more advanced individual K. D. Berlin Oklahoma State University Stillwater. Oklahoma 74074
This excellent historical study emphasizes the continuity and development of science and presents Pasteur's work in relation to the milieu from which it sorane. .. I t could well serve as a prrm,type and m d e l fc,r historians wishing 10 analyze the nnwrrdmts and devrlupment of other scientific "hrrak-
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George B. Kauffman California Stat.? University. Fresno Frssno. California 93740
Crystals and Compounds: Molecular Structure and Composition in Nineteenthcentury France Sevrnaur H. Mauskoof. The American ~ t h o s o p h i c a l ~ociei;, Philadelphia, Penna., 1976.82pp. Index. Figs. 23.5 X 30 cm. $4.50
R. F.Dekker's and G. N. Richard'sreview "Hemieellulases: Their Occurrence, Purification, Properties, and Mode of Action" is one of the two biochemical articles in the volume. The hemieellulases are elvcanhvhb& drolases which act oll hemieellu~s~e 1950 to 1973, is that it cites only homogeneous enzyme preparations, thus eliminating deductions about enzyme activity gleaned from mixtures of enzyrires. The L-mbinases, D-galactinases, D-mannanases, and (1 3) 4) -@-D-xylanasesare systematiand (1 cally and thoroughly reviewed. J. A. Barnett's review, "The Utilization of Sugars by Yeasts" is the most readable chapter in the volume. The subject is clearly developed, with definitions and background material introduced as needed.
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Advances in carbohydrate Chemloiry and Biochemistry, Vol. 32 Edited by R. Stuart Tipson, Kensingtan, Maryland, and Derek Horton, Columbus, Ohio, Academic Press, New York, 1976. x 439pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $42.
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journal'in Amkrica (founded in 1769). ~ h k author, an Associate Professor of History a t Duke University, feels that "despite the The most recent volume of this series is enormous importance of crystallography to initiated with an obituary of William Zev madern physin and chemistry, the historyof Hassid (1899-1974), written by C. E. Ballau this subject has received relatively scanty and H. A. Barker. Zev Hassid's pidneering attention and its integration into the general investigations on carbohydrate metabolism history of physical science has not progressed a t Berkeley stretched over some three decvery far." His interest in the subject was ades. This obituary is a personal account of sparked by his study of Louis Pasteur's 1848 his life and his life's work. discovery of the enantiomorphism of sodium The shortest technical article in the volume ammonium tartrate crystals-certainly one is the "Bibliography of Crystal Structures of of the most important scientific discoveries Carbohydrates, Nucleosides, and Nucleoof the 19th century and one that eventually tides, 1974," by G. A. Jeffrey and M. Sundaralingam. The authors use essentially led to the development of stereochemistry in 1874. the same orderly format in this article as in This monograph examines the work that their orevious reviews. volumes 30 and 31 of began with the Abbe Rene Just Haiiy (1743-18221, whose molecular theory of crystal structure was the first comprehensive mathematical attempt to establish the forms crystallographic data, and selected bond of molecules through the study of crystals, angles. and culminates with Pasteur's great discov"Dithioacetals of Sugars" by J. D. Wander ery. Along the way we are treated to detailed and D. Horton is a comorehensivereview an considerations of the research and ideas of the svnthesis. reactions.'and orooerties of the scientists suchas John Dalton, Jean Baptiste de Rome de I'Isle, Louis Daubenton, Joseph Louis Proust, Claude Louis Berthollet, Wilcetals, initiated with Emil Fischer's classic liam Hyde Wollaston,.Eilhard Mitseherlieh, preparations of diethyl dithioacetals of alAndd Marie Amp&, Marc Antoine Gaudin, doses, has its origin a t the very beginning of Alexandre Eduard Baudrimont, Auguste synthetic carbohydrate chemistry. Particular Laurent, Gabriel Delafosse, Jean Baptiste attention has recently been drawn to this Biot, J6ns Jacob Berzelius, and Fredbric class of sugar derivatives because of their use Hew6 de la Provostaye. in nmr studies as model compounds in the Dr. Mauskoof maintains tliat "Pasteur's conformational analysis of the acyclic forms of monosaccharides in solution. This subject is included in a section which briefly reviews the analysis of these compounds by common action between them," and as the guiding spectroscopic methods. A lengthy table of the theme of his study he uses the idea of transpertinent physical constants of unsubstituted diction-"the inferential procedure whereby monosaceharide dithioacetals and their the properties of matter a t the level of the peracetates, with references, is included in imperceptible are elucidated by studying and the review. analyzing material properties a t the macroThe review on "Noncytatoxic, Antitumor seapie level." In reconstructing the steps Polysaccharides" by R. L. Whistler, A. A. leading to Pasteur's discovery of enanBushway, B. P. Singh, W. Nakahara, and R. tiomorphism, the author shows how crystalTokuzen does not meet the standards set by the other articles in this volume, particularly in terms of the amount of useful information orovided. Without ouestion a review on the the French scientists mentioned above. In ~ a r t i e u l a rit was Delafosse's ~rineiolethat effort in cancer chemotherapy. But this review does not give the reader a real sense of the current status of the research in this area nor does it paint to thedirection in which the to discover and understand the significance of enantiomorphism. research is going.
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Donald E. Kiely university of Aiabama h Birmingham Birmingham, Aiabama 35294
Volume 54, Number 10, October 1977 1 A431
