BOOK REVIEWS ral properties. The artirle is romprehsnsive and is n small monoeraoh in itself (104 pp.), and should prove an invnloahle s m m e ni inforrnatiun t o those active in the ~~
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Methods in Carbohydrate Chemistry. Volume 1 . Analysis a n d Preparation of Sugars Edited hy Ror, L. Whistlw, Pordue University, Laiayette, Indiana, and .W. L. W ~ l f i o mOhio , State University, Calurnhus. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1962. xxii 580 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $20.
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This book is designed t o provide t,hc carbohydrate expert with n useful compilation oi methods and to provide the nonsrmialist with sn opinion as t o the best and most usdul methods a v d a h l e . Ilctailed preparations, reartions and ansl?sas arc presented as the best examples from tho volutninons inndamontxl literat,nro. Section 1, ( h e r d Methods, is subdivided into Carbohydrate Laboratory Technirlues and Chromatography. Seetion 2, Monosxccharides, contains dircetions for the preparation of various trimcs, tetroses, pentoses, hexoses, h e p toses, deoxy sugars, amino sugars, Iranched-chain suga:nrs14,C-labolcd sugars and inososes. Seet,ion3, Oligosareharides, is sub-divided int,o r e d ~ ~ c i nand g non-rodueing digosaceharides. The remaining sections me: 4, Analyses; 5, Color ltcactions of Carbohydrates; and 6, Physical Measurements. There are O i contributors to this volume
preparalive methods will require consultntim of literature references iar starting products. Literature references and cruss rcicrenecs within the volume m e most adoqn;tte. I n such an amhitious undertaking thcrc m e bound t o hr omissions. The impartimre of these omissions, however, will he vari~usb.judged according t o thr particular interest nf the users. A iew t,rqira not included which rwne t o mind are: 2-krto-heptonie acid, neuraminlac.tme, milk oli~ossecharides, phosphate estrm, use of thin layer ohn,matography, and a disenssiun oi hydrolytic conditions necessary for tho quantitative analysis ni glycosidicsllg-hound monosaccharides. This volume hill he of partieulnr aid t o individuals actively working in the laborntory in a variety of disciplines ~ v h odeal t o a great or small extent ~ ~ i aarhot h hydrates. The appearance of subsequent volumes in this series, Volume 2, R e x tions; Volumc 3, Cellulose; Volume 4,
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BOOK REVIEWS Starch; and Volume 5, Gencral Polysacehmides, will he anxiously aaaited.
R.H.M C C L ~ R Ohio State L:nioersztg Columbus
Fourcroy:
Chemist a n d Revolutionary
W . A. Smeaton, University College, London. Printed for t,he author by H e f i r and Sons, Ltd.. Cambridge, I9fi2. rxi 2% pp. 14.5 X 22 rm. Ofi.
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The firmament of chemical histur.~is studded with luminaries not uf the first magnitude but whose work a n s an essential fartor in the growth of our srience. Usuxlly these men are not favored as suhjects esrept by biographers in their own cnuntry. Those who are partirnlarly int,ere~tedin the human side of chemistry are eepcridly grateful when an account such as this appears in Ihglish so that all ran learn about the life and work uf one af these men. Though A. F. de Foorcroy (li55-IRO!I) wss roughly ronternporaneoos with Lsvoisier (1743-941, and though buthlived in Paris throughoat their lives, Foureroy'n life was uneventful in rompilrison with the dramatic happenings whirh marked I,avoisier8s career. Foureroy had to make his living as a poorly-paid lerturer and author of hooks, which, though u,idely read, artually brought in but little rash. His position improved when he later was appointed t o high government pmts, but he was never more than comfr,rtahl>-well "If. Thongtl he was trained in njedirine, his career as n prartieing physirian was brief; however, he was oriented toward the hiologiral srienres by this professional eduration. lMurh of his rcsenrrh dealt, with animal and vegetable chemistry, and he was s. v ~ l u e dcivil servant in matters eonwrned with public health and hygiene. While still a student he showed remarkable ability to lecture an chemistry and allied fields and i t was not long before he wns giving private courses as a means of livelihood. I n time his reputation grew; he was apprinted professor at the Jardin du Roi and in due course was rerognized as t,he uutstanding lecturer in rhe~nistry in all of Franre. Fouwroy was active in the A r a d h i e des Srienres from his elertion in 178.5 llnlil 1793 when i t was suppressed. Together with Lnvnisier, du Morve:tu, :md Rerthollet,, he developed a new ehelnival numew dnt,ure whirll was introdured in liX7 mid still serves as the basis a i our arodem chemiral language. He joined with 1,svrisier and others in the founding (liX!I) of the Annaks de Chinde, whirh is still appearing and henee is the ddest of our chemical periodicals. He was one of the early converts t o the anti-phlogistir thewy of combustion and his "Principes de rhimie" (17%) was the first tertl,ook if
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