of this series, this hook should he on the shelves of every chemical reference lihrary.
MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY. VOLUME I1
F. F. Blicke and C. M.Suter, Editors-inChief. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New 311 pp. 1 5 figs. York, 1956. vi Many tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. 510.
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THE preface t o the series, of whirh this i s the second volume, speaks of the desire of rhcmists nnd phxrmacologiets
for a puhliration "that would provide comprehensive and systematic Rummaries of available data on t h e biological properties of substances alreedy studied." I t goes on to state t h a t i t is "a chief objective of "Medicinal Chemistry" t o include in each chapter referpnces t o all the compounds that have been teated for a part.icular t,ype of pharmacologiral activity." The difficulty of presenting in book form up-to-date reviews is shown by t h e closing dates of the literature wrveys of the various chapters. Chspter 1 by Arthur Stoll is based on s lecture presented in 1950, and a. supplement by T. L. Johnson contains references up int,o 1958. Chapter 2 has been brought up t o date by appendixes and supplementary reference8 through September of 1953. Chapter 3 refers to no literature beyond 1953. Chapter 4 states that i t is complete through June of 1052. I n the
light of these dat,es i t uould seem that some other vehicle for tho pohlicntion of such reviews might be more appropriate. Chapter 1, Some Chemical Aspects of the Cardiac Glycosides, by Stall, v-ith its supplement by Johnson, is almost entirely chemical in its treatment of the cardiac glycosides. The hiologienl aspect,s of the subject are not treated a t length nor critically. Johnson's supplement has a useful table of glycosides reported from 1949-52. Chapter 2, Synthetic Estrogens, hy 3. A. Hogg and 3. Korman, is a w r y extensive treatment of the subject. There is 8. good presentation of t,he history aud status of the field as of the literature closing date. I n addition, there is a detailed discussion of tho hiological ride of these agents and a critiral direussion of mazy methods. The one h u n d r d twenty pages of tables and thirtj. pages of bibliography represent comprehensive coverage of the field. Useful featuws of the bibliography are a. compendium of earlier reviews on the sobject and B patent index. Chapter 3, Analgesics, Arylpiperidine Derivatives, by C. M. Suter, is further coverage of this large field that was hegun in Volume I of the series. It, is difficultt o ascertain the extent of coverage of the subject. The biological assay procedures receive scanty attention and the possible modes of action of t,he con,pounds, none. The chapter may serve as a brief background survey in this part of the field. Chapter 4, 8-Haloethylaminc B d ~ w ergicBlocking Agents: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationships, by G . E. Ullyot and J . F. Keru-in, is an extensive treatment of the subject tht.ough the middle of 1952. The histarinl introdurtion is valuable because of its present,ation of the harkground of the discovely of these materials. There is extensive dircussian of the biological activity and chemical reactions of these compounds. The tahles are well organized and useful. This volume is uneven in the treatment of the various subjects h* t h e different authors. The editors have not seen fit t o insist on the inclusion of firm indications of what literaturr was coveld. I n the tu-o chapter8 t h a t are parts of a larger field, t h e may in whirh the ruhjerts treated fit into the field have not h e m clearly delineated. The volume is useful as a reference work because of the detailed p r ~ s m t a t i u n s of Chapters 2 and 4. JACKSON P. ENGLISH R E ~ E * R "D H l v i s ~ o r .Aaen,c*a cr*x*>i,o COMPANY
P m n L R ~ v z n NEW , YORZ
PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
lames English, Jr, and Harold G. Cassidy, both Associate Professors of Chemistry, Yale University. Second edition. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New 469 pp. 25 figs. York, 1956. xiii 3 1 tahles. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. 56.50.
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CONTINWINO in t h e excellent tradition of the first, this second edition should warrant the consideration of all teachws (Conlinued on page A174) JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
who treat aliphatic and aromatic eompounds toget,her. It may tempt others to try that order for the first time. For it is excellently written, pruned of all excess encylopedie data and pedagogy dovm to the basic framework of fundamental reaetions and concepts, and the integration of aliphatic and organic chemistry is deftly handled. Again an outstanding feature of the text is the wide selection of excellent,, thought-provoking questions. The outlines a t the euds of the chapters are also helpful to both student and instructor. The dra~ringsare well done and am used only for the clarification of subject matter. New features in the second edition include the consistent use of curved arrows to suggest the courses of reactions. This is a real aid in the understanding of reactions, as ia the fairly frequent practice of listing together diflorent reactions which proceed by t,he same type mechanism. Molecular orbital theory is introduced in an elementary and unusually c l e ~ r fashion and is employed where simplification or clarity results. In general, the theory is presented consistently from the modem v i e u p i n t and serves admirably to correlate and unify the subject matter. As in the first edition, explanations are terse and concise, perhaps in some cases too sketchy for the student to master without additional help. There is little doubt that the text presents a challenge in good teaching to the teacher who uses it. At the same time, it is certain that the student who masters all of the subject matter and theory presented in the text and who can work all of the exercises has a thorough grasp of the fundamental principles of organic chemistry rhich will equip him well to puruue advanced srirntifie work in chemistry and allied fields. And this, above all, is the stated aim of the authors. C . A. L i N D E R K E R F U ~ l v r n s l ~orr K A N B * ~ LAKREUCE, K*nls.,.
ENGINEERING AS A CAREER Ralph I. Smith, Head, Engineering Department, San Jose College. McG~awHill Book Co., Inc.. New York, 1956. xi 365 pp. Many figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. 54.75.
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THE book is written for 8 freshman ~ h o has become interested in engineering. I t s main object is t o aqusint him r i t h engineering as a career and to indicate the qualifications, duties, and responsibilities of engineers. I t attempts to define the engineering profession in i,erms of functions as well as branches. I t is this latter idea of functions rather than branches that this reviewer can hearhily applaud. Perhaps this reviewer should first disqualify himself. It is approximately fifty years since he was n freshman in an engineering curriculum and forty since he last attempted to teach freshmen.
(Continued on page A178)
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATlON
