of oxygen by means of algebraic formulas is not wmmendable. Numbering of the questions would ease the task of reading the notebooks. Few laboratories are so fortunate as to be able to furnish in q-tity to the elementary students items such as galvaooscopes, 2- and 3-neckwoulff bottles, fancy o z o ~ sRohnann , eudiometers, gold leaf, Kipp generators, and platinized asbestos. Jesse E. DAY Tro Olno STAT=
AN INTXODUC~~ON TO PLANT BIOCHEMISTRY.Catherine Cnssds Skde, M.A., B.Sc.. Ph.D. ( S t Andrews), sometime lecturer in chemistry at the Horticultural College, Swanley, Kent; formerly Commonwealth Fund Fellow in Organic Chemistry at the University of Illinois and at the Converse Memorial Laboratory, Harvard University, U. S. A. G. Bell & Sons, Ltd., London, 1934. xzx 331 pp. 12 Figs. 14 X 22 an. 151- net.
+
ummm
Written with the "encouragement, criticisms, and editorial help" of Profess01 John Rend, thisvohme appears under exeellent EINR~MRUNGmu= Om*L.~~A*-STECEauspices. The aim of the author is "to make the bwk useful to NIX. Dr. Konred ~ e r n h w University , lecturereTGerman students" of botany, in preparation for studies of plant biochemUniversity of Prague; Director of Biachemical L & o r a t ~ . istry, '*whohave had no training in organic chemistry" and to 129 PP. 50 Figs. 8 develop the subject "logically from the start according to the Julius Springer. Berlin. 1934. x modern theories of organic structure." This is, indeed, s di5Tables. 13 X 20.5 an. 4.80 RM. This manual is "to be considered as an introduction especially. cult undertaking, and in principle the task is done very well. and -ted intended for the practitioner in the organic chemical laboratory The material is well selected, lomcall~ . . oraanized. in a surpr*jnply dear manner. It should present asurvey of the usual available methods of pre. Some eighty simple experiments are introduced, which s e w parative organic chemistry, particularly from the viewpoint of laboratory technic; it should familiarize the laboratory techni- to illustrate points made in the text. The wutents are discussed under the following headings: dan with the most important apparatus and methods of utiliimg introduction; alcohols, fatty acids, fats and oils; aldehydes, them." In the introductory chapter the s i & h n c e and p m e s of ketones, and carbohydrates; plant acids; proteins and related organic chemical work are explained, organic readions are claqsi- compounds; cyclic compounds; plant metabolism. The book fied and tsbulated, principles of synthesis and methods of de- closes with a bibliogra~hy.index of botan*al names, and aenersl termination of wnstitution are outlined. Isolation, purifica- index. Approximately the first half of the book is necessarily devoted tion, dassification, and identification of organic substances are to elementary organic chemistry.with special reference to botanialso briefly rcviewcd. Chapter I deakwith chemical operations in g e n d , describing cal chemistry. During the remainder of the bwk the student mincides involved and methods of orocedwe. Tbe discussion is is apparently presumed to have mastered the necessary fun& hividhd into three parts, namely, heating, cwliug, and vacuum mental8 of organic chemistry and is accordingly introduced into apparatus and methods, with an appendix on general methods the more wmplex processes of plant economy. If there are students in plant chemistry who must, unfortuof working with gases. Chapter I1 is devoted to methods of conducting organic re- nately, do without preliminary traininginorganic chemistry, then actions and desnibes methods for homogeneous and heterogene- Dr. Steele's bwk will be found highly satisfactory. In fact, it ous systems at premms above and below atmospheric, absorp- ought to prove excellent collateral reading for the student of organic and also pharmaceutical chemistry. tion of gases, and hydrogenation. WALTER H n n m o Chapter 111presents the methods and operations for the iso*A& Doayll, Inf lation and padication of organic substances which are divided m A o % P a u , PA. into distillation, sublimation, extraction, amtalkation, and a =.-d m t i m . MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS There arc four appendices describing methods for handling A BmLIooIuLpm OW INDIUM, 1863-1933. Compiled by Herbert glass apparatus, cnk, rubber, metal, ctc.; methods for working A . Potrats and John B. Ekeley. Reprinted without change with vesicant, poisonous, aplosive, and easily idammable maof paging, pp. 151-87, from University of Colorado Studies, terials; general laboratory iastructious and precautions; and Vol. 21, No. 3, 1934. University of Colorado. Boulder, inshuctions for recording obwvations and P& publicsColorado, 1934. 25.50 X 17.60 cm. , tiom. This manual limits itself to well-demonstrated procedures and apparatus of preparative organic chemistry which are suitable % INDUSTRIAL UTILITYOW PUBLIC WATEU'SOPPIE~ IN TEE UNITED STATES, 1932. Geological Survey Water-Supply for modern usage. Historid development is omitted entirely. Paper 659. W. D. Collins, W . L. Lamar. and E. W. Lob. The material extends beyond a mere outline of an elementary inU. S. Deot. of the Interior. 1934. iv 135 DD. 2 Fies. troduction (such as i s found in most practical textbooks) and 15 X 23 &I. For sale by the ~uperintendentof boeume&, includes more adwnced methods. The author bas tried to Washington, D. C.. $0.15. avoid wnhrsion and be as practical a8 possible. In cases where The greater part of this bulletin (pp. 38-135) consists of a certain apparatus may be constructed in several difTerent ways, the most expedient form is described first. The methods are tabulation of information concerning pu6lic water supplies of the arrsnged to fadlitate the selection of the most suitable for speci- larger cities of the United States and of analyses of water samples from them. The portion of the report most Bkely to be of value fied --- numser r-~r----Special emphasis is placed upon the description of preparative to teachers and students of chemistry is the brief preliminary semimicro and micro methods which go hand in hand with cor- discussion (pp. 1-37) of the wnstituents of natural waters, the responding analytical methods. This discussion is particularly treatment of municipal water supplies, and the industrial treatvaluable as these methods have had no exhaustive treatment ment of water from public supplies. from the standpoint of laboratory technic and can be found only Dow CEEMIW. The Dow Chemical Company. Midland, as parts of o r i g i ~ investigations. I Michigan. 1934. 101 pages. Numerous halftones. 21 X This book is especially to be recommended for the beginner in 28 an. organic research. The material is well classified and includes This handsomely illustrated catalog includes a table of contents most fundamental laboratory operations and apparatus in con- and an index. Dowproducts are classified as Industrial Chemicise form. To the reviewer, the only possible criticism is that cals. Phamraceutical Chemicals, Dyes, and under several minor the 6fty figurrs do not seem to be quite enough. 4 few diagrams headings. Products are listed under their common or trade or illustrations on the more complicated set-ups would be desir- names and svnonvms and chemical formulas are riven. Full . able. M. H. DAW information as to properties, specifcations, uses, shiGping dassiUnrPaaOR &E&OO fication. and packing is given. CmrEb.30, I",. Co~oumoa,Oaro
+
~
+
.
