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sodium arsenite, etc., which in their turn, are oxidized in presence of sodium sulphite, ferrous hydroxide, etc. Similarly, we have proved that the oxidation of fats is retarded by carbohydrates and vice versa,” p. 57. “In the case of adrenal secretions, we assume that the oxidation of fat is also accelerated by the promoter action of the secretion, and consequently in this case also the main store of energy comes from the oxidation of fat, and so the glucose is not oxidized and glycosuria results. “With pituitary the case is different; for we assume that in presence of this secretion i t is mainly the oxidation of protein matter which is increased; and consequently the energy supply comes from this oxidation, leaving glucose and fats unoxidized. From this point of view i t will be clear that the function of the pancreas secretion, which mainly accelerates the oxidation of glucose, need not be considered antagonistic to that of the thyroid, pituitary, or adrenals. We assume that the matter merely rests on the preferential oxidation of one variety of food material due t o the presence of the promoter. In hyper-functioning of the pancreas the glucose will be readily oxidized, and will supply the energy, Hence, according to our point of view, the pancreas need not inhibit the action of the thyroid, or the adrenals; moreover, the adrenal or thyroid need not inhibit the action of the pancreas. We are strongly of the opinion that in normal health pancreas, thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary perform their proper function by promoting the oxidation of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the proper proportions. Consequently a combination of the respective hormones, especially thyroid and pituitary, should yield better results in many diseases than either singly,” p. 58. “Addison’s disease is today regarded by most investigators as due to hypofunction of the adrenal glands. I t develops gradually with general asthenia, lack of interest, and malaise; digestive disturbances are common, with vomiting or diarrhoea and constipation, which may be alternating in character. Addison’s disease usually resists all methods of treatment. Organotherapy with adrenal substance offersgreat hope, and in the hands of numerous practitioners has proved far more effective than all other therapy,” p. 86. “Rijhrig and Zuntz showed that a curarized warm-blooded animal at ordinary room temperature lost the power of maintaining its body temperature and that the intensity of metabolism decreased accordingly, Curare prevents the transmission of motor impulses to voluntary muscles. Krogh states that the curve of oxygen absorption as influenced by body temperature is the same in the anesthetized frog and fish as in the curarized dog,” p. 123. The author is attempting to show that many physiological disturbances are due to improper and unbalanced oxidation. The reviewer is attempting to show t h a t many physiological disturbances are due t o over-agglomeration or over-dispersion of proteins. Some day some intelligent person will show that these are two parts of the same point of view. Perhaps improper and unbalanced oxidation causes overagglomeration or over-dispersion of proteins. WILDERD. BANCROFT.
Physical Chemistry for Students of Biology and Medicine. By DAVIDI. HITCHCOCK. 23 x 15 cm.; pp. xii + 182. Baltimore: Charles C. Thomas, 1932. Price: $2.75. In the preface the author says: “The material presented in this book has been offered during the past five years to medical and graduate students in Yale University as a part of the course in physiology.” The chapters are entitled: gases; liquids and gases; solutions; solutions of electrolytes-the law of mass action; hydrogen ions, indicators and buffers; galvanic
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cells and electrometric pH determination; adsorption-the colloidal state; membrane equilibrium; equilibria in blood; reaction velocity and enzyme action; oxidationreduction potentials-phase boundary of potentials; electrokinetic phenomena; transformation of energy. The book is essentially orthodox. Distrubing facts are ignored conscientiously and effectively. No reference is made anywhere t o the effect of solubility on partial pressures, as in the case of ether and water and consequently there is no reference t o the absence of any solubility term in the so-called Raoult formula. All proteins combine stoichiometrically with hydrogen chloride and albumin forms true solutions in water, p. 116. WILDERD. BANCROFT.
Gmelins Handbuch der anorganischen Chemie. 8 Auflage. Herausgegeben von der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft. System Nummer 59. Eisen. Teil A. Lieferung 4. 26 x 18 om.; pp. 587-846. Berlin: Verlag Chemie, 1932. Price 41 Marks (Subscription Price 35.50 Marks). This volume, written by Prof. Durrer of the Technische Hochschule, Charlottenburg, is a continuation of Lieferung A3, will be completed b y Lieferung A4, and deals with the metallurgy of iron. I t contains accounts of the puddling process, the Bessemer, Thomas and other Open-Hearth processes, electric furnace methods, and several minor processes. The references to the literature are very complete, including European and American publications, and there are numerous curves and illustrations of plant. The actual text is relatively meagre, most of the space being taken up by literature references, and numerical data, so that the volume is essentially intended for readers who have a good library available. I t cannot replace the usual works on ferrous metallurgy, since the descriptions are far too sketchy to be of any particular value in themselves. It would seem that by branching off into chemical technology the editors of Gmelin have rather departed from the intention of the work, and if other parts of the subject are to be treated on the applied side in the same way as in the present volume, the result will be somewhat disappointing. J. R. PARTINOTON. Eisen- und Stahllegierungen Patentsammlung. Zugleich Anhang w r Metallurgie des Eisens in Gmelins Handbuch der anorganischen Chemie. By A. GRUTZNER. 26 x 18 cm. ;pp. 308. Berlin: Verlag Chemie, 1932. Price 32 Marks. This volume, which is an appendix t o the sections on iron and steel in Gmelin’s Handbuch, consists entirely of references t o patents, with brief statements of the contents, arranged in tabular form according to the chemical composition of the systems. The patents cover the period 1880 to 1932 and various countries, and there are 7000 references. There is no doubt that such a work will save a n enormous amount of time and labour and the price must be considered reasonable. It should be in all technical libraries, J. R. PARTINOTON. T h e Sorption of Gases and V a p o u r s by Solids. By J. W. MCBAIN. 23 x 14 cm.; pp. xii 577. London: Geo. Routledge and Sons, 1932. Price 25 shillings net. The group of rather heterogeneous phenomena known as the sorption of gases and vapours b y solids has been the subject of a great number of experimental and theoretical investigations, and has acquired a n extensive and scattered literature. In view of the great general interest of the subject, a book merely giving a classified survey of the material and literature references would in itself be of appreciable
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