BOOKS
BEYOND T H E FLYLEAF Cell G r o w t h a n d C e l l Function: A C y t o c h e m i c a l Study. T . O. C A S P E R S S O N . 1 8 6
page-s. \V. \V. Norton & C o . , Inc., 7 0 Fifth Ave., N e w York 3, Ν . Υ. $5.00. Reviewed by F . P. CHINARD, Johns H o p kins School of Medicine, Baltimore, M d . T H I S small book reports on t h e m e t h o d s used a n d the general conclusions arrived at by t h e author a n d his collaborators in their studies of certain aspects of cellular growth, function, a n d protein metabolism. In t h e first t h r e e chapters, t h e principles of the techniques a r e described a n d a n outline is given of t h e procedures used in the estimation of proteins and nucleotides in selected portions of a single unstained cell. NJext, there are presented the results of the application of t h e procedures t o two biological problems: protein m e t a b o lism in the mitotic cycle and protein for mation in the cytoplasm of normal cells. By \va>· of contrast, results of studies of tumor cells are also given. Finalh, studies on protein formation in yeast ceils, in bacteria, a n d in some viruses a r e dis cussed. In a last section conclusions a r e given a.s to the relative roles in cytoplasmic protein formation played by t h e "nueleolus-associated chromatin," t h e nucleolus and t h e nuclear m e m b r a n e ; from t h e chemicsal standpoint it is concluded that desoxyribonucleic acids are involved in chromosome reproduction, while ribonu cleic a c i d s are involved in t h e formation of cytoplasmic proteins. The technical m a k e - u p of t h e book is excellent. Its scope a n d usefulness a r e limited : little detail is given of t h e methods, few experimental d a t a a r e p r e sented, and t h e r e is little or n o mention made o f the techniques, the results, or t h e opinions of other workers in t h e same field. However, t h e contents admirably fulfill t h e stated p u r p o s e of describing the guiding principles, t h e approach, a n d t h e results of t h e author and his school.
loidal structure, composition, and prop erties of asphalts. This aim has been ac complished to a high degree in a com pact book, free from superfluous details, which places the knowledge of asphaltic bitumen, hitherto largely empirical, upon a scientific basis. International in scope, the book sum marizes results o b t a i n e d throughout t h e world on representative types of asphalts as residual, cracked, a n d air-blown, from different types of crude oils particularly from Mexico, Venezuela, a n d Borneo. Asphaltic bitumens are discussed with r e spect t o nomenclature, chemical composi tion, colloid chemistry, physical properties, chemical reactivity, a n d properties in volved in their manufacture, testing, a n d utilization. These subjects are subdivided into numerous individual items, most of which include the theoretical or scientific background a n d practical results illustrated by typical data. T h e book contains 59 graphs, 84 tables, a n d indexes of authors a n d subjects. References to original p u b lications appear throughout t h e text. T h e book is written in an interesting yet sci entific manner and fills a need for concise, comprehensive information on asphaltic materials. It is highly r e c o m m e n d e d for individuals concerned with these materials from a scientific a n d practical standpoint.
Pneumoconiosis: Beryllium; Bauxite Fumes; C o m p e n s a t i o n . A. J. Vorwald, editor, xii 4 - 5 9 1 + 6 8 pages. Paul B. Hoeber, Inc., Medical Book D e p a r t m e n t of Harper and Brothers, N e w York. 1950. $7.50. Reviewed by L. B. BERGER, Bureau of Mines.
T H I S book is a compilation of p a p e r s a n d discussions presented at t h e sixth sym posium on pneumoconiosis sponsored b y t h e Saranac Laboratory a n d t h e T r u d e a u Foundation. T h e greater part of t h e book deals with t h e relatively n e w occupational disease attributed t o exposure to beryllium a n d its compounds. Although t h e sym The P r o p e r t i e s of Asphaltic Bitumen posium was held in 1947, t h e bibliography (Higjh Polymers, Vol. I V ) . J. P. Pfeiffer, includes 684 references to pertinent litera editor, xvi -f- 285 pages. Elsevier P u b lishing Co., Inc., 250 Fifth Ave., N e w t u r e extending t h r o u g h Jan. 1, 1950. York 1, N. Y. $6.00. Reviewed b y K. Lesser portions of t h e text are devoted to E. STANFIELJD, Bureau of Mines, D e p a r t description a n d discussion of Shaver's ment of the Interior. disease, a recent manifestation among workers exposed t o fume from bauxite EDITEE> by t h e late j . P. Pfeiffer, this furnaces, a n d to discussion of t h e status book w a s prepared in collaboration with of compensation for occupational disease, H. Eilers, J. W . A. Labout, R. N. J. Saal, as viewed by the m e d i c a l practitioner, t h e \ 1 . C. Siegmann, a n d H . VV. Slotboom, medical referee, administrators of com who a r e also associated with t h e Royal pensation law, insurers, a n d m a n a g e m e n t . Dutch/Shell Laboratory a t Amsterdam. It is base-d upon 20 years of research o n A concise history is presented of t h e asphalt i c bitumens, and full u s e is m a d e occurrence a n d recognition of t h e disease of original data. Rather than a n encyclo apparently unique among beryllium pedic work, s u c h as H. Abraham's " A s workers, and brief descriptions are given phalts a n d Allied Substances," t h e stated of the production, metallurgy, properties, object of the book is to present a mono-' a n d uses of beryllium. graph fitting into Elsevier's Polymer Discussion of t h e p h e n o m e n o n of Series, which will acquaint t h e r e a d e r "beryllium poisoning" is presented from with modern views regarding t h e col t h e standpoints of industrial exposures,
504
C H E M I C A L
epidemiology, and clinical findings as re lated to t h e acute a n d chronic or delayed forms of the disease. Results are pre sented of intensive investigation in the fields of applied medicine, physiology. pathology, toxicology, analytical, and bio chemistry. T h e chemist is challenged to provide new a n d more sensitive analytical methods, particularly for examination of biologic material. The discussion of Shaver's disease stimulates thought o n t h e effects of in halation of particulates of submicron sizes, particularly amorphous silica, and presents the problem of identifying this substance in t h e uncombined state. This book is r e c o m m e n d e d as an able presentation of results of a concerted at tack from many angles on two new and rather baffling occupational diseases. T h e discussion of the compensation situation is of decided value because of t h e diversi fied viewpoints. C e l l Physiology a n d P h a r m a c o l o g y , j . F.
