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JOURNAL O F CHEMICAL EDUCATION
RADIOISOTOPES IN BIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE
C. L. Comor, Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, formerly Laboratory Director and Research Cwrdinator, University of Tennessee-Atomic Energy Commission Agricultural Research Program. MoGrawHill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1955. xiii 481 pp. 91 figs. 97 tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. 59.
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THE keynote adjectives whioh should be applied to Dr. Camar's book are com~ l e t e , systematic, and thorough. So systematic is Dr. Comar in his present* tion that the student in a field other than the life sciences will 6nd much of value and help in this book. Dr. Comm's avowed purpose in writing, this book is "to bring home to the student and investigator an appreciation and understanding of how radioisotopes can fit into his program and then to show how the experimental work can be undertaken." This reviewer would go a step farther by adding the following corollary: While it may not have been a primary purpose of the book, certainly a considerable part of the value of the book is to be found by the chemist and physicist who may be somewhat familiar with radioisotopes and radiochemical techniques but require further insight into the problems faced by the biologist and the techniques at his disposal. In this day and age it is becoming increasingly difficult to draw a fine line of distinction between what is called chemistry, biology, or physics. As more and more complicated problems are tackled, like cancer, heart disease, mental illness. etc., the individual scientist finds to an ever increasing extent that he can no longer confine himself to the branch of science in whioh he majored in college. Whether he is working alone or as a member of a research team, he finds that he must not only "speak the language" of his colleague, but he must also understand the problems, the potentialities, and the limitations of the branch of science of
cise hut complete explanations have been added. Throughout the book are copious bibliographies an a variety of subjects. The extent of the bibliographies assures the reader of the accuracy of the text, for it is obvious that each detail has been checked with painstaking care. Moreover, confusion has been dispelled with authority, as witness Dr. Comar's discussion on page 88 of the various definitions and conversion factors encountered when one is talking of the radiation dose received by tissue. It seems customary for reviewers to point out a t least one or two faults in any hook, however good it may otherwise be. In this case this is almost impossible. The only point which this reviewer could find to debate is s, trivial one on page 120 regarding the decontamination properties of bench tops. Of special interest to this particular reviewer is Chapter 6, a long, detailed, and highly useful chapter on Properties and Procedures for Individual Radioisotopes. Here, in 122 pages, the author metbodioctlly discussesradioisotopes of some 55 different chemical elements; data are tabulated in a systematic form which makes ready reference later s. pleasure. This reviewer would like to remonstrate gently with the author for not including such newly available radioisotopes as fluorine-18 and iodine-132, but such expostulation is not to be taken very seriously, inasmuch as the hook, as it stands, represents not only an excellent text but a eompilstion of considerable proportions. To sum up, this hook is highly recommended to all biologists and to those chemists and physicists whose work does or may border on biology.
Arthur and Elizabeth Rose, State College, Pennsylvania. Fifth edition. Reinhold Pvblishing Corp., New York. 1200 pp. 16 X 23 cm. 1956. xix $12.50. HEREis the first place to look for practical chemical information. A singlevolume work which can give short encyclopedic treatment to "einstinium," "elutriation!' and "Elvaeet" on the same Daee is one which belongs on or near the desrk of every chemist. Over 30,000 up-to-date entries are included on the 1,200 easy-toread pages. Thousands of trade and brend names are identified; those materials considered haaardous to transport are indicated.
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KNIFE-EDGE BEARINGS
P. I. Geary, England. British Scientific Instrument Research Association. South Hill, Chislehurst, Kent, England, 1955. 61 pp. 19 figs. 15.5 X 24 cm. viii Paper bound. 51.50.
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THISis the second in the series of bibliagrephical surveys on instrument parts published by the British Scientific Instrument Research Association. The information is empirical hut critically assembled and correlated. Line drawings are good. This is a definitive work on a "narrow" topic. W. F. K. THE CHEMISTRY AND REACTIVITY OF COLLAGEN K. H. Gustavson, Garveriniiringens Forslmingsinstitut, Stockholm. Academic Press, Inc., New York. 1956. ix X 342 pp. 46 figs. 3 7 tables. 16 X 23.5 em.
