in this field but the above-mentioned discrepancy in separating Groups IIA and IIB should cause this procedure t o be accepted with caution. CARLOTTO OP MAINE UNIVERSITY
requirements to a marked degree. While the use of qualitative tests would permit the covering of more material, it also would fail to develop technic which is a serious drawback. Such tests a t best leave but fleeting impressions on the mind of a beginner and are soon forgotten. A proper technic developed by the use of Elementary Laboratory Experiments in preparations, however, remains an asset Organic Chemistry. ROGER ADAMS, always and permits the student to adProfessor of Chemistry, University of vance as rapidly in the laboratory as his Assistant theoretical background may permit. Illinois. JOHNR. JOHNSON, Professor of Chemistry, Cornell UniThe preparations are well chosen and versity. First edition. The Macmillan cover very well the simpler typical orCompany. New York, 1928. xi ganic reactions and compounds, with one 305 pp., 19 figures. 14 X 21.5 cm. exception: the proteins. Due to difficulty $1.90. in ~ n.. tests minht .r e.~ a r a t i .o aualitative . be This laboratory manual is designed for used to advantage in this casc. This manual is indeed a very valuable the use of students who are beginning the contribution t o the teaching of elementary study of organic chemistry, and is comorganic chemistry in the laboratory and piled with the idea of placing before the will, no doubt, be most welcome t o many student the more important laboratory engaged in this work. procedures and technic of organic chemJOHNJ. DONLEAW istry. YALEUNIVERSITY The hook is divided into two major parts: The first is devoted t o a clear exposition of the various physical operations Laboratory Manual of Elementary Physiutilized for the .purification of organic MACK,JR., cal Chemistry. EDWARD compounds. Such operations as distillaAND WESLBYG. FRANCE, Ohio State tion, recrystallization, filtration, etc., are University. D. Van Nostrand Company, described and the student, by experi195 pp., with 40 New York, 1928. xi ment, becomes thoroughly acquainted figures. 14.5 X 22 cm. Cloth, $2.00. with the unit orrerations of the laboratory Experience has shown that these experibefore applying the same to the preparaments "are quite workable, that they tion of simple organic compounds. The second part is devoted to the prep- arouse and sustain the interest of the aration of typical organic compounds. students, and t h i t the present selection of Here the student applies the unit opera- topics distributes the emphasis somewhat more appropriately over the entire field of tions of Part I t o the synthesis of pure organic compounds. Detailed directions physical chemistry than has heretofore and pertinent questions accompany each been done in some of the manuals." Less preparation and, in a few instances, quali- time than usual is devoted t o molecular tative tests are introduced to illustrate weight determinations, and in addition t o the type of experiments usually included in simple tests or reactions. Any laboratory manual in organic physical chemistry, Lhe b w k contains exchemistry should accomplish two objects. periments dealing with thermionic tubes, First, i t must train a man in the technic of thermal conductivity of gases, size of molethe science, and second, it must illustrate cules, rate of settling of fine precipitates, clearly the application of reactions learned and light absorption by solutions. There are thirty-five experiments, about twoin the dasrroom to practical problems of synthesis. This manual satisfies the above thirds of which sre expected to be done by
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the student in a year, so that there is considerable latitude in selection of experiments. There are also three exercises dealing with units and dimensions, slide rule, and errors in measurements. I n addition to experimental directions, each experiment has a brief discussion of the theory involved and questions or directions for the treatment of the experimental results, together with additional textbook references. The introduction contains a list of books which should be available to the student in the laboratory. While tbis manual may be used with any tent it is issued "as a compannal volume t o Dr. Taylor's own text of Elementary Physical Chemistry." The book is well written, the choice of experiments quite large, and should prove of interest and value to the teachers of physical chemistry. D. C. LICHTENWALNER DREXZLINSTITUTE
The Protarnines and Histones. ALBRECHT KOSSEL,Prof. Physiology in University of Heidelberg. Trans. from original German manuscript by W. V. Thorpe, M.A., Ph.D., Lecturer in Biochemistry in University of Birmingham. Monograph an Biochemistry. Longmans, Green & Co., New York and London, 107 pp. 15.5 X 24 cm. 1928. xi $3.25. ~
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The manuscript of this monograph was completed only a few days before the author's death. As he states in a rough draft of the preface which was found, his investigations on protamines and histones were undertaken chiefly from biological aspects; be was first led t o study the evolutionary changes which protein nndergoes in the differentiation of tissues, and he found these changes t o consist in the production of proteins which are distinguished by basic properties; these proteins are biologically the more important because they are formed in the chief organ of the cell, the nucleus, where they are concerned with cell division, fertilization and inheritance.
Although our knowledge of the histones and protamines has thus far attained no significance in "experimental" biochemistry and has been derived only from the descriptive side, the pioneer explorations made by Kossel and his students are a monumental achievement. Many of their investigations besides being contributions t o the subject of his special interest enriched our conceptions of the fundamental structure of protein. The monograph is a detailed summary of the methods of separation and qnantitative estimation of the bases and monamino acids, of the preparation of protamines. their properties and constitution. Part I1 deals similarly with the histones, with particular reference t o that of the thymus; the concluding pages are devoted to the chemical relation of the protamines and histones t o other basic proteins and their biological significance. The bibliography contains 204 entries. Rarely is i t given t o a man to work almost uninterruptedly a t his chosen task for a full half century: ~. and when a t the age of seventy-five, before laying down his pen, he has the opportunity t o summarize the advances made, tbis is a gift of the gods, their tribute t o a great personality. He has left an enduring legacy t o biochemical science; all those who in days t o come endeavor t o solve the mystery of protein chemistry will enter into his labors. H. A. MA~TUL OR IOWA STATEUNIVERSITY Industrial Chemistry. An elementary treatise for the student and general RIEGEL,Ph.D., reader. EMILRAYMOND Professor of Physical and Industrial Chemistry, University of Buffalo. The Chemical Catalog Company, Inc., New York City. 649 pp. 15 X 23 cm. $9.00. I t is, perhaps, impossible t o write an "Industrial Chemistry" that will please the majority of readers. It certainly is impossible for one man to write a satisfactory text. Professor Riegel has done extremely well, and though his book is
