of oxygen by means of algebraic formulas is not commendable. Numbering of the questions would ease the task of reading the notebooks. Few laboratories are so fortunate as t o be able t o furnish in quantity to the elementary students items such as galvanoscopes, 2-and 3-neckwoulff bottles,fancy ozonizers, Hofmann eudiometers, gold leaf, Kipp generators, and platinized asbestos. JESSE E, DAY T m Oam Srnra Umvsasny C o ~ u r a u sOHIO ,
E*onnmGIN
AN INTRODU~~ION TO PLANTBIOCHEMISTRY. Catherine Casrels Sleele, M.A., B.Sc., Ph.D. (St. Andrews), sometime lecturer in chemistry a t the Horticultural College, Swanky, Kent; formerly Commonwealth Fund Fellow in Organic Chemistry a t the University of Illinois and a t the Converse Memorial Laboratory, Harvard University, U. S. A. G. Bell & Sons, Ltd., London, 1934. xxx f 331 pp. 12 Figs. 14 X 22 cm. 15/- net. Written with the "encouragement, criticisms, and editorial help" of Professor John Read, this volume appears under excellent The aim of the author is "to make the book useful to students" of botany, in preparation for studies of plant biochemistry, fzwhohave had training in organic chemistry~jand to develop the subject "logically from the start according to the modern theories of oreanic structure." This is. inrlwrl a A X ~~.--..-, - cult undertaking, a n d i n principle the task is done very well. The material is well selected, logically organized, and presented in a surprisingly clear manner. Some eighty simple experiments are introduced, which senre to illustrate points made in the text. The contents are discussed under the following headings: introduction; alcohols, fatty acids, fats and oils; aldehydes, ketones, and carbohydrates; plant acids; proteins and related compounds; cyclic compounds; plant metabolism. The book closes with a bibliography. index of botanical names, and general index. Approximately the first half of the book is necessarily devoted to elementary organic chemistry, with special reference t o botanical chemistry. During the remainder of the book the student is apparently presumed t o have mastered the necessary fundamentals of organic chemistry and is accordingly introduced into the more complex processes of plant economy. If there are students in plant chemistry who must, unfortunately, do without preliminary training in organic chemistry, then Dr. Steele's book will be found highly satisfactory. I n fact, i t ought t o prove excellent collateral reading for the student of organic and also pharmaceutical chemistry. WALTER HARTUNO
D m O R G m s c E ~ c H E M I s ~ L ~ O R A T o n r r m a s r E c ~ ~auspices.
Dr. Konrnd Bernh*er, lecturer, German University of Prague; Director of Biochemical Laboratory. Julius Springer, Berlin, 1934. x f 129 PP. 50 Figs. 8 Tables. 13 X 20.5 cm. 4.80 RM.
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This manual is "to be considered as an introduction especially intended for the practitioner in the organic chemical laboratory. It should present a survey of the usual available methods of preparative organic chemistry, particularly from the viewpoint of laboratory technic; it should familiarize the laboratory technician with the most important apparatus and methods of utilizing them." I n the introductory chapter the significance and purposes of organic chemical work are explained, organic reactions are classified and tabulated, principles of synthesis and methods of determination of constitution are outlined. Isolation, purification, classification, and identification of organic substances are also briefly reviewed. Chapter I dealswith chemical operations in general, describing principles involved and methods of procedure. The discussion is divided into three Darts. . . namelv. heatinr. -. coolinr. and vacuum apparatus and methods, with an appendix on general methods of working with gases. Chapter I1 is devoted t o methods of conducting organic reactions and describes methods for homogeneous and heterogeneous systems a t pressures above and below atmospheric, absorption of gases, and hydrogenation. Chapter 111 presents the methods and operations for the isolation and purification of organic substances which are divided into distillation. sublimation, extraction, crystallization, and adsorption. There are four appendices describing methods for handling glass apparatus, cork, rubber, metal, etc ; methods for working with vesicant, poisonous, explosive, and easily idammable materials; general laboratory instructions and precautions; and instructions for recording observations and preparins ~uhlica. . .. tions. This manual limits itself to well-demonstrated procedures and anoaratus of DreDarative oreanic chemistrv which are suitable ~~.. . . for modern usage. Historical dcvelopmmt is omitted entirely. The material extends beyond a mere outline of an elementary introduction ( w c h as i s found in most practical te~tbooks)and includes more advanced methods. The author bas tried t o avoid confusion and be as practical as possible. I n cases where certain apparatus may be constructed in several different ways, the most expedient form is described first. The methods are arranged t o facilitate the selection of the most suitable for specified nurooses. Special emphasis is placed upon thc description of preparative semirni~xuand micro methods which go hand in hand with corresponding analytical methods. This discussion is particularly valuable as these methods have had no exhaustive treatment from the standpoint of laboratory technic and can be found only as parts of original investigations. This b w k is especially t o be recommended for the beginner in oreanic research. The material is well classified and includes ~~~~must fundamental lnboratory operations and .~pparaturin concise form. T o the reviewer, the only possihle criticism is that the fifty figures do not seem t o he quite enough. A few diagrams or illustrations on the more complicated set-ups would be desirable. M. H. DASKAIS Taa U ~ l v s a s r rox~ Cmc~oo
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