The Story of Chemistry. FLOYD L. D A R R O ~ . Bobbs-Merrill Company, 528 pp. New Yark, 1927. viii 22 figures. 16 X 24 cm. WOO.
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This volume is an attempt to sketch the historic background of the science "Om the time the chemists to the present day. Just enough of the underlying facts and principles of chemical science has been included. The emphasis is Won research and Iecent developments. It is mitten for nontechnical consumption and does not claim to be an encyclopedia of chemical information; many phases of chemical Of
industry have Omitted' The fint chapter, entitled The Alchemist, is followed by one on After the Alchemist, then Atoms, Electrons, and Protons. Other chapters follow on Power, Gases, Agriculture, Disease, Rubber, Metals, Synthetics. The book is written with the American reader in mind and closes with chapters on American P k w s s h Chemistry and Research: The Key to Future Progress. The first chapters of the book are a very successful attempt to reveal the development of chemistry as a science. The story of the alchemists and the manner in which modem chemistry is indebted t o them for the urge t o investigate is delightfully told. Toward the close of the volume the author lapses somewhat fromhis purpose to avoid the encyclopedic, but gives a sane account of important phases of chemical discovery, and refrains from terming them miracles and wonders. Recent years have seen much written on what chemistry does, but not enough on what chemistry is. There is real need far hooks which will set forth the method of chemistry rather than a cataloging of fantastic facts and a lauding of the spectacular. I n this volume the
author has taken a substantial first step, but only a first step in this direction. The task of selecting the significant and discarding the less important is always difficult. One wishes the author had even more, T~~ teacher f, general chemistry will wish to refer students to the section dealing with chemistry,s to that in the textbooks. it is As a for the layman it is delightfully told, without the use of formulas and technical terms, and without the feeling that the language has been stepped down is a pleasure to find new his level. and new to replace the traditional episodes and the hackneyed style f,, the familiar chemistry.in.daily. life type of book, WM.H. ADOLPH UNrv~Rsr~v
Recent Advances in Chemistry in R ~ ~ to Medical Practice, W, MCKIM MARRIoTT, B . ~ .M.D., , D~~~ pro. fffsor of Pediatrics, washington uni. venity School of Medicine, Physidan~ ~ ~ in.Chief, st. ~~~i~ C,V, Mosby Co,, St. Louis, 1928, 141 PP, 12 figures, 23 cm,
s2,50, The six lectures which comprise the subject matter of this book are from the Series of 1927 Lectures of the San Diego Academy of Medicine. The lectures are entitled: "Fundamental Chemical Considerations;" "Acidosis and lkalosis;" "The Chemistry of the Bloodif' "Foods and Metabolism" (two lectures) ; "The Endocrines." The author states in the preface: "It is the purpose of these lectures to summarize present knowledge mncerning certain important phases of chemistry and to point out, in so far as possible. the clinical applications of chemical
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principles. The lectures do not deal solely with a consideration of those phases of chemistry which are of immediate clinical application. Fundamental chemical conceptions are discussed a t length, for it is only with a full understanding of the nature of chemical processes that intelligent applications may he made. Throughout the lectures general principles rather than details are discussed, for a knowledge of details may readily be acquired, once one's interest in the suhject has been fully aroused." Most chemists who have had neither physiological chemistry nor pharmacology should find this book well worthwhile. It is written clearly, logically, briefly, and interestingly. One might question whether the title of the hook is a fortunate one. It would seem that "Recent Applications of Chemistry in Relation to Medical Practice" would be a title more in keeping with the spirit of the hook than the title "Recent Advances-." Organic chemists, a t least, are inclined to believe that some of the "Recent Advances" are due t o them, yet almost no mention is made of their work. In this sense, therefore, the title is misleading. It is of interest to note that an unusual typographical error occurs on the title page which immediately precedes Lecture I; there the title of the book is boldly listed as "Recent Advantages in Chemistry in Relation t o Medical Practice." The "sins" of the book appear t o be more largely those of omission than of commission. The former may he justified, certainly, when i t is realized that six lectures only were included. One feature of the book a t least will undoubtedly offend many of the chemical readers; namely, the use of hydrochloric acid (p. 20) t o illustrate the mass law. Also, it would seem that some better explanation of the fact that H + and C1+ ions, hut not Na+ or K + ions, permeate the red blood cells could he found than the H9C03t equation (p. 40): NaCl HCl NaHCOa.
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AU chemists should know more than a smattering of such topics as acidosis. alkalosis, ketosis, pH, vitamins (spelled in the text as vitamines), "calorid' in relation t o diet, food fads, diets in relation t o various states of health and ill health. hormones, and similar topics. Dr. Marriott's hook may well be recommended for such a purpose. CHARLESD. HUED N O R ~ S T B RUNIVERSITY N
Organic Chemistry. A Brief ht~oductory HarCourse. JAMBSBRYANT CONANT, ~ l University. d The Macmillan Co., 291 pp. 14 X New York, 1928. ix 21.5 cm. $2.60.
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This book is one of a few recent texts in organic chemistry in which "the author has unhesitatingly departed from the traditional arrangement of the subject matter whenever such departure seemed t o promise a more interesting grouping of topics or an easier road t o a mastery of the principles of the science. The usual introductory chapter dealing with the purification of compounds, methods of analysis, and the calculation of formulas has been omitted." "The author's experience in presenting organic chemistm to a variety of classes has led him t o believe that the alcohols have certain advantages over hydrocarbons as a point of departure." We read further: "The value of the paraffin hydrocarbons t o the systematist has, in the author's opinion, led t o an overemphasis of their pedagogic importance." I n the foreword, organic chemistry is defined as the chemistry of the compounds of carbon and attention is called to the variety of its applications. The chapters, in the order of their presentation, are entitled: alcohols; ethers, alkyl halides, esters; petroleum; unsaturated hydracarbons, rubber; organic adds; esters, fats, ails, and soaps; derivatives of ammoniaamides, amines, urea; aldehydes and ketones; synthesis of organic compounds; palyhalagen compounds,
