11. ELECTRO~GNETISM PHYSICS,VOLUME TEE LYOPUILICC O L L O ~(THEIR S THEORYAND PTL~CTICE). THEORRTICAL AND OPTICS. W. Wilron. F.R.S... Hildred Carlile Professor Martin H. Fischer, Professor of Physiology in the Uniwrsity - ~ ~ of ~- ~ Physics in the University of London, Bedford College. Meof Cincinnati, and Marion 0. Hooker, Research Associate in Physiology in the University of Cincinnati. Charles C. thuen and Co., Ltd., London; E. P. Dutton & Co., New York City, 1933. xi 315 pp. 78 Figs. 14 X 23 cm. $5.75. Thomas, Springkld, Ill., and Baltimore, Md., 1933. viii 246 pp. 84 Figs. 16 X 23.5cm. $4.50postpaid. This volume is the second of three written with the intention The book is divided into three parts, consisting of 170 pages on "of presenting physical theory as a coherent logical unity." the general nature of the lyophilic colloids. 15 pages on chemical The topics discussed are electromagnetic theory, the electron ontics.. and ohvsical ootics. Unapplications, and 48 pages an biological applications. A hihliog- theorv of matter.. eeometrical " raphy of 20 articles by the senior author and collaharators is fortunately thc treatment is nrithcr logicnl nor unified. The argument is generally loose and frequently spurious. appended. With the exception of t w o frapnmts mentioned in the section This is in no sense a general textbook, hut is frankly a summary of these previous articles. The tone of the hook is argumentative on electron theory, "microscopic" electrodynamics is entirely rather than explanatory. The general line of the argument is ignored. The fundamental quantities of the theory as dethat the transformation from a sol to a gel involves an inversion veloped are electric and magnetic charge density, specific indncof phases, this inversion being favored by a lowering of tem- tive capacity, and magnetic permeability. ( I t is not suggested peratwe or by an increase in the concentration of almost any that the magnetism of matter might be accounted for in terms of added electrolyte. The argument is supported by analogies be- the motion of intra-atomic electric charge.) In consequence, that tween the sects of these conditions on the lyophilic colloids part of the book which deals with electromagnetic theory is and on systems of two mutually soluble liquids, such as phenol valueless to the modern scientist. The section on electron theory presents the rudiments of a and water, and quinolin and water. The colloids discussed include soaps, gelatin, casein, silicic acid, heavy metal soaps, theory of dispersip and of scattering by free electrons, and a greases, paints, and protoplasm. Many of the analogies seem calculation of the variation of the mass of an electron with rather far-fetched, such as that between lyophilic colloids and velmity which is not consistent with the rest of the theory. The formulas of geometrical optics are not deduced from those concentrated sulfuric acid. In the biological section the authors reiterate their previous of the electromagnetic theory. Their foundation is left unideas that a cell membrane is a figment of the imagination, and specified. The section an physical optics is without distinction. that the osmotic concept of the cell is totally inadequate. Water absorption by protoplasm is considered to he wholly a matter of imbibition by wlloids, by analogy with the behavior of fibrin in electrolyte solutions. The authors seem to be particularly THE SUB-ATOIIS. WiJ4ium Mayo Vcnablc, Consulting Engineer to Blaw-Knox Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. The Williams & Wilkins scornful of the work of those who have attempted to apply the Co.. Baltimore. 1933. viii 148 pp. 1 F i g . 15 X 23 cm. laws of physical chemistry to colloids or to protoplasm. The $2.00. mnclusions of these "dilute solution chemists" are characterized as "fantasies." The character of the hook is probably best described by the This book cannot be recommended to students in general on writer himself in the following quotation taken from his preface. account of its one-sided viewpoint. The facts reported may "Those who do not wish Newtonian mechanics to he successpossibly deserve the consideration of advanced workers who are ful may find this book annoying, the writer ignorant of 'estabtrying to formulate general theories of colloidal behavior. lished principles' of modern physics, and not qualified by trainDAVIDI. HITCHCOCK ing to consider, much less to discuss, such matters. Such men YALm UllIVBBSmY wish to start with the assumption that atoms are not composed Nsw H m s n , CONN. of perticles, in the sense that Newton used the word, and the ASYMXETRIC SYNTRESIS AND A S Y ~ ~ ~ ~ E INDUCTION. TRIC St. word is understood by ordinary men. They wish something Andrews University Publication No. XXXVI. Polrick D. sacrosanct in the structure of matter which onlv the matheRitchic, B.Sc., Ph.D. Oxford University Press, New York matically initiated can profcss to understand. They are intolerant of the intellect of the urdimry man. The writer of this book 155 pp. 13.5 X 21.5 cm. $2.75. City. 1933. ix does nut deny his ignorance ur boast of hii qualifications. The This hook is based on Dr. Ritchie's doctorate thesis, and con- claim of this work to a hearing is not based upon such considerasists of a fairly thorough review of the previous work on the tions. Regardless of their origin, the ideas here presented are above subjects, as well as a detailed account of the recent work entitled to the consideration of all leading physicists because of of McKenzie on the induced asymmetry of alpha ketonic esters. the injustice and folly of setting aside without adequate trial The subject is one of considerable interest, and the author's the ideas of the greatest mathematical physicist the world has presentation of his material is clear and well organized. yet seen, Isaac Newton, as inapplicable in the field which he The synthesis of optically active compounds from symmetrical himself most hoped that they would ultimately come to damimolecules, through the use of other optically active compounds nate." as directing agents, is a well-known type of reaction, although for Mr. Venahle apparently believes that Planck's theory of achieving enantiomorphic purity of yield in these reactions, energy quanta, Bohr's views on the origin of spectral lines, the chemist is still inferior to the enzyme. On the other hand, the Rutherford-Soddy theory of radioactive disintegration, and absolute asymmetric synthesis, through the use of physical Einstein's theory of relativity-to mention only the high spots directing agents such as circularly polarized light, has been the in the progress of physical science during the past thirty yearsgoal of many unsuccessful experiments, and has been achieved are all completely in error. If this he so, the reviewer would preonly in the recent work of Knhn. The account of these re- fer to maintain the "error of his wavs" in the COmDanV of such searches should be of great interest to the average reader. distinguished leaders than attain salvation by trying to underIn his discussion of asymmetric induction, the author sheds stand the theory of "sub-atoms" which Mr. \'enable has evolvcd his impartiality and pleads a case. His arguments for the in- out of the physics of 1890. duced asymmetry of the carbonyl group, while probably not enWhile science has always welcomed criticism of its theories and tirely convincing t o opponents of the idea, are certainly worthy radical suggestions, to overcome difficulties in the interpretation of consideration. On the whole, the book should arouse interest of observations, it has been universally recognized that such in a field of research that promises to shed considerable light on criticism and new suggestions should stand the test of logical the problems of intramolecular structure. reasoning and should therefore be as consistent as possible both in themselves and with the facts which they seek t o "explain." While the author's purpose is to develop, on the basis of New~
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