198 el sep.) on conventions far expressing free energy changes is most valuable; most senior and graduate students emerging from chemistry majors may not he aware of confusions in the biochemical literature in this important area. I t would have been too much to ask for a first edition, we suppose, that a free energy datum he included with every reaction where possible-an ides. which these authors might wnsider for the next edition. Doeument,ation generally is good, but the historical chapter is sketchy and unnecessary in the form given. No reference isgiven, for instance, to Fulton's "Selected Readings in the History of Physiology," (Charles C Thomas, Springfield, Ill., St. Catharines, 0ntar6 1930), which contains a great deal of hisCanada torical materid, particularly in the field of digestion, vitamins, tlnd endocrinology, and including reference to Fletcher and Hopkins' classical work which became, through the use of muscle tissue, the starting point of studies on carbohydrate meDictionary of Organic Compounds. tabolism in animals. The chapter on Second Supplement intracellular organization is also brief. The schematic diagrams are done with Edited by R. Steuens. 4th ed. Oxford expertise and are most helpful. However, University Press, New York, 1966. reproduction of electron micrographs is 221 pp. 20 X 27 cm. $28. unsatisfactory; these are no longer conThe Second Supplement has been sidered as illustrations, but form a docw changed only to make it more useful to mentation and therefore require reproreaders. Among the changes are ductionof high quality. modernization of nomenclature, a format The authors will he their awn hefit rechange in the listing of data for derivatives viewers from the standpoint of technics1 of a principal compound, full literature errors which may have appeared in a firjt references including the author's initials. edition. We have not read the volume The majority of the compounds listed in an attempt to find technical errors, but are new. However, recent data con.I.one does appear on p. 703 (for cerning previously listed compounds are aspartate ." read ". . . L-ornilhine . . ." included. Also, errata are given for errors on the first line). found in the Main Work and First SuppleThe appearance of this book clearly ment. indicates that the practice may he pass6 of LEROYW. HAYNES having hiochemistry graduate student,^ at College of Wooster medical schools take the same course as Wooster, Ohio do the medical students for satisfaction of an introductory course in hiochemistry. Or the medical chemistry course will have to be upgraded. This problem is obviated a t schools where several departments offer biochemical courses. In any event the appearance of an advanced unBiological Chemistry dergraduate hiochemistry text of this type will leave many heads unsatisfactorily H e n q R. Mahlm and E v g m H . Cmdes, scriltcbed. both of Indiana University, BloomingA formerly typical, i.e., classical, gradton. Harper and Row, Publishem, New uate with a Ph.D. in biology with even 872 pp. Figs. and York, 1966. xv somewhat more than a minimum amount tables. 18.5 X 26.5 cm. $16.50. of chemistry will he swamped by the m e This is an authoritative, well-conceived, terial of this hook. The chemicallyand fluently-mitten new text, dealing oriented biologist who can handle it would with the application of chemicltl principles he accepted in the commrmity as a fullfor an understanding of hiologicaL procfledged biochemist (The old order esses. The emphasis is put on organic changeth, yielding place to new). chemistry rather than on living organisms, As with most texts "at the summit," and it does not deal with the comparative some of the material will he outdated aspects of hiochemistry. rapidly, hut the authors me so well versed The text requires a sound background and active in their fields that they can in the physical and chemical sciences an easily keep it up-*date in suhsequent the part of the reader ta he fully appreeditions. The aut,hors are to he conciated. I t may set some kind of pattern gratulated on the depth and clearness of far the field inasmuch as it treats of the their presentations. intimate details of biochemical processes in a. manner and style not achieved by the JR. G. W. BROWN, usual biochemical texts. The authors WIKTORW. NOWINSKI dig deeply into certain subject matter not University qf Texas Medical Branch adequately treated in other biochemical GalvesiDn texts. For e m p l e , the discussion (p.
(Here, p. 86, the steady state assumption has been sbridged and thus rendered meaningless. The rate of change of radical concentrations is assumed to he small with rpspect to their ?ales of formation and destmetion.) Too frequently information seems to eome in an "Oh, hy the way" fashion. Facts previously unknown to the student sre adduced in support of the argument. On balance, I think this is a useful hook. My regret is that it could have been s good hit better. I hope that there will he attempts to improve upon it.
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Journd of Chemical Education
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Hawk's Physiological Chemistry Editnl by llrmnrd O w , Columhi~llnivrr.ity. 14th cd. MvGmw-Hill Book (:u. ( t h r Blak~sronrhvi$ion,, Sra York, 1965. xvi 1472 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. $19.50.
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This hook is, of course, a classic. Its earlier editions have been standard referrnrr work- for nmrly sixty yrxrs. niorherni,try Lorlay is nn mormrm< and far-rrwhin~huhjcrt, CroSjlnp the hmlrrlines of many conventional disciplines, so that it has hewme the norm for general, and even specialized texts to deal solely with the now-recognized concepts and pathways and such facts as are relevant, and to ignore completely the experimental observations and (often beautiful) logical deductive processes leading to them. Especially is this regrettable in t h m days when it is fashionable to teach the subject to more and more elementary classes; the more straightforward the concept, often the more inaccessible the experimental basis, so that the student begins to regard biochemistry as a Greek philosophy, or, perhaps, as something handed to Moses on stone tablets! I t is, therefore, utterly refreshing to read a new edition which not only expounds and explains in a most lucid manner the major facts and wncepts of both modern and classical hiochemistry, hut also offers a wealth of clear, concise, and specific experimental methodology. The hook is ~ u a l"l vof value to chemical. bi&&al, medical, and physiological biochemists. I t is not cheap; hut neither is it so expensive that it cannot he acquired by any serious student. To the student, it offers a real understanding of the experimental basis of an experimental science; to the teacher, rtt m y level, it is a sheer cold-mine of orecise data and dire* tionr covwin): klmo~tally nwa; nrrd t u the rrwxrclter it d r r s aperific methodulogv nhirh may be modif.cd confidently to f i r virtually any requirement.
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TERENCEC. OWEN Unwersay ojSmUh Florida Tamm
Gmelins Handbuch der Anorganirchen Chemie. 8. AuRage. System Nummer 21, Natrium. Lieferung 3 Edited by E. H. E. Pietsch and the Gmelin Institute. Verlag Chemie, GMBH, WeinheimlBergstrasse, 1966. xlxv 474 pp. Figs. and tables. 17.5 X 25.5 em. $110.
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This suoolement covers the wmoaunds of sodium with nitrogen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium, polonium, tlnd boron, and a. portion of the compounds with cmhon. Another supplement on sodium is due to be published soon which will complete coverage of the sodium-carbon compounds and include the compounds of sodium with silicon, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth. A special volume will contsin the sodium-halogen compound8 (Continued a page A488)
