346
JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
numrruus vornpsrirwu with the ur;agr of rhc eurrwparrding gramrnntirhl formri in the h:uglish linpmp;~,probably r u make up for the c~plnro;ttior~r thur ~wuldhe suimlwd bv the tpnrlm. This occasi&ally becomes cumbersome,-& in thk discussion of negsr tive sentences in lesson 20,and still more in the discussion of the Russian alphabet with which a part of the introductory chapter and the first two lessons are concerned. Accordingly, the book is longer than it would have been if the author had had in mind primarily elassroom use. Desirable grammatical features of this book are: the early and repeated presentation of the effect of suffixesand prefixes in vocabulary building, although this is illustrated with verbs only; a good treatment of words cognate to English; and a justifiable stress on the significanceof participles in the language of science. The declensions and conjugations, both regular and irregular, are outlined in a manner that will help the student to acquaint himself with these forms and to refer to them later. On the other hand, one cannot agree with the extent of emphsr sis placed on some forms; e. g., the passive mood and verbs that have the ending of reflexives (sya) but are not always actually reflexive. The comment on page 58 stating that verbs of nan-Russian origin having a single infinitive may be regarded as ineompletely assimilated into the Russian language leaves out of aecount the fact that there are purely Russian words whioh similarly can be used in both the imperfective and perfective aspects (for instance, issledouatl-to investigate). The success of this book will be, above all, a function of the interest in the Russian scientific literature. Even those who believe that, for practical reasons, s textbook of Russian for scientists should be limited to graded reading material with suitable voeabulary-building exercises (with references to grammatical rules given in a separate text) will acknowledge that this book will materially help to satisfy this interest. J. G. TOLPIN
0
PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF SPECTROCHEMCAL ANALYSIS
Norman H. Nachtrieb, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Institute for the Study of Metals, The University of Chicago. McGrawHill Book Co.. Inc., New York, 19SO. x 324 pp. 170 figs. 33 tables. 16 X 24 em. $4.50.
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chemical analyses. Precipitation, extraction, fire assay, and electrolytic concentration of trace elements are described. The reviewer feels that this book will be a h e text for classes in spectrochemical analysis. It is well written and the choice of material is excellent. The student who has mastered its contents will have a gmd grasp of the field, together with enough basic theory to attack new problems intelligently. In parts it'is too meager in experimentd details but this lack can be readily supplied in supplementary lectures. The only omission that the reviewer notes is lack of a description of the "flame photometer," but this is not serious since enough discussion is given of the Lundegardh flame method to acquaint one with the general principles of flame excitation.
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VOLUME VIIl
VITAMINS AND HORMONES.
Edited by Robert S. Harris, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Kenneth V. Thimann, Harvard Univer~ty. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1950. d 342 pp. 37 figs. 54 tables. 15 X 23.5 cm. $6.80.
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As I N the earlier volumes of these truly useful reviews the eantributors are eminently well prepared to discuss their several subjects. The first essay is by Theodore F. Zucker and Lois M. Zucker and deals with the " a n i d protein factor" and vitamin BU in animal nutrition. While mostly treating of recent work in this field, the discussion also includes the background of the subject. The nutritional significance of cobalt a8 found in BIB is discussed. A subject that has been rather neglected in biochemical review periodicals, "Pyridoxine and fat metabolism," is presented by Henry Sherman. This relationship, he shows, is clearly demonstrated but not vet understood. W. J. van ~ a h e n d o n kand R. Wulaen contribute a review of work, both their own extensive researches and those of others, on the antistiffness factor required by guinea pigs. The data presented and the accompanying illustrations make a oanvincing case for the existence of this factor. Apperently investigators who fail to demonstrate it do not correctly prepare the deficiency Aid
"Vitsmins and metabolism in nenrospora" is the subject of a review by Hershel K. Mitchell who gives an instructive picture As STATED in the intraduction, "The approach of the author to of the many research uses to which this useful and mutative his subject is that of the sndytieal chemist who is more concerned organism may be put. A short essay on the physiology of relaxin is presented by F. L. with the use of spectroscopy as a tool for the solution of certain problems in i n o r g a ~ canalysis than in the spectrograph as an Hisaw and M. X. Zarrow. The biochemistry of relaxin is briefly instrument of physical research.'' Throughout the book this treated (little is known about it); its comparative physiology approach is maintained; attention is focussed upon the chemical is extensively discussed. "Interactions between estrogens and progesterone" is the subapplications. The book is in two parts. Part I deal8 with the theory and use ject treated by R. Courier of Paris. The English translation was of the instruments of analytical spectroscopy. The descriptions prepared by A. M. and K. V. Thimann. An unusually helpful review by R. L. Stehle of McGill Uniof spectrographs, excitation sources, and densitometers are kxeellent and critical. There is a good elementary presentation of the versity treats of the posterior pituitary hormones other than diffraction of light by slits and eratines and of the ontics of ~ r i s m those acting upon the ciroulation and the secretion of urine. spectrographs. - photographs are s h i m of many 'instruments. The latter were reviewed in Volume VII of this series. The last essay of Volume VIII is by C. W. Shoppee of the The photographic process and its limitations are discussed. This is followed by an unusually clear explanation of the methods University of Wales. The subject is "Steroid configuration." used to evaluate photometric data, and the errors that may attend It is s discussion of the evidence obtained from the physical and such evaluations. A chapter is devoted to direct reading spec- chemical properties of specific steroids leading to theories of the trometers and modern instruments employing this principle, such stearic shape of the moleoules. This complex matter, always as the ARL "Quantometer." Sections on the origin of spectra, puzzling to the student not expert in this field, is presented more the meaning of spectral terms, and the excitation of spectra com- from the standpoint of the organic chemist then that of the biochemist. For this very reason it is especially useful to the plete Part I. Part I1 deals with the practice of spectrochemical analysis, biochemist. taking up separately the problems of metals, refractory maPHILIP H. MITCHELL terials, and solutions of soluble salts. The section is concluded B a o m Uw~vsnamr with a discussion of chemical separations as an aid in spectraP n o v r o ~ ~ c eREODE , ISLAND
