PHYSIOLOGICAL CXEMISTRY, A Text-Book for Students. A. P . b f a l h s , Ph.D., Andrew Carnegie Professor of Biochemistry, University of Cincinnati. Sixth Edition. The Williams and Wilkins Co., Baltimore. 1939. xvi 14e8pp. 113 figs. 16 X 23 an. $8.00. The new edition of this well-known textbook is bigger than its predecessors, in spite of the omission of the directions for laboratory work. The larger type makes the pages more attractive. but some of the illustrations seem t o have become darkened by age. The subject matter is that which is usually taught in firstyear medical courses, with particular consideration of the mammalian body as a mechanism. The stimulating quality of the author's style has not been dulled by the passage of years. The reviewer feels that a book of this size should be, in spite of its sub-title, a useful and authoritative work of reference as well a s a text for beginners in the suhject. I t s value might have been increased by more thorough discussion of recent work, by a more systematic method of referring to the literature. and by the inclusion of a n author index. However, the hook will he adequate, if supplemented by good teaching, for its intended purpose. DAVIDI. HITCHCOCK Y u a UNrvaarwv Scnoor olr Mscncrrre
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NBWHAVBN. CYNNBE~LCUI
SYsTEMAnc QuALITAnva ORGANIC ANALYSIS. H. Middleton, Lecturer in Organic Chemistry, Bradford Technical College. Longmans. Green and Co., New York City, 1939. viii 279 pp. 14 X 22 cm. $2.50. Detailed directions are given for the rapid identification of a considerable number of organic compounds of the more common types. As the author states in the preface, "particular attention has been paid t o the requirements of pharmaceutical students, the schemes permitting of the rapid identification of the majority of the single organic compounds included in the British Pharmacopoeia." The hook is in no sense a textbook of qualitative organic analysis, explanations of the methods used being omitted entirely, hut as a laboratory manual of exercises for undergraduate students it can he recommended. WELDONG. B n o w Tea Uwrvaaslrr OF Cnmmo ca,c*oo. ILLINOIS
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T m PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS. JuZinn Ellis Mack. Assistant Pro-
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY. F. A . Philbrick, M.A.. Rugby School. G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., London, 1939. viii f 396 pp. 181 figs. 13 X 19.5 cm. 6d. Accompanied by FACTUAL TESTS IN INORGANIC CHEMISTRY,80 PP., Id.. and ANSWERSTO FACTUAL TESTS IN INORGANIC C H E M I S ~ Y11 , pp., 6d. net. both by the same author and publisher. This series of publications is designed t o aid students in preparation for examinations in the English system of higher education. The three b w k s are planned for use together, one as a textbook, one for examination, and one as a means of evaluating the accuracy of the test answers. The INORGANIC CHEMISTRY is "essentially a bbok t o learn from rather than a reference book overburdened with facts". . "This book is oRercd in the belief that a good understanding of tbe foundations of thc subject can bc imparted without giving the student more (detail) than he can carry in bis head." The book seems t o be prepared mainly for review purposes in preparation far certain examinations, earrespoudiug to our college entrance examinations or to the entrance requirements in inorganic chemistry in our medical schools. I t would perhaps be classed as intermediate between a hieh-school and a collere - text. FACTUAL. TESTS IN INORGANIC CHEMISTRYcontains a n extensivt. series of nea-style qlwrtions covering most of the factual material set forth in thr author's INOKGASIC CHCMISTR\..These questions nre almost all of the multiple choice type. The author recommends that they be used for frequent testing of progress and suggests numerous short tests which need occupy hut a few minutes both for the preparation of the answers and for the grading of the papers. I n the ANSWERS TO m s FACTUAL TESTSIN INORGANICCHEMr s m v there is a brief discussion of the object of factual tests. suggestions on how to use these tests and the answers, arranged and numbered t o accord with the questions. These hooks are admirably suited to give a good review or a rapid survey of the essential facts of modern inorganic chemistry. The descriptive matter is excellent and the viewpoint is modem. American students would find little difficulty because of the English background. To the reviewer the books seem t o he t w advanced for a high-school text and too brief for a fundamental course in college chemistry. B. S. HOPKINS U~rvansrrror I~wnors
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URBAN*. ILL~NDLS
fessor of Physics. University of Wisconsin, and Miles J . Marlin. Professor of Phvsics. Milwaukee Extension Center. Q ~ A N ~ A TANALYSIS. NE H. S. Booth and V. R. Damcrell. ~ n i v e r k t yof Wisconsin.. ~c~raw- ill Book Co., Inc., ~ e w McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York City. 1940. xi York City, 1939. xvii 586 pp. 19 X 25 cm., $5.00. 246 pp. 15 X 22 m. $2.25. The book is written as a textbook for a course in vhotopraohv. Thc text hns been built entirely around the lahoratary cxpcriIt contains a large amount of mirrllaneous infomution including mcntsas lhc topicof grcatcst importaore in quantitativeanalysis. a morr or l e s ~empirical treatment of t he parts of optics necessary There is no separate treatment of theory, hut this has been introfor pholographcrs, a discussion of camera types, a littlc about the duced by the method of small doses into the laboratory directions photograph emulsion and the latent image, development, print- wherever they apply directly. Problems have been omitted with ing, and color photography. Appendices are given which cover the explicit understanding that a separate book on calculations some of the mathematical functions and symbols, some chemistry, should be used in conjunction with the present laboratorymanual. a formulary, snd a manual of directions for various operations. Either gravimetric or volumetric analysis may he given first. For the person who has had little or no physics many sections This alternative is unusually well provided for in the treatment of this book would prave to be difficult reading. For a person of the subject matter. who ha? bad at least elementary optics and one year of college By all odds the strongest point in favor of this new text is the chemistry mast of the sections would prove interesting and in- remarkable clarity of the laboratory directions. Even casual telligible. Since the book covers a large range of subject matter, examination proves that every sentence has been subjected to a great deal has to he skipped over in a hurried fashion. Natu- rigorous examination and critical study of each word. The rally much of the material dealing with photography is empirical student in elementary analytical chemistry is continuously kept in character. The book is, therefore, of great value to persons in mind. Quite rightly very little i s taken for granted relative to who wish to find gathered in one place a lot of information rele- the chemical knowledge based upon only a single year of preparavant t o the practical aspects of the suhject. tion. The hook is filled with good illustrations and diagrams and The authors are to be thanked for making available to a wider contains also many very fine photographs. As a text for a prac- group the results of their own exhaustive experience. The text, tical course in the subject the book would seem to have been very which isamember of the International Chemical Series, isuniform well written, and it could also he very interesting reading for the in printing and binding with other members of the Series, and amateur photographer who has had some scientific training. these features are entirely satisfactory. W. ALBERTNOYES.JR. G. L. CLARK U N I V B X S ~OP ILL~NOIS Taa U~Nnsslrvor Racaasrnr UIB*N*. I L L L N O I S R o c ~ ~ rNslv ~ a Yo= .
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