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Studies i n Biophysics: The Critical Temperature of Serum (56”). By LECOMTE DC X O V Y . vi 185 pp. S e w York: Reinhold Publishing Corporation, 1945. Price: $3.50. This book describes the effectslof heat-treatment on the properties 6f serum of the horse, rabbit, and other animals. Representative data from thousands of very careful measurements of visdosity, optical rotation and rotatory dispersion, light scattering, depolarization of scattered light, sedimentation of precipitates, electrical conductivity, pH, interfacial tension, interaction with ether, and ultraviolet-light absorption are cited to show t,hat above 56“ irreversible changes take place in serum, the more rapidly the higher the temperature. Some of the observed changes are interpreted as representing an increase in volume of protein molecules by hydration. Many readers probably will be skeptical of the enormous values of hydration deduced. Following recent theoretical developments to which the author has not referred, they may prefer to interpret increases in viscosity in terms of changes in shape, and increases in light scattering and depolarization in terms of aggregation. The introduction contains some interesting remarks concerning the author’s philosophy of experimentation. The style of the book is lucid and expressive. JOHS D. FERRY.
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Qualitative Inorganic Microanalysis. A Short Elementary Course. By R . BELCHERA N D CECILL . WILSON. 18 x 12 cm.; viii 68 pp. London, Yew I’ork, and Toronto: Longmans, Green and Company, 1946. Price: 2/6d. .Microanalytical methods have advantages over the well-known procedures of ordinary qualitative analysis,and not leastamongstthe benefits tostudents is the training in manual dexterity which is so valuable in experimental research. The authors describe in detail how the experimentalist can make very simply from glass tubing much of the apparatus required, and a chapter is devoted to the minutiae of its manipulation in a variety of tests. The scheme for the qualitative analysis of mixtures of the commoner cations is based on the use of hydrogen sulfide and the zirconium separation for phosphates. A procedure avoiding the use of hydrogen sulfide is also presented. The chapter of tests for acid radicals and the table of preliminary tests might well he expanded. The book contains twenty-eight excellent diagrams to which frequent references in the text would be facilitated by giving the numbers of the pages on which they appear, as well as the figure numbers. Errors are few, but “sulphite” is out of position near the bottom of the table on page 31. The book is good value for the money and should be in the hands of all who are learning and practising chemistry. J. G . A . GRIFFITHS.
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Science f o r Democracy. Edited and with an introduction by JEROME KATHANSON.170 pp. Morningside Heights, New York: King’s Crown Press, 1946. Price: $2.50. Especially during the war period many natural scientists have become more conscious thanever of the social implications of science. Throughscience mankind has gained control over man. No wonder that many scientists feel that it is their human duty to offer their aid in, the settlement of sociological problems of national and international scope. The book under discussion deals with the social implications of science, the social obligations of scientists, and the application of scientific methods to sociological problems. The book is a very timely one and should be a source of inspiration t o those scientists who are socially minded. The book is devoted t o the following topics: “Science in the Kational Economy; “The Challenge of Science t o Social Thinking;” “Does Private Industry Threaten Freedom of Scientific Research;” and “The Role of Science in the Determination of Democratic Policy.” As can be suspected from the titles, the book is partly of a philosophic and partly of a practical nature. The Introduction, by J. Nathanson, excels in clear statements. Some
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of these are quoted below, partly because of their own value and partly because they reflect upon the nature of the papers and the discussions found i n the book. “The papers and discussions which follow are a n attempt t o grapple with the problem of making the scientific habit of mind a n integral part of the democratic process. I n the months that have elapsed since the first atom bomb fell on Hiroshima, the phfsicists have learned some of the hard lessons of political responsibility and political activity. “Aware of the social implications of their professional work, they (scientists) have left the laboratory for the public forum, and in doing so, they have themselves received a fur-
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cientists are united in the realization t h a t their futures are inseparable from the future of the democratic cause, they will themselves help dig the grave of free inquiry. The “ hot” problem of “planning in science” is touched upon already in the Introduction: “The chief problem of our time is how t o plan our economic and social life without sacrificing freedom. To say t h a t planning necessarily leads t o serfdom is as ridiculous as t o say t h a t using our heads necessarily means tying our hands. We can use both our heads and our hands. We can plan our national and international life intelligently and increase human freedom. The problem is how t o do it. T h a t is a problem of intelligence, or organizthe second place, scientists are obliged to see ing knowledge, in a word, of scien t h a t their knowledge functions in ent, insisting wherever and whenever possible t h a t they are not subservient employees of government employees, but their colleagues i n planning policy.” Lack of space does not permit a lengthy discussionof the many valuable papers presented in this book. The controversial subject “Science i n the National Economy” is discussed i n three papers: “Science and Human Welfare” by P. B. Sears, “ T h e Scientific Spirit and Economic Dogmatism” by J. Frank, and “ T h e Gentlemen Talk of Science” by R . 