men& for a scientific notebook. This is a11 to the good, for this course is not primarily for new laboratory techniques but for use of measurements and estimation of error. The authors encourage this attitude. They do give a bit more advice than some may think beneficial on methods of calculation and the errors involved in each experiment. This is not, however, so extended that the student escapes the need for careful thought on hi8 report. Each experiment begins with references t o several texts. There are brief discussions of theory, and aome of the experiments end with suggested modifications, notes of special difficnlties or ideas for additional experiment. The hook is clearly written and attractively printed.
of the normal ranges of values for each determination is given a t the end of Part I, and the normal values are repeated in the discussion of each determination. Several pertinent references are given a t the end of each chapter, and many helpful and encornaging suggestions and comments are included. The index appears to be adequate. Although the determinations described are those which are most often needed, in the opinion of this reviewer the essential procedures for gastric analysis and possibly for basal metabolic rate should have been included. The book seems to be remarkably free from ambiguities and errors. Although the error may not he large for dilute
cammerciall;a~aiiable azeotropic solution of ethyl alcohol contains 95.5% alcohol by weight, dilutions made by considering this as a volume percentage are significantly in error. In the opinion of this reviewer the CLINICAL CHEMISTRY:~PRINCIPLE~ term "milligrams per cent" should not be AND PROCEDURES perpetuated as m acceptable unit. I t is obviously incorrect and is only slightly Joseph S. Annino, Clinical Chemist, easier t o use than the correct term, Massachusetts Memorial Hospitals, Boston. "milligrams per 100 ml." The statement Massachusetts. Little, Brown and Comthat a protein-free blood filtrate will keep pany. Boston, 1956. ui 280 pages. indefinitely seems questionable, as the ex1 5 figs. 11 tables. 16 X 25.5 cm. perience of this reviewer has been tbat the $7.50. solution will support the growth of microorganisms even in a refrigerator. THISbook is designed to meet the need Finally, the policy of recommending a for adequately trained technicians in method which requires the use of a clinical laboratories by providing not only particular make of instrument lessens the the essential techniques for the mmt usefulness of the hook. The Baird flame important clinical determination8 hut a180 photometer may be superior to other the essence of the principles necessary to a n instruments, as the author states, but understanding of the methods and objecmany laboratories have flame photome tives of quantitative analysis. I n the ters of other manufacture which funcwords of the author, "the hook is intion quite well. Similarly, the digitonin tended to fill the gap between the 'cookmethod for cholesterol, although admitbooks,' which present only the mechanics tedly mare precise and significant in of the methods, and the theoretical texb certain instances. is so lcnethv and labohooks, which do not include many practical rious tbat a aim& meth&, such as the explanations of mechanical details.'' FeCIa-Ha01procedure of Zlatkis, Zak, and Part I, approximately 25% of the text, Boyle, might well have been included. consists of a brief discussion of the principles, apparatus, and general techGORDON H. PRITHAM niques of aquantitative analysis; Part 11 TEE PENNSYLVANIA ST&T. UNIYEBBTTY describes in detail the procedures for U ~ ~ v n a s rPARE, m PENIBYLVANIA determining the concentrations of a p proximately 30 ions or compounds in ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMICAL blood, wine, or cerebrospinal fluid and for TECHNOLOGY. VOLUME 15. WAXES performing eight tests of the functioning TO ZYMOSTEROL, INDEX of certain organs such as the liver and kidneys. Edited by R. E. Kirk end D. F. Othmer, In general, the organization and content respectively Professors of Chemistry and of this book are well suited t o the stated Chemical Engineering at the Polytechnic objectives. The presentations of the Institute of Brooklyn. Assistant Editors: principles of photometry (colorimetry) in Janet D. Scott and Anthony Standen. Chapter I1 and of flame photometry in Interscience Encyclopedia, Inc., New Chapter VII are especially thorough and York, 1956. xiv 936 pp. 19 X 27 cm. clear, and the many detailed examples of Subscription price $25 per volume; single volumetric procedures and calculations in volumes, $30 each. Chapter I I I should be helpful to the person with little or no training in this E. C. T. is now complete from Absca iield. Fiber to Zymosterol. Not only is the k t Each of the chaptersin Part 11,Methods, complete, but Volume 15 also gives a comconsists of an introductory summary of the plete subject index in which the first analytical and biological principles and/or entry is not abaca, hut A acid, to which two precautions involved in the determinareferences are given. Of the 936 pages in tion, the stepby-step preaeritation of the this volume, 313 are devoted to text method or methods recommended by the material and 620 t o a comprehensive author (including detailed instructions for index containing approximately 50,000 the preparation of reagents), and a d i e eutriea. cussion of the physiological and pathologiThe inorganic chemist will be interested cal significance of the results. A tahle in zinc and zirconium, their alloys and WILLIAM 5. OUENTHER
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compounds. The analytical and physical chemists have a comprehensive section on X-ray analysis. The biochemist will seek out the sections on yeasts and zein. The chemical engineer will he interested in weighing and proportioning, and in welding. The volume scores heavily in technology: waxes, weed killers, whitening agents, wire, wood, wool, wool grease, xanthene dyes, xanthic acid, and xanthates. What of the future of E. C. T.? Is i t to grow old on the shelf? Not a t all! Even now the editors are a t work on a supplement volume which will deal with subjects in which there have been important developments since the original articles appeared. Some entries are: computers in ohemieal technology, and steroids with cortical hormone activity. The editors promise this volume by late 1957.
Interscience Publishers, as well as Editors Kirk and Othmer, and Assistant Editors Scott and Standen, deserve the thanks of the chemical industry, chemists, and chemical engineers everywhere for making available to them this wealth of information on chemical technology. KENNETH A. KOBE
UN~VER 0. ~T I E~ X ~*~ .~D.TIN, T E X * ~
ELECTROCHEMICAL AFFINITY: SrUDlES IN ELECTROCHEMICAL THERMODYNAMICS AND KINETICS Pierre Von Rysselberghe, Professor of Chemistry, University of Oregon. Actualitbs Sdentifique et Industrielles 1237. Hermann et Cie.. Paris, 1955. 109 pp., 10 figs. 16.5 x 25 om. 1250 Francs.
THIS monograph, witten by a member of the International Committee on Electrochemical Thermodynamics and Kinetics, consists of an introduction and five parts: I. Theory of Galvanic and Electrolytic Cells. Reversibility. Irreversibility due to the Joule Effect; 11. Theory of Electrodes. Reversible and Irreversible Electrodes. Pola~iaation. Over potentials; 111. Simultaneous Half-reactions a t the Same Electrode; IV. Some Aspects of Electrochemical Kinetics; and V. Thrrmo~I~