D A N I E L L I . viii -f- 156 pages. Elsevier Publishing Co., I n c . , 2 5 0 Fifth Ave., New York 1, Ν. Υ . 1950. $3.00. Re viewed by H A R O L D C. H O D G E , Univer
sity of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. 1 Ν THE preface Danielli says " . . . these lectures . . . were intended to indicate some of the more important factors, on t h e cellular level, which must b e con sidered by students of drug action." Danielli's attempt has b e e n highly successful in my opinion. This little book is full of good advice; in it a well informed biolo gist talks to chemical friends. Since chem ists are frequently interested in develop ing new drugs, t h e pitfalls, biologically, are a recurrent t h e m e . O n this point, Danielli remarks that " t h e chemist's bio logical theories are a p t t o b e more sur prising than successful" b u t unfortunately the biologist's "success is frequently limited to pointing o u t errors in t h e chem ist's biological theories." Viewing t h e cell as a physicochemical unit, some of t h e factors responsible for t h e great variability of response to drugs are presented. For example, t h e interac tions of t h e cell surface or of t h e molecular surface with drug molecules is illustrated and micelle formation is offered as one of t h e controlling p h e n o m e n a . "When sufficient information is available to per mit completely quantitative treatment, it is likely that t h e system will b e so com plex that it will b e impossible to utilize this knowledge without t h e aid of elec tronic calculating machines." T h e modification of d r u g structure to provide more desirable properties is al ways a major problem. O n e of the key questions relates t o t h e ability of t h e molecule to cross m e m b r a n e s a n d " t h e permeability factor, even in t h e simple system, m a y b e involved in a relatively complicated m a n n e r . " Danielli finds it possible t o divide drugs into five groups on the basis of permeabihty a n d presents some theoretical background. Since t h e access of drugs to organs involves crossing A N D
E N G I N E E R I N G
N E W S
mm
WUfLè WVL
impWKŒAKÎMU*..
\nMJb Λ\ΚΜ)~ mum...
ê ^ I
Stokes Vacuum equipment installed in the plant ol John Morrell & Co.. meat packers. O t t u m w a , Iowa, for extensive test runs on development of new products and improvem nt of old products and methods.
T h e elimination of n o r m a l air pressure and oxidizing influences during the processing of chemicals, plastics, paints, rubber, p h a r m a c e u t i c a l s and other products results in revolutionary effects. Materials w h i c h are altered or impaired by h e a t or oxidation under atmospheric conditions c a n be processed under v a c u u m at lower temperatures, with better or different results; often w i t h less labor and usually at lower cost.
oui mtè-l out Ctofy-l
Almost every product w h i c h is affected by air invites examination of its behavior u n d e r v a c u u m . M a n y m a n u facturers—for example J o h n Morrell & Co. of O t t u m w a , Iowa—install Stokes V a c u u m equipment for extensive test r u n s calculated to result in n e w products or in the improvement of accepted products and processes. O t h e r m a n u f a c t u r e r s look to Stokes engineers for assistance in v a c u u m processing, counting on Stokes extensive experience in the v a c u u m field, on semi-plant-scale facilities to test p r o posed m e t h o d s and materials, and on Stokes recognized a u t h o r i t y in v a c u u m processing.
l·
^ V ; ! ? ^ . ί~;! ' ? : '"/ t>C/_V '**Λ / ^ r) v V;' v ^ ', > : ^ ". ; r • ' '* i ' > ( Λ ^STOKES MAKES „ f -^\ , ; ^ 4 - M uf? Plastics Molding Presses, Industrial Jabletting \
x\t
^
