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B O O K REVIEWS as an up-to-date bibliography of developments in this area besidw tracing an outline of the tield.
Lexikon olchamirtich-phormozeutischer Symbole
Wo(igang Schneider. V d a g Chemic Gml,H., Keinheim/B~rgstrasse, TTest Germany, 1962. 140 pp. 12 X 21 cm. 14 D l 1 (%3.50). The r ~ a d e r sof alchemical treatises and thost- dealing v i t h early pharmacy have always been confronted by two high hnrdles, namely the archaic nomenclature and the cabalistic occult symbolism. Conscquently lexicons and reeding guides appeared w e n in t h e 17th and 18th centurics and such aids arc still being published from time t o time t o meet the growing interest in these precursory stages of modcrn chemistry and pharmacy. The book undrr review her" is hased on a volume of ahout 70 pages, published a t Ulm in 1755, and bearing s lengthy titlp "MedicinischChymisch-und .4lehernistisehes Orscub~m. . . ." Thp most important part of this book was a list of alchemical symbols and i t proved so useful t h a t i t mas immediately ~ r i n t e d as n supplement t o a medical lexicon hearing the name of t h e eminent physician Alhrccht Haller. A new edition of this lexicon plus t h e supplement. was brought out in l i i 2 . As stated in its foreword, t h e purpose of this "Oraculum" was to a key t o the curious expressions, ahhreviations, and mysterious symbols "which are understood by no language or generation under t h e sun." Thc present volume consists of three main parts. After an interesting Preface in which t h e post-Paracelsian development is outlined, namely change from transmutation t o the manufacture of medicaments, t,he author gives a detailed description af t h e "Oraculum" with lengthy quotations from its Preface which demonstrate the need for such a book. This Preface is then followed by a compilation of t h e symbols, arranged alphabetically according t o the corresponding Latin names of the substances and processes, and provide t h e German equivalents. This collection of symbols and their meanings is photographically reprinted and makes up Part I of the present volume. I t contains about 1700 symbols and consequently is adequate t o meet most needs. I t should be noted t h a t a single substance was frequently represented by a variety of symbols, as many as 25 in t h e case of alum, for instance. The reverse also occurred, namdy the use of one symbol for a.number of substances. Part I1 consists of a "Lexikon" containing about 250 entries arranged alphabetieally. These show what was meant by t h e ancient terms or probably understood by thcm. H w e too a single name or cx-
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BOOK REVIEWS pression might have mare than a single meaning, especially in the alchemical literature as compared u-ith t h e phannaceutical publications. The author has selected what in his opinion was the most likely interpretation. Part I11 consists of an extensive Index. I t contains all of t h ~ trrms far which symbols are given in t h e Omeulum, i.e., in Part 1. Secondly, it i n d i c a t ~ st h e items which are cxplninerl in the 1,ezikon (Part 11). I n addition it contains special designutions which, though not occurring in t h e Oraculum, nrr hripfly twnted in Part 11, hut plxycd a big role in early pharmacy and especially in nlchcmy. This list of synonyms provides much useR11 information. Anothcr excellent feature is a folding
tabulation of t h e most important symbols taken from Hagen's "Grnndriss der Experimentalchemie" (1786). I t contains the symbols in general use and will usually he sufficient for the reading of pharmitceutical-chemical works and for the interpretation of t h e lahcls on apothecary jars. A bibliography of works and papers dealing rvit,h the symbols and professional designntions is an addit,ional valuable feature. This little hook was exwedingly well planned and deserves proper attention. Though designed primarily tor the German reader, i t will aid students and teachers in other countries since i t is a. fair assumption t h a t those intsrested in alchemr and earlv pharmacy possess a t least n rending knowledge of Uermm. RALPHE. OESPER S,92'3 Ohio Avenue Cmrinnnti, 19, Ohio
Biochemical Mechanisms
Lloyd I,. Ingraham, University of California, Davis. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., S e w York, 1962. x 108 pp. 15.5 X 23.5 em. &5.i5.
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On the page following t h e title page the author quotes L. Michaelis' remarks in 1946 t o the effects t,hat enzyme chemists must hegin t o inquire into t h e chemical mechanisms hy which enzymes nark. While such inquiry was not paiticulnrly fruitful in 1946, knowledge of organic reaction mechanisms has now expanded t o t h e point where chemists can offer a reasonable mpehnnisrn for many enzyme reactions and in many instances prove t h e validity of t h e proposal. The present volume is divided into two parts. The Erst presents general mechanistic principles of organic ehemist,ry ~ ~ h i th? l e second treats specific hioehemical mechmisms. The mwhanism as known in solution chemistry is fitted lagienlly t o t h r biochemical reaction. The first part contains sections dealing with atomic orbitals, honding, and t h e ligmd field theory n-hich are too condensed t o be clear t o the average reader. Hou-ever, t h e remainder of the first part and the entire second part are r r i t t e n with great clarity and understanding. These sections are fullv illustrated with formulas and chemical equstiona which well illustrate t h e mechanisms in t h e discussion. Reactions covered arc; csterification and hydrolysis, eliminations, dccarboxylations, oxidations, condensations, alkylations, rearrsngements and some miscellanpous ones. The reviewer is wrll pleased with this book and hdievrs i t should be in t h e library of ehumist,~interested in biochemical rcaetions. ROYL. V'HISTLER P u ~ d i ~Cniiversity e Lajayelte, Indimza
Nitric Arid: Manufarturn a n d User
Frank Douglas dliles. Oxford University Press, I m d o n , 1961. ix 75 pp. Figures. 14.5 X 22 em. $1.55
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This small volume is made up of the following chapters: 1, Historical Introduction; 2, Properties and Reactions of Nitric Acid and of Oxides of Nitrogen; 3, The Production of Sitric .4cid from Ammonia; 4, I'roduetian Processes for \Teak Sitric Acid; 5, Production of Strong Sitric Aeid; 6, The Uses of Nitric Aeid. The reviewer cannot out of his own experience judge the accuracy oi the material presented with respect t o the engineering d o tails of the manufacture of nitric acid. He can only express the hope that this portion of the hook is more accurate and authoritative than is Chapter 2, entitled Properties and Reactions of Kitrie Acid and of tho Oxides of Nitrogen, which makes u p approximat~ly one-third of the book. This chapter contains a number of errors and questionnblc statements and, in general, presents an inadequate picture of modern nitric acid chemistry. Obsolete nomenclature is used throughout the text.
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