58. THE CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY OF WAXES
the gap between the sciences. Admittedly, however, the book is written primarily for the biologist and written n.ith such affectionate care and understanding that the biologist cannot fail to benefit considerably. In his prefsee, Dr. Comar states, "Chapter I presents certzin basic principles unobscured by consideration of nuclear physics and experimental details. These principles are illustrated by examples drawn from auch diverse fields as physiology, nutrition, entomology, and soils and fertilizers." This is indeed true, and it illustrates the literary and pedagogical techniques rvbich serve to enhance the value of the book. The book is profusely illustrated with clear legible drawings and photographs from which unnecessary and distracting detail has been omitted but to which con-
THE CONDFNSED CHEMICAL DICTIONARY
Albin H. Worth, Wax Research Consultant, The Crown Cork and Seal Co., Baltimore, Maryland. Second edition. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York, 940 pp. 3 9 figs. 9 3 1956. vii tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. 518.
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THISdefinitive reference work has been enlarged greatly over its 1947 f i s t edition. 25, 239 (1948).) The (See THIS JOURNAL increase in size reflects both the incnased developments in wax technology and the author's success in keeping his coverage up-to-date. Though written for those whose work is with waxes, the widespread application of these compounds usually neglected by the organic chemistry courses makes this a necessary book for every college library. W. F. K.
THIS monograph consisting of 13 c h a p ters "gives an outline of the chemistry of collagen, its structural organization and behavior, particularly in reversible squeous systems, in the light of the modern eoncepts of proteins and protein reactions. The nature of the stabilizing forces in collagen and their alteration on various pretreatments of collagen, including the hydrothermal shrinkage, are comprehensively disoussed, ss are problems of importance in biochemistry, medicine, and tecbnology." Special attention is given tore-
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developed around the problems which Gustrwson considers to he the outstanding and actual ones a t present, the various aspects of collagen are more widely and extensively covered in this text than in any other book on this important elms of proteins. "The available books on collagen are limited in scope, principally treating the physics of collagen, its structure
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VOLUME 33, NO. 12, DECEMBER. 1956 and the solubilized collagens, whereas the thesis of branched-chain compounds,'' chemistry and reactivity are given scant by Konrad Bloch; "Some metabolic prodattention only. These Isst are the princi- ucts of hasidiomyeetes," by M. Anchel; pal issues of this hook. The presentation "The development of a plasm& volume has been arranged to suit the nonspecial- expander," by M. Bovarnick and M. R. ist as well as the specialist." The problem Bovarnick; "Problems in lipidc metaboof cross linking of collagen is covered lism," hy S. Gurin; "Tetrwoles as carboxylie acid analogs," by R. M. Herhst; comprehensively. The background for this monograph is "The structural basis for the differentiathe author's intensive work with collagen tion of identical groups in asymmetric in the form of hides and skins for nearly 40 reactions," by H. Hirschmsnn; "The years. I t is s. most comprehensive treatise metabolism of inositol in microorganisms: and in the opinion and knowledge of the a study of molecular conformation and reviewer the best work an the subject now biochemical reactivity," by B. Magaexisting. It is also a beautiful example of ssnik; "The biochemistry of ferritin," by A. Mrtzur; "The biosynthesis of porthe printers' art. ARTHUR W. THOMAS phyrins," by D. Shemin; "The role of carbohydrates in the biosynthesis of are: co,,nller* U N l V E n s l T r matic compounds," by D. B. Sprinson; NEWYORK.NEW YORK "Glycogen turnover," by D. Stetten, Jr., and M. R. Stetten; and "The veratrum alkamines," by 0 . Wintersteiner. ESSAYS IN BIOCHEMISTRY In summary, the following statement Edited by Samuel Gmff. John Wiley h from the preface is apropos: "The essaySons, Inc., New York, 1956. x 345 pp. ists were accorded free rein in regard to subject and style. The articles, for the Figs. and tables. 