NEW BOOKS
+
New Conceptions i n Biochemistry. By N. R. DHAR. 23 x 16 cm.; pp. x 168. Allahabad: The Indian Drug House. In the preface the author says: “Since the days of Lavoisier, animal metabolism has been a fascinating subject of research for chemists and physiologists alike. Despite the attempts of numerous distinguished workers, the enigma of animal metabolism still remains unsolved. In this book a n effort has been made to discuss the general physico-chemical principles underlying animal metabolism. The book deals with the chemical aspects of biochemist,ry which have any bearing on metabolism. It is therefore in no way to be a book of reference. No attempt has been made to describe systematically all diseased conditions occurring in cases of improper metabolism. The dominant idea in the book is that several diseases are due to a lack of a proper and balanced oxidation of t h e three classes of food materials, the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.” The headings of the chapters are: an introduction to views on food principles and chemical aspects of metabolism; biological oxidations; carbohydrate metabolism; metabolism of fats; oxidation of mixtures of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins; actino-therapy; deficiency diseases, internal secretions, vitamins, and light; normal ossification, and the formation of crystalline deposits in diseases; gout, fever, and uses of alkali, phosphates, and iron preparations; acclimatization and physical interpretation of Rubner’s law of surface-and the ageing of cells, catalysts, and body colloids-the problem of old age and death; coagulation of blood, serum, and milk. “Oxidation is the central life process supporting the entire complicated machinery of the living being. The substances undergoing metabolism in the animal body, comprising proteins, carbohydrates, and fats, are entirely resistant to oxidation by molecular oxygen under ordinary conditions. Yet in the animal body they are oxidized with the greatest ease into their end-products,” p. 14. “It is evident that acetone bodies are not products of normal metabolism, but result from abnormal conditions. The author has suggested that under normal conditions, fats are mainly burned in the animal body directly to carbon dioxide and water, without the formation of intermediate products. An objection may be raised RS to how a fatty acid containing 18 carbon atoms can be directly oxidized to carbon dioxide and water without the formation of intermediate products. Many physiologists are of the opinion that acetoacetic acid, with four carbon atoms in its molecule, undergoes complete oxidation to carbon dioxide and water. If a molecule with four carbon atoms can be directly oxidized, then the direct oxidation of more complex acids is not impossible,” p. 41. “In the absence of thyroid there is little oxidation of fat. When fat is being metabolized in the body, the oxidation of carbohydrate is retarded. From this i t will be seen that in the cases of thyroid removal there will be rapid oxidation of glucose; added t o this is the accelerating effect of insulin on glucose oxidation, if insulin is injected. Therefore, there will be a greater lowering of blood sugar in cases of thyroid removal than in cases where the thyroid is functioning normally. Hence the greater violence of symptoms following an overdose of insulin,” p. 53. “We have demonstrated that the oxidation of substances like sodium sulphite, ferrous hydroxide, etc., by air or oxygen is greatly retarded by the presence of sugars, 147
148
NEW BOOKS
sodium arsenite, etc., which in their turn, are oxidized in presence of sodium sulphite, ferrous hydroxide, etc. Similarly, we have proved that the oxidation of fats is retarded by carbohydrates and vice versa,” p. 57. “In the case of adrenal secretions, we assume that the oxidation of fat is also accelerated by the promoter action of the secretion, and consequently in this case also the main store of energy comes from the oxidation of fat, and so the glucose is not oxidized and glycosuria results. “With pituitary the case is different; for we assume that in presence of this secretion i t is mainly the oxidation of protein matter which is increased; and consequently the energy supply comes from this oxidation, leaving glucose and fats unoxidized. From this point of view i t will be clear that the function of the pancreas secretion, which mainly accelerates the oxidation of glucose, need not be considered antagonistic to that of the thyroid, pituitary, or adrenals. We assume that the matter merely rests on the preferential oxidation of one variety of food material due t o the presence of the promoter. In hyper-functioning of the pancreas the glucose will be readily oxidized, and will supply the energy, Hence, according to our point of view, the pancreas need not inhibit the action of the thyroid, or the adrenals; moreover, the adrenal or thyroid need not inhibit the action of the pancreas. We are strongly of the opinion that in normal health pancreas, thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary perform their proper function by promoting the oxidation of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the proper proportions. Consequently a combination of the respective hormones, especially thyroid and pituitary, should yield better results in many diseases than either singly,” p. 58. “Addison’s disease is today regarded by most investigators as due to hypofunction of the adrenal glands. I t develops gradually with general asthenia, lack of interest, and malaise; digestive disturbances are common, with vomiting or diarrhoea and constipation, which may be alternating in character. Addison’s disease usually resists all methods of treatment. Organotherapy with adrenal substance offersgreat hope, and in the hands of numerous practitioners has proved far more effective than all other therapy,” p. 86. “Rijhrig and Zuntz showed that a curarized warm-blooded animal at ordinary room temperature lost the power of maintaining its body temperature and that the intensity of metabolism decreased accordingly, Curare prevents the transmission of motor impulses to voluntary muscles. Krogh states that the curve of oxygen absorption as influenced by body temperature is the same in the anesthetized frog and fish as in the curarized dog,” p. 123. The author is attempting to show that many physiological disturbances are due to improper and unbalanced oxidation. The reviewer is attempting to show t h a t many physiological disturbances are due t o over-agglomeration or over-dispersion of proteins. Some day some intelligent person will show that these are two parts of the same point of view. Perhaps improper and unbalanced oxidation causes overagglomeration or over-dispersion of proteins. WILDERD. BANCROFT. Physical Chemistry for Students of Biology and Medicine. By DAVIDI. HITCHCOCK. 23 x 15 cm.; pp. xii 182. Baltimore: Charles C. Thomas, 1932. Price: $2.75. In the preface the author says: “The material presented in this book has been offered during the past five years to medical and graduate students in Yale University as a part of the course in physiology.” The chapters are entitled: gases; liquids and gases; solutions; solutions of electrolytes-the law of mass action; hydrogen ions, indicators and buffers; galvanic
+
