S E W BOOKS
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scribed for all impurities t h a t may be encountered in reagents. Ilowcver, it would sceni t o be preferable in a future edition t o include tests for specific heavy metals such as copper, zinc, a n d lead in a good many reagents for which only the general hydrogen sulfide test is given at present. Moreover, inclusion of directions for the assay of inore organic reagents, such as dithizone and thioglycolic acid, would be helpful. E . n .S . ~ S U E L L . K A R R E RProfessor , a t the University u i Zurirh. Second Organic Chemistry. B y P.AUI, English edition (based on the eighth (1942) German edition), translated by A . J. Mee 7 x 10 in.; 953 pp. New York City: Elsevier Publishing Company, Inc., 1916. Price: $7.50. Like its predecessor, this new edition of a \vell-knomi book presents in a descriptive way representative facts from the immense body of data considered of interest and importance by the classical organic chemist. I n addition to covering fundamentals in a systematic and interesting fashion, i t deals with probably a wider range of subjects t h a n any other single volume on organic chemistry. Thus it is of value t o a student or t o a research worker who may wish t o become acquainted with a field outside t h a t in which he is expert. I t contains comparatively few (166) references to the original literature, but this is more than compensated for by numerous references to texts in specialized subjects. I t is well indexed. I n order t o give the book its comprehensive character, some sacrifice in detail has necessarily beenmade, andaspecialist may be disappointed with the treatment which has heen given t o the subject of his particular interest. Such disappointment will be least for a chemist dealingwith natural products, and greatest for a physico-organic chemist,inasmuch as some topics (terpenes, sterols, vitamins, etc.) are particularly well done, while kinetics, thermodynamics, catalytic action, reaction mechanisms, electronic formulations, e t c . , are practically ignored. Thk author’s attitude toward theoretical discussions (and the level attained in them) is typified in the following quotation from the chapter on fuchsone dyes (page 592), concerning the structure of salts derived from aminotriphenylcarbinols. “ T h e problem resolves itself into xhether the carrier of the positive charge in these rompounds is nitrogen or c a r b o n “There is no apace t o discuss this question, which is not by any nieans solved. Indeed its importance is easily over-estimated. Both formulae (quinoid immonium salt and benzenoid carbonium s a l t ) , like all our structural formulae, can only give a n approximate idea of the affinity relationships within the molecule, and leave out of consideration the forces between atoms which are not directly linked with each other. I t is quite possible t h a t in the dye salts and dye bases of the triphenylmethane dyes, in one case the nitrogen and in r ~ t h e cases r the carbon gives up an electron, and thus becomes the bearer of the charge of the positive ion.” Such adherence t o the principles of classical structural theory characterizes all of the author’s work. I n the book under consideration, this leads t o a n excellent organization of the material, and gives it both :iforn: easily understood by any chemist and a n aspect of comfortable authority. Readers who are not able t o carry on research themselves will find the book a valuable source of information within the limits noted above. Of those who are in a position t o do original work, some will be stimulated by i t t o continue advances along classical lines, others t o produce theoretical interpretations of d a t a i t contains. The work of the translator, that of the composer, and t h a t of the printer are of excellent quality. C.F.IEOELSCH. Steroid Chains a s Components of Protein and Carbon .lfolecules. B y THEODORE VAS SCHELVEX. 15 x 25 cm.; 62 pp.; 8 fig. Amsterdam (Holland) : Kosmos Publishing Company, 1046. Price: $3.00.
