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determination of the point of attachment of the component sugars. As this is based upon the methylation of open-chain structures, it is undoubtedly correct. The structures of the reference methvlated sugars is also well supported by good evidence. However. the skeptic may well doubt if the structure of the product obtained by methylation of a reducing sugar, such as glucose, truly represents the structure of a substance that is.capable of existing in such a large number of tautomeric forms. The ease of lactal shift is also being further demonstrated as work in this field progresses. The complete exclusion of lactal forms other than the < 1,4 > and < 1,5 > may also become an issue later. American chemists will be pleased to note that the writer gives full recognition to the researches of J. U. Nef on the isomeric pairs of heaonic lactones, which is so fundamental to the methods used by Haworth. The lactone rule of C. S. Hudson is also extensively employed by the author. On page 24, the important work published by P. A. Levene and H. S. Simms, in 1925, on lactone structure is omitted, althaugli their work published in 1926 is cited. M. I,. WOLFROM
FBBRUARY, 1930
fiom Professor John J. Abel of Johns Hopkins University, and is evidence of the recognition which researchers in the biological sciences have for the fundamental teachines - of chemistrv.
A serious attempt is made by the author to introduce the student who is interested in biological phenomena to the important rdles that organic chemistry and physical chemistry play in the complicated processes of the living cell. As one who has had experience in the teaching of organic chemistry t o biological students, this method of presentation is greatly appreciated. The author makes no distinction in his discussion between what he calls phytochemistry and zoochemistry reactions. I n the early development of his text, the author has laid great stress on the physico-chemical processes taking place in living cells and tissues, and he plunges a t once into a complete discussion of the colloid state of matter. Here he has given a complete review of the technic of this new branch of chemistry. The properties of colloidal systems are presented clearly, and the phenomena of hydrogenion concentration, surface tension, surface enegy, interfacial tension, and adsorption are explained and discussed clearly, and THSOXTDSTATEUN~VERSIIY also special chapters are devoted to the COLUMBUS. OMIO fundamental distinction between electrolytes and colloid systems. Consideration Outlines of Biochemistrv. Ross AIKEN is also given to the properties of gels, GORTNBR,Profes~or of Agricultural methods of measuring osmotic pressure, Biochemistry, in the University of and also to a discussion of the Donnan Minnesota, and Chief of the Division equilibrium and its application t o bioof Agricultural Biochemistry, University logical phenomena. This method of presof Minnesota and the Minnesota Agri- entation is decidedly a new feature in the cultural Experiment Station. John general method of teaching the principles Wiley and Sons, Incorporated, New of biochemistry, and forces the reader and 793 pp. 15 X 23 student t o give attention t o special physYork, 1929. xv cm. 86.00. ical and chemical phenomena which many This most interesting book has been of our teachers are inclined to neglect. dedicated by the author to his several Any organic chemist who has had occasion colleagues and co-workers who have col- t o work with biological products will at laborated with him in his many teaching once be impressed with the need of deand research activities. An interesting veloping a technic which is dependent on a feature is the manner in which the author good knowledge of the colloidal nature of begins the preface of his text This is the material under examination. Nearly introduced courteously by a quotation one-half of the text. 285 pages, is devoted
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RECENT BOOKS
to the physico-chemical aspects of the subject. The chapten comprising the text in addition to those embraced under the heading, Colloid State of Matter, are the following: Proteins. Carbohydrates and Allied Compounds, The Tannins, Plant Pigments. Fats, Lipides and Essential Oils, and the Biocatalysts. A most important feature of the book is a complete list of literature references which greatly enhance the value of the book t o the research student. This book should be on the shelf of every university chemistry library and in the possession of every researcher and teacher interested in the promotion of biachemistry. The developments in this field of science are bound to be very rapid, and undoubtedly the advances will be so great within the immediate future that the author will be called upon to prepare very soon a new edition of this text so that his book may represent an up-to-date record of the rapid progress of biochemical research. The rapid changes of thought t o which we are being subjected is well illustrated by the recent work on the chemistry of the polypeptide "Glutathione." TREAT B. JOANSON YALBUNWBBSIIY
N B W HAVEN, CDNN
Lectures on Biologic Aspects of Colloidal and Physiologic Chemistry. W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, Penna., 1927. 244 pp. 85 illustrations and 9 tables. 13.5 X 19.5 cm. $2.50. This book constitutes a group of lectures on the biologic aspects of physiologic and colloid chemistry given during the fall and winter of 1925-1926 under the auspices of the Mayo Foundation and the local chapter of Sigma Xi a t Rochester, Minnesota, the Medical School of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, the Graduate School of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Medical School of Washington University a t St. Louis, Missouri, the Graduate School of the University of
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Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, and the Des Moines Academy of Medicine a t Des Moines, Iowa. The titles of the lecture and the authors are as follows: Introduction Loms B. WILSON,M.D., Director, The Mayo Foundation. Principles Underlying Colloid Chemistry ROBERTA. MILLIKAN,Director of the Norman Bridge Laboratory of Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California. (10 pages in text.) Colloid Chemistry in Biology and Medicine MARTIN H. FISC~ER, Professor of Physiology, University of Cincinnati, Ohio. (82 pages in text; 39 figures; 81 references.) The Physical Properties of Protoplasm ROBERT CHAMBERS, Assistant Professor of Anatomy, Cornell University, New York. (19 pages; 14 figures.) Adsorption and Vital Phenomena Ross A. GORTNER,Professor of Agricultural Biochemistry, University of Minmsota, Minneapolis. (31 pages; 14 figures; 7 tables, and 17 references.) The Physics of the Ultramicroscope and Optical Properties of Colloid Particles F. FRANKLIN BURTON,Professor of Physics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (20 pages; 11 figures; 2 tables, and 10 references.) The Biological Effects of Light WILLIAMT. BOVIE.Assistant Professor of Biophysics, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts. (51 pages; 6 figures.) As well-stated in the introduction, "The lectures cover a number of important aspects of recent investigation in the field of colloid chemistry from the biologic standpoint. The lecturers themselves were selected because of their original investigations in the fields concerned. The volume thus covers in an authorita-
