All these topics are discussed clearly and in detail. Enough phy~iologyis presented to give the average c h e m i ~ tan understanding of the hiochemieal mechanisms involved. The relation between chemical structure and degree of toxicity has been carefully worked out, and a number of methods for increasing thc potency of the compounds for purpaaes of warfare arp drscribcd. Among these is the use of D.F.P. as a diluent for mustard gas. As the author remarks, bhis gives a very "unwholesome" mixture. I t is indeed fortunate that these suhstanceii were not employed for the destruction of human life, and that, as Ssunders mya, "the progrms of the work provides a wonderful example of the heating of the proverhid swords into plongh8hnres." H E N R Y XI. LEICESTER COLLECEOF PIIYBICIINB AND Smoroh-8 SAX F n * ~ c l s c o .( . * L I F o R ~ . ~ *
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL TRANSLATING Secretariat and Baud of Editors, UNESCO, Paris; UNESCO Publication Center, New York, 1957. 282 pp. 15.4 X 24 cm. $4.
CALLED .a progresd report, this pohlication is the fourth in the UNESCO series on Donmentalion and Terminology of Seience. I t is the reault of long collaboration hetween the Secretariat of UNESCO and aver 200 persons in 21 countries, assembled by three national editors (English, French, Italisn). Seven chapters cover the proportionate requirements for the knowledge of lnngnages, in terms of both the literabore nvailahle and the needs of readers; methods and organizations for making tranalationr avnilahle; language prohlems of srienti~tsand propoaed artificial international languages; and the perennial difficulties of terminology and lexieography, with constructive suggestions for improving technical dietionariea. The introdnetion emphasizes the fact that about 50% of scientific literature is in languages that more than 50%of scientists cannot read. There is a n interesting discussion of the types ofindividuels and services for translating; the great need far pooling and indexing the results of such lahors everywhere, in order t o avoid expennive and wasteful duplication of effort; and the problems of publication and copyright involved. The fact that English receives increasing support-and not only from those t o whom i t is netive-is no reason for us to relax in urging the study of foreign languages by our scientists and technologists. With the Frenoh and German, once considered sufficient for the reading of scientific literah e , Russian has long deserved equal attention. Spanish and Italian have risen in importance; and for ccrtain develop ments, one Scandinavian language (e.g., Swedish) and an idnographic one (e.g., Chinese) are also often nerded. There are four enlightening appendices. (Continued on page A$%)
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
Many familiar names appear among the contributors and critics (I), and in the general bibliography (2) which runs through 1955. Lists of books for the study of technical language (3) are grouped for the study of, sag, English, German, or Russian by French, English, Spanish, or other readers. There is also a good index. The book is well printed, on good paper. The pages look crowded, undoubtedly throueh the need to eomnress this vast,
type to many sections of the report. It may not look like easy reading, but once started on it, you would not think of skimming, lest you miss some of those unhibited comments. Scientific in the title of this book includes bath pure science and all applieations in engineering, medicine, industry, whatever. It would be a. valuable addition to the library of m y teacher or researcher in science and technology. But for anyone who now doen or might like to do translating of scientific and technical literature, it should be a. must. FLORENCE E. W A L L NEWYORK.N. Y.
NATLTRAL MAGICK
Giombattista della Porta. Edited b y Derek I. Price, The Smiihsonian In&tute. Basic Books, Inc., New York, 1957. ir 409 pp. 18.5 X 28 cm. 57.50.
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sance. This is the scarce second English edition and the full flavor of Renais~ame science and superstition can now be s ~ v o r e db,v any chemist or student without going to the rare book department of a great library. A critical examination of a book on seience and technology, first written 400 year8 ago, cannot be made on the basis of s. comparison with modern volumes on the subject. It must be considered in the light of similar works written a t about the same time. The first edition of "Naturxl Magick" was published in Naples in 1558. The "Secrets of Alexis of Piedmont" had appeared in Venice three years earlier. Both works were trandated into many languages, enlarged and published in many editions for over a, century. While both works furnished the many accepted recipes of the time for making cosmetics, medical remedies, cooking, treating metals, making inks, Porta's work is unique in that it also contained new scientific information and the results of "research" which are acceptable by today's standards. Alexis' work although even more popular, u w only typical of hundreds of similar books which for the mast pert were just compilations of k n o m recipes recorded in the literature of the time or handed dourn by word of mouth. From the scientific standpoint certain sections of Parta's book are outstanding.
(Continued on page A840) JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
