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NEW BOOKS
Short as this book is, the author suggests that “students Tvho do not need the whole of the subject matter of this book but desire only to make a general survey, should read chapters I, 11, 111, IV, and IX.” WILDERD. RANCROFT.
The Lyophilic Colloids (Their Theory and Piactice). By MARTIN H. FISHER and MARIAN 0. HOOKER.240 pp.; 84 illustrations; 3 parts. Springfield, Illinois, and Baltimore, Maryland: Charles c. Thomas, 1932. Price $4.25. This book contains the work of the authors during the last fifteen years. The first two-thirds is devoted t o a general discussion of lyophilic colloids. In this first part the authors develop the idea from such systems as phenol-water, quinoline-water, and gelatin-water, of the solution of water in these various substances, as well as the solution of these substances in water. This is the central theme of the book. Extensive usage is made of resistance measurements. The authors plunge themselves into a wilderness of heterogeneous’systems without adequate physicochemical tools. The result is confusion. I t seems meaningless to the reviewer to distinguish in kind between a solution of phenol in water and that of water in phenol. H. R. Kruyt and H. G. B. de Jong receive no recognition. The second part is devoted to chemical applications. Here again they emphasize the idea of mutual solubility. They state t h a t when dealing with lyophilic systems ‘ I . , the electrical properties, ions, isoelectric points, Donnan equilibria and pHs and CHs all pass out of the picture.” There are short sections on greases and the livering of points. The third section deals with the biological applications. They criticize the osmotic concept of the cell and point out the prevailing confusion in these matters. They discuss a colloid chemical theory of water absorption based on their concepts. They adduce for proof that protoplasm is a solution of water in X, the fact that a man may go in swimming or be rained upon and not dissolve. They declare that there is no free water in protoplasm but they fail to note that there has been an increasing effort on the part of chemists and physiologists to devise accurate methods to determine the exact state of this water and thus dispense with vague speculations. This book makes interesting reading. It gives us a description of the bogs and morasses from which colloid chemistry emerged some fifteen years ago. HENRYB. BULL.
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Struktur der Materie: vier Vortrage. By P. DEBYE. 22 x 15 cm.; iv 50 pp. Leipzig: 8. Hirzel, 1933. Price (stiff paper covers): 3 R. M. The subjects of the four lectures are: (1) Interferometric measurement of molecular structures; (2) Electrical structure of molecules; (3) Molecular structure of liquids; (4) Structure of electrolytic solutions. The book deals exclusively with modern developments-such as the application of x-ray and electron diffraction to stereochemical problems, the determination of dipole moments, and other typical branches of the beautiful work with which Debye and his school have been so closely associated during the past decade. The treatment is entirely elementary and descriptive. The booklet provides an excellent and stimulating survey for non-specialists and young students; its value would be appreciably enhanced by the addition of even a few references to original papers. H. R. ROBINRON.
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