15.5 X 23.5 cm. $6.50. most part, are neither reviews nor experiwas written mental reports. Some me critical discus"ESSAYSIN BIOCHEMISTHT" in tribute to Professor Hans Tbacher sions of the status of a biochemical pprobClarke by former students and academic lem at the time of writing, whereas others associates on the occasion of his retirement. are frankly speculative or deliberately Twenty-five biochemical subjects are sur- provocative." Students, teachers, and reveyed by experienced researchers in essays searchers dike will find "Essays" stimuwhich give the reader an evaluation of the lating reading. present status of research on the problem ORVILLE G. BENTLEY concerned and an over-all appraisal of Otlro Aemooman~fiEXPEBI~ENT STATION hypotheses now being experimentally W o o s ~ e Onro ~. tested in various laboratories. To many readers, the philosophy of the research a p proxh expressed in the following essays will stimulate some reflective thinking: BLOOD GROUP SUBSTANCES: "Very big and very small-remarks on THEIR CHEMISTRY AND conjugated proteins," by E. Chargaff; IMMUNOCHEMISTRY "Biochemistry of lysogeny," by E. Borek; "Unbalanced growth and death, a study Elvin A. Kabat, Deparbnents of Microin thymine metabolism," by S. S. Cohen; biology and Neurology. College of Physi"The chemical basis of heredity deter- cians and Surgeons, Columbia University, minants," by Stephen Zamenhof; "Some and Neurological Institute, Presbyterian thoughts on the biochemistry of steroid Hospital, New York. Academic Press, Inc., hormones,'' by L. L. Engel; and "On the New York, 1956. i s 330 pp. Many bigness of enzymes by D. Rittcnberg. figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 em. 58. It is not surprising that "Biosynthesis of T m s little volume is an attempt by one peptide bonds," by J. S. Fruton, "On determining the chemical structure of pro- of the expert workers in the field to collect teins," by W. H. Stein, "Some aspects of together the information now available nitrogen transfer in biosynthetic mech- on hlood group substances. "The term anisms," by 8. Ratner, and "Thenitrogen- blood group substance refers to any of a sparing effect of glucose," by H. D. Hober- number of substances on or in the surface man, are found among the titles since the of erythrocytes which are present in cersubject of proteins is so vital to the field tain individuals of a species but lacking these scientists represent. Likewise, "He6 in others." At the present time in huerogeneity of deoxyribonucleic acid," by mans alone about 50 different substances A. Bendich, "The biochemistry of the of this kind have been detected. In genbacterial viruses," by E. A. Evans, Jr,, eral they are complex structures contain"On the nature of cancer," by S. Graff, ing hoth polysaccharide and amino acid dong with articles previously mentioned, units. Only a few, however, have been by S. S. Cohen and S. Zamenhof, present the subject of detailed chemical investithe challenge to the modern biological gation. Dr. Kabat devote8 about half scientist-the chemical basis for the trans- the hook to a, disoussion of the purification mission of genetic characteristics of living and chemical reactivity of these few. The teacher of chemistry will find here cells. The diversity of subjects covered is sug- a wealth of information illustrating the methods for studying complex molecules. gested by the following titles: "Biosyn-
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Many fields of science are used in the work. "The chemistry of the hlood group substances has been studied in few laboratories, but these investigations have had a considerable impact on and have drawn considerably from the related fields of Immunochemistry, Immunology, Carbohydrate and Protein Chemistry, Thermodynamics and Physical Chemistry, Genetics, and Clinical Medicine." A stimulating feature of the hook is the comments on the many aspects of the studies that are still incomplete either far lack of enough work or for lack of a. goad idea. Such suggestions ought to be a source of interest to the more mature students as they consider the kinds of chemical problems still waiting solution. Dr. Kabat has given anexcellent present* tion of a subject filled with technical complications. LAURENCE E. STRONG Enn~nnuC o m m e R~cnuoao,INDIANA
ION EXCHANGE TECHNOLOGY Edited by F. C. Nachod, SterlingWinthrop Research Institute, and Jack Schubert, Argonne National Laboratory. Academic Press. Inc., New York, 1956. x 660 pp. Many figs. and tables. 16 X 23.5 cm. 515.
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THE growth of the importance of ion exchangers in technical operations has made this comprehensive survey of their present applications a welcome addition to any reference ~helf. The fact that the contributors judiciously weigh the limitations as well as the advantages of employing ion exchange resins, and that the chapters deal with the design, equipment, operation, and economics of the process makes the book so much the more valusble. Nearly every chapter is alive with ideas, hoth explicit and implicit, for additional applications and for fruitful research. The editors aspired to produce "a book on ion exchange which would serve hoth as a reference and as a textbook for technologists and engineers." They succeeded in compiling a reference work for chemists as well. Only as a text is it Limited to technologists and engineers. The twenty chapters by thirty-faur contributors are divided into two sections: fundamental aspects and applications. The treatment of fundamental aspects suffers from the absence of a unified discussion of the physical chemistry of inn exchangers. Instead, topics such as the mechanism of exchange and the cause of swelling are dealt with whenever a contributor felt the necessity for discussing them. As a result, previous knowledge of ion exchange chemistry is often required for a full appreciation of the discussions. The applications that are discussed include both commercial and not yet commercial uses: water treatment, metals
