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titled Careers far Tomorrow. While some of the possibilities which are sueeested mav seem fantastic. others are auite within
man or young woman of tc-day." DOROTHY W. GIFFORD LINCOLN SOXOOL P R U I I D ~ RAODE C E . ISI.AND
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THE PHYSICS OF EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
H. I. I. Braddick, Senior Lecturer, University of Manohester. 404 pp. IllusJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1954. nr trated. 14 X 22.5 cm. $7.
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ITIS a commonplace that the data of physical science are largely obtained from carefully controlled experiments. It is therefore all the more surprising that modern booka on general experimental techniques in physics as distinct from the usual hboratory instruction manuals are very rare. The volume under review fills the gap in admirable fashion. To quote the author, the purpose is "to direct attention to those branches of physics which are important in the planning and execution of experiments in physical research." Considerable attention is paid to the principles of physical experiment, presently available resources, and the fundamental limitations of contemporary techniques. The hook is thus by no means merely a collection of useful laboratory arts and recipes. Among the unusual features in s book of this kind is the thorough treatment of errors of measurement, the discussion of general principles of the design of apparatus to achieve the maximum efficiency in measurement, a detailed presentation of
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optics, and nuclear ph;sics, come in for adequate sttention: Here the author evidentlv consulted his own interests to a oon-
niques discussed. The volume is written in a clear and straightforward style with the needs of the average advanced student in mind. I t should a.. ~ ~ e. aindeed, l, to the wider circle of all those who use ~ h w i c a l equipment in their investigations. The references could-have been made more useful bv" emolavine . . , - the initials of the names of the authorities cited. A more complete index would also render the book more velushle for reference. ~
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PRINCIPLES OF BIOCHEMISTRY
Abraham White, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Philip Handler, Duke University School of Medicine, Emil L. Smith, University of Utah College of Medicine, and DeWitt Stettern, Jr., National Institutes cd Health. McGraw-HiU Book Company, Inc., New York, 1954. xii 1117 pp. 135 figs. 100 tables. 16 X 2 3 cm. $15.
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THE growing number of comprehensive textbooks in hiochemistry receives an important addition as four authorities combine their abilities t o ~ r o d u c ethis new ~ublication. Each author is a well known conkbutor to fundamental research, and three are currently teachers. Their great individual resources take on added significance in this teamwork. The hook follows s. neatly Logical development with its 50 chap-
ters falling into parts as follows: I, Chemical Composition of Cells; 11, Catalysis; 111, Metabolism; IV, Body Fluids; V, Biochemistry of Specialized Tissues; VI, Biochemistry of Endocrine Glands; VII, Nutrition. Generally biochemistry texts have devoted special sections, usually a t the beginning, to a discussion of the physical-chemical principles to he used in the presentation of material. This book shows a refreshing and useful departure from this procedure by presenting the necessary discussion of physical chemistry within the framework of the text. The writers ssy: "It has been theexperience of the authors that the interest of the student is much greater when particular chemical concepts are illustrated with a biological or biochemical principle close a t hand." About one-third of "Principles of Biochemistry" is taken up with cneyme systems and intermediary metabolism. Since these represent by far the currently most productive facet of the discipline, the emphasis is correct. I t is also fortunate that, of the well written text, these two sections containing the most difficult 211111 important rnstmsl nrc thr lwst iutudlrd. The Imok will tind it8 niJr=t xl,plirixtiun in medical P I ~ > o o ~ ? . T l r ~fit4d uf hiorhrmistrv is ro lma.1 :1nJ ever-erosinc - that the best one can hope t o do in a course for medical students is to permit them a "brush" with the subject. "Principles of Biochemistry" is an excellent text for this purpose, though it would be foolhardy to expect that any preclinieal student will be able, in the time allotted, to comprehend and retain all of this or any other 1100 pages of solid information. ELIOT F. BEACH M ~ ~ n o ~ o f i Lrm mmI~saamc COMPAYY ~ NEW Y o ~ KN.. Y.
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LEHRBUCH DER ORGANISCHEN CHEMIE. BAND I, ERSTE HALFTE: KOHLENWASSERSTOFFE, HALOGEN UND SAUERSTOET VERBINDUNGEN
Friedrich Klages, Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Munich. Walter de Gruyter & Co., Berlin, 1952. x.r 531 pp. 17.5 X 24.5 cm. DM 68.
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THIS is the first unit of a substantial work under four covers, others being Volume I, Part 2, nitrogen, ~ulfur,etc., compounds; Volume 11, history and modern theory; and finally Volume 111, special topics-dyes, carbohydrates, eto. Volume I, Part 1, already in print, opens with a 57-page chapter on fundamental principles. The presence here of such items as hydrolysis of esters, orgsnic free radicals, cssbonium ions, etc., before the first paragraph on systematic study of methane, ethane, etc., leads one to infer that the German user of the book will have already studied elementary organic chemistry in the fashion of a first-class European secondary school. Advanced modern organic theory is left for a distinct compartment of the work, Volume 11. Aside from the two theoretical portions of the "Lehrbuch," the principal part of the publication is a well written exposition of standard, systematic organic chemistry. Unlike classical German treatises, however, in this work d i ~ h a t i and c aromatic chemistry are unified, chapter by chapter. he author considers this unionta be essential in a modern treatment of the subject, hut many American teachers will not agree with this premise. While aliphatic and aromatic material may have been fused, modern theory and systematic organic chemistry are still largely separate. Segregation of theory from the systematic material provokes the comment that current organic texts, English and American as well ss the "Lehrbuch," are in a primitive stage, suggestive of the inorganic textbook of ahout 1900. The author of that early ere would leave a short mace in the middle of his factual presentation, and take time off'for a chapter dealing with new ideas on "ions," credited to one Arrhenius. This done, be returned to the main job, straight inorganic chemistry, and finished the hook. Following, in one sense, the inorganic pattern, one m y regard
