ i s(a;, ~ O Texampl~.the cnrcltenuidr and the anthocyanines). The amount of material is far more than would be indicated by the number of pages (six hundred fifty-six), because of the use of comparatively fine print (I 0-point in discussions, 8-point in purely descriptive matter, both modern face). While this has the decided advantage of making a compact reference book, it has the disadvantage of being somewhat more difficult to read than the ordinary text. Nevertheless, this volume, and the others of the series, are excellent, and it is to be regretted that it has not been found possible to establish a lower selling price, so that the book might receive the wider distribution that it deserves. F. W. BERGSTROM UNIVBBSITY STANRORD STANPOPDUN,"B.SITY, C*LI.O.N**
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BIOCHEMISTRY FOR MEDICALSTUDENTS.Willinm V a l e Thorps, M.A. (Cantab.). Ph.D. (Lond.), Reader in Chemical Physiology University of Birmingham. William Wood & Co., Baltimore, Md., 1938. viii 4- 457 pp. 14 X 20 cm. $4.50. This book is designed to be complementary to physiology textbooks; consequently emphasis is laid on the purely chemical aspects of biochemistry. A few subjects, such as respiration, are excluded and others, such as the chemistry of blood caagulation and regulation of blood pH, are only very briefly discussed. since they a m usually taken up in detail in physiology textbooks. More than the usual emphasis for biochemistry textbooks is placed on the principles of nutrition and foodstuff composition. The physico-chemical aspects of biochemistry are discussed very clearly and in considerable detail. The chemistry of digestion, absorption, and metabolism is especially well correlated. The book, as a whole, is well written, and it should prove t o he a valuable addition to biochemistry textbooks. However. in usine " this hook as a textbook. it would seem necesjory to wock in close assoriation with the phy.iiology tearhers lor, othemise, some important subjects, surh as the rherni\try of respiration, and so forth, may not receive the empharis which they rightfully demand,
PHYSICOCHEMICAL EXPERIMENTS. Robert Liuingslon, Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry, University of Minnesota. The Mamillan Company, New York, 19.39. vii 257 pp. 70 figs. 14 X 21 cm. $2.25. This is a laboratory manual intended for use in a course in physical chemistry. It includes an introductory chapter on Measurements, Errors, and Computations, and forty-one experiments grouped into sixteen chapters. The chapter headings and the number of experiments under each are as follows: "The Gaseous State" (three), "The Liquid State" (two), "The Solid State" (two). "The Structure of Atoms" (one). Proo, .. "Phvsical erties ahd Molecular Constitution" (one), "Solutions" (fiv;), "Thermochemistry" (two), "Equilibrium" (one), "Heterogeneous Equilibrium" (six), "Chemical Kinetics" (five), "Electrical Conductance" (three), "Equilibria Involving Ions" (three), "Electromotive Force" (four), "Electrolysis and Polarization" (one), "Photochemistry" (one), and "The Colloidal State" (one). The appendix includes a table of atomic weights and a four-place logarithm table.
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I t can he stated a t once that this is an excellent book for which widespread popularity can be predicted. The introductory chapter (fifty pages long) contains a treatment of error theory which is unusually complete for an elementary text. At the beginning of each experiment just enough theoretical background is given to orient the student with respect t o the nature and significance of the work to be done. The directions are clear and concise and they are accompanied by informative figures which are carefully drawn While the student is referred most frequently to MacDougall's PwsrcAL CHEMISTRY, this manual can undoubtedly be used with any standard text on . phvsical chemis. try. In several cases two technics are described for measuring the same orooertv. Far examole. both the ovcnometer and the references to hooks and papers in the literature. The application of the polarimeter, the Abbe refractometer, and a color comparator are described as analytical aids, and there is a good section on the preparation and use of a thermocouple. On the other side of the ledger a few blemishes, of various degrees of significance, must be recorded. The student will be confused by the use on page 5 of the same symbol (T) for time and temperature. On the same page the perfect gas law is given as P V = R T and R T is assigned the dimensions of energy. while on page 23, P V = nRT. I n the diagram of a Beckmann thermometer on page 94 the letters designating the parts referred to in the text have been omitted. Of more importance is the fact that in the determination of surface tensions of solutions by the drop weight method (stalagmameter) a rate of flow of twenty drops a minute is suggested. It has been shown that this is much too fast a rate and that for^ even fairly accurate values the flow of liquid into the pendant drop just before its detachment should be very slow. No mention is made of the factor worked out by Harkins and Brown, although without it large errors may occur. I n this experiment a plot of surface tension against mol fraction is d r a m . I t would be interesting to the student to carry his work one step further and use his data with the Gibbs adsorption equation to obtain a quantitative measure of the amount of adsorption. A few of the experiments do not harmonize well with their chapter headings. For example, under the heading "The Structure of Atoms" there is one experiment on the radioactive decay law, which says nothing a b u t the structure of atoms. Similarly under the chapter heading "Physical Properties and Molecular Constitution" there is one experiment on the visual determination of the absorption band of a colored solute-scarcely typical of an experiment on molecular constitution. The chapter on "The Colloidal State" includes one experiment on the adsorption of acetic acid by charcoal. I n marked contrast. the experiments on reaction kinetics and electromotive force cover these topics particularly well. With all these paints in mind the reviewer feels that the merits of this book far outweigh its defects. I t is heartily recommended. E.J . R o s s m a u ~ THB UNNERSITY om C ~ C A O O cnrclco, ILLINors
CHE~~ICAL ANALYSISFOR MEDICALSTUDENTS,QUALITATIVE AND VoLuMEmrc. R. E. Illinguorth, Lecturer in Chemistry. School of Medicine of the Royal Colleges, Edinburgh, with a foreword by G. Burger. William Wood and Co., Baltimore. Md., 1938. xii 151 pp. 12 X 19 cm. $1.50. The author states that the subject matter selected has been determined largely by the syllabus of the Edinburgh Medical Schools. The subject matter has been divided into three parts and an appendix. Part I, "Qualitative Inorganic Analysis," contains a brief theoretical discussion, a list of reactions of most of the more familiar metals and of seven anions. A scheme of analysis is
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