JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
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BIOCHEMISTRY OF THE AMINOSUGARS
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P. W. Kent and M. W. Whitehouse, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 195s. ix 311 pp. 7 figs. 18 tables. IS X 22 cm. $6.80.
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IN RECENT years knowledge of polysaccharides containing aminoaugars and mucoproteins has expanded greatly. One has onlp to compare this volume with P. A. Levene's classical monograph on bexosamines and mucoproteins, published 30 years ago, to appreciate the advances that h w e been made in this area of biochemistry. A wide variety of mucopolysaccharides have been isolated in a fair degree of purity from animal tissues, and a heginning has been made toward an understanding of their pbysiological significance and how they areimplicated in many pathological conditions. It is not numrisine. then. that the first half of this boak is de-
partieuler, as well as in the remaining chapters in general, a
ha6 been augmented by his emphasis on very recent developmen& in these practical aspects, as well as by the inclusion of numerous tables and illustrations adapted mainly from trade literature and company publications. Eech chapter is followed by a list of suitable collateral reading sources and s set of 20 or so rather well chosen problems designed to emphasize both the scientific and practical aspects of the chapter topics. Objections to the text are mainly minor ones. The author's brevity ocoasioually results in the use of undefined or poorly defined terms. Unbalanced equations and misleading stetements are sometimes to be found, and a few more equations might have helped some of the verbal description. All in d l , the number of objectionable features is very low, and the ones which were found did not appear serious from the student's point of view. The author's writing style is concise and clear with occasional flashes of humor. The text's typography, paper, and binding are excellent. In general, Professor Hatch's book is quite well conceived and adequate for its intended purpose; i t may be highly recommended.
aminopolysacchttrides and mucoprateins. The authors suggest that the term "rtminopolyaaccharide" be used for those polynaccharides in which aminosug~rsaccount. for all the nitrogen present. Such a. nomenclature change should be adopted. The alder terms, mucopolysaccharides and mucaproteins, frequently lead to confusion. I n this part of the book hyaluronie acid, heparin, ehondraitin WILLIAM A. BONNER sulfate, chitin, mueasuhstances of the digestive tract, and gonadotropic hormones me considered in detail from both the chemical and biochemical points of view. Other mucosubstances found in serum, bacteria, and fungi are described. Some of these yield bizarre products such as ~rglucossminefrom streptomycin, and 0 POMP AND PESTILENCE: INFECTIOUS DISEASE, 3-amino ribose from the antibiatie puromycin. ITS ORIGINS AND CONQUEST Analytical methods far the detection, isolation, and estimation of aminosuears are reviewed in the second half of the book. Ex- Ronald Hare, Professor of Bacteriology, London University. Philosophical Library, Inc., New Yark, 1955. 224 pp. 13 X 2 0 in detail &as well as methods for chemical synthesis of these sub~tancesand derivatives of them. This boak is very timely in view of the increasing attention that is being given t o these mi~terislsas important factors in health and disease. I t is highly recommended t o those who desire a full discussion of the chemistry and hioehemistry of aminosugars and their polymers. F. A. CAJORI
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ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
OPENthi. hook a t random, and you will immediately became absorbed in these intriguing episodes from the history of medicine. The author begins with a. chapter an the nature of infectious and contagious diseases and considers in the following cbltpter the origin of parasitism in prehistoric man and follows in succeeding chapters the spread of infection over the world. There are descriptions of the world's great epidemics of smallpox, bubonic plague, cholera, typhus, and intluenza. Past beliefs about the nature and origins of diseases are revealed and the beginnings of quarantine systems as early as the fourteenth century are described. Finally, we come to modern science and its ittack upon disease. From one point of view, Dr. Haresays the outlook is beartenine. -, but from another uoint of view rather frinhtenine. -, because as diseases are controlled, population rises only to die of malnutrition. Little has been written for the lay person concerning the origin of diseases; this, then, should be a popular book, for its subject matter is of universal interest.
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6 8 figs. 2 6 tables.
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P ~ o m s s oHATCH'S ~ "Organio Chemistry" is designed to accompany a terminal one-semester or one-quarter course for college students majoring in home economics, agriculture, and other subjects for which a brief but general acquaintance with organic chemistry is desirable. The depth and breadth of the author's treatment of the subject are such that his objectives are well achieved. The fundamentdflfctrts of organic chemistry are presented via functionel-group reactions in just about the proper detail t o provide a reasonable background for the student, t o be assimilable in the time available to the student, and to provide a working hasis for understanding of the author's later topical chspt,ers. Aliphatic and aromatic compounds are treated in a unified fashion, a technique which appears quite adequate far the author's intended level of sophistication. Of the 20 chapters in the text, nine are devoted to the specifie topics of Petroleum; Dyea; Proteins; Fats, Waxes and Detergents; Carbohydrates; Enzymes, Vitamins, Hormones and Antibiotics: Medicinals and Pharmaceuticals: Polvmers: and Azrioulturh Organic Chemistry. In thkse ihapters in
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EPHRIAM'S INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
=dited by p, C. ,r, ~ h sometime ~ ~~~t~~~~ ~ in ~ chemistry, ~ sir , john cassconege, ~,,d,~, and wOdwich p~,.technic, and E. R, ~ ~ senior b~~d~~~~ ~ in chemistry, ~ ~~~~~~~l ~ ~conege , of sdenceand ~ ~ ~ sixthh ~ ~~ l ~~publishers, ~ t~ . rnc., N~~ york, 1954. xii+ 956 pp. 9 6 figs. ~ ~ h 16.5 l ~x ~ , 24.5 cm, $6.25. THIS well-known book is a n advanced textbook rather than a reference work. The present edition follows the same policies and arrangement as the earlier ones and so need not be reviewed in detail. By well chosen substitution of revised portions for obsolete onen it has been oossihle to keeo this edition within 17 oaees of the size of thelast. '
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