8. Lynd. I n his well-documented and tolerant paper Judge Frank takes exception to Hayek: “Because in the lands from which they fled, a robust democratic faith never took root, Teutonic refugees, like Hayek, fail to comprehend the American democratic tradition.” The questions raised by Lynd give much thought for reflection. “All this raises the question: whose business is science? I n a democracy there ought to be only one possible answer t o t h a t question. You may ask: where are the scientists themselves in all this Our fates as Scientists depend not upon men of good will, but upon the outcome of the contemporary struggle for power.” Why not recognize the contributions of scientists t o society as the realistic Russians do? In the part dealing with “Challenge of Science to Social Thinking” Dr. Gerald Wendt states: “But one thing is certain, it will be infinitely harder for the unscientific public t o readjust its thinking than i t was for the scientist. Thus the basic challenge of science to society lies in the need of constant readjustment to change.” “Does private industry threaten freedom of scientific research?” is answered by a n emphatic “No” by D r . Langsdorf. “But I do not know of any instance of suppression, or attempted suppression, of research in the physical sciences because someone felt that vested interests might be threatened.” Many scientists, including your reviewer, will not agree with D r . Langdorf’s statement. I n this connection, Dr. H . Grundfest’s paper and expecially his discussion of the question “Does industry threaten freedom of research by various forms of monopoly and cartel practice?” is of particular interest. The main bulk of the book is devoted t o symposia on “Freedom of Scientific Research” and “The RBle of Science in Determination of Democratic Policy.” The papers and the discussions in the book exemplify the true spirit of democracy, which makes a free exchange of thoughts and opinions among intellectual leaders possible. On page 166 M r . Putnam defines the conference as an instrument for action to extend the application of scientific method as a means of promoting democracy. However, the means of promoting scientific thinking among the masses is barely touched upon. It is true t h a t newspapers, magazines, and the radio successfully popularize science, thus con-
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tributing t o a n increasing appreciation of science by the public. However, the kind of information supplied is mainly of a factual nature. What we need particularly in a growing democracy is the more general adoption of the objective, unbiased way of scientific thinking by all groups of the population. This teaching of the method of scientific thinking should be a n essential part of the general program of teaching of science. I. M. KOLTHOFF.
Scientific Inslrumenls. By HERBERTJ. COOPER. 305 pp. Brooklyn, New York: The Chemical Publishing Company, Inc., 1946 Price: $6.00. Those who are interested in instrumentations will find this a most useful book. As the author states, it is not intended as a manual giving the operating details of a given instrument or its use, but rather to present the broad principles of instrumentation in many different fields of science. The specialist will not find anything he doesn’t know about his own instrument but will find out about the other man’s. The book is divided into five sections: optical instruments, measuring instruments, navigation and surveying instruments, liquid testing, and miscellaneous. Each of these sections treats a number of instruments. Electrical instruments, including electrometers and Geiger counters, are not treated. S. C. LISD. Enzymes and their R6Ze in Wheat Technology. Edited by J.,ASSELANDERSON.American Association of Cereal Chemists Monograph Series, Vol. I. ix 371 p. 215 Fourth Avenue, Kew York 3, Xew York: Interscience Publishers, Inc., 1946. Price: $4.50. This monograph brings together the current fundamental knowledge of certain enzyme systems and the r61e of such systems in wheat technology. Following an introductory chapter by Sandstrom on the general chemistry of enzymes, the specific enzyme systems considered have been treated from two aspects: a critical review of the general knowledge i n each field, followed by a chapter on the specific r6le of the enzyme system in wheat technology. Chapters by Caldwell and Adams and by Kneen and Sandstedt deal with the amylases, which system, incidentally, has been the most clearly elaborated of the various enzymes of importance to cereal chemists. Following these, Longenecker reviews the general field of the esterases, while in the succeeding chapter Sullivan deals with their r61e in milling and baking. The section by Barron on oxidizing enzyme systems is a condensed but excellently written discussion on this complex subject. The following chapter by Sullivan discusses the present limited knowledge on these enzymes in relation to wheat and flour. The general field of proteases is coniprehensively reviewed by Balls and Kies, and the technological application of these enzymes to baking is discussed by Hildebrand. Werkman has given an up-to-date review on alcoholic fermentation and has preaented a lucid discussion of the intermediary mechanisms and phosphorylation. The last chapter, by Atkin, Schultz, and Frey, deals with the practical aspects of yeast fermentation as applied to bread doughs. Thus, fifteen recognized authorities on enzymes and their technological applications have contributed the eleven chapters which make up this volume. The reader is struck by the disproportion in our present knowledge between the comparatively well elaborated and organized information on enzymes from animal sources and their r81e in the intermediary metabolism of such tissues, and the sparsity of similar information on enzymes from plant sources. I n elearly raising this point, this volume should serve as a guide and a challenge to the majority of biochemists who have been interested in plants only as sources of certain enzymes and who have disregarded the integrated r6leof such enzymes in the intermediary metabolism of plants or the nature of their action in plant products. This book is a timely contribution to enzymology and will be of interest to both the research worker and the technologist. The bibliographies a t the end of every chapter as
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