BOOK REVIEWS Steroid Chromatography
Robert N e h q Cibe, Ltd., Basel, Switeerland. 2nd ed. American Elsevier Publishine Co.. New York. 1964. xiii 389 ~igs.and tabies. 14.5 X 22 cm. $11.
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This book is the second English edition of Neher's book "Chromatographie von Sterinen, Steroiden und Verwandten Verbindungen" originally published in 1958. It is much more than a normal second edition, however, since the number of references cited has more than doubled and the new methods of gas and thinlayer chromatography are considered for the first time. This hook, like the original, is accented toward practical aspects and has as its goal "to help its users reach the rieht conclusion with any of the techniquesdescribed." Four types of chromatography, column, paper, thin-layer, and gas are discussed insofar as they can be used for steroid separations. Each is, in turn, considered with respect to whether an adsorption or a partition system is involved. For eseb of these techniques, the methods of procedure, the available mrtterials and equipment, and the numerous "tricks of the trade" are fully discussed. This is followed by a series of specific examples chosen so that they cover the steroid field. A total of about one thousand references are cited including seventy-five which appeared after the book was finished and
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are given with titles. The literature coverage is through 1962 and part of 1963. The author has used his own wide practical experience in presenting his discussions and choosing his examples. The result is a considerable feeling of confidence on the part of the reader. Althouzh the book is written for and about
graphic work. Although theoretical aspects are not stressed, theory is included when it can be practically applied to give better separations. For example, the theory of partition is briefly considered and various attempts to relate structure and mobility are reviewed. Amole references are d v m to mare theoretical treatises. An important characteristic of this book is the attempt to compare the various techniques with one another and to sugrest which would be best far a eiven task.
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R values are given for many important steroids. These tables alone make the book worth while for steroid chemists. The book is highly readable and the translation is smooth indeed. There me few obvious errors. One might wish that the author had devoted more space to the preparative and quantitative aspects of the various methods although he has given ample references to the original litemture. In addition, an appendix giving addresses of various suppliers would have been useful. These, however, are sins of omission and certainly do not detract from s. first class monograph. JAMES M. BOBBITT University of Cmwtic2ll Stas
Neutron Irradiation and Analysis
Activation
D a i s Taykv, Plessy Co., Ltd., England. D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, 1964. ix 185 pp. Figs. and tables. 14.5 x 22.5 em. $8.75. I t is interesting to note that this book, m d the more extensive "Radioactivation Analysis" by H. J . M. Bowen and D. Gibbons (Oxford University Press, 1963), are both British contributions, and that they were the only books available on the subject of activation analysis until "Guide to Activation Analysis" by William S. Lyon, Jr., was published in late 1964 (D. Van Nostrand Co.). Basic information
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sus thin-layer chromatography and the criteria suggested for the application of gas chromatography are cases in point. The weak points as well as the strong points of each technique are carefully described. Much useful information has been presented in the various tables scattered throughout the book. Thus, the various solvent system and spray reagents are given in a nicely condensed farm and a. number of Rr values or similarly derived
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