in Part 11, which deals chiefly with proteihs, one might have expected that chapter 15, in which the amino acid composition of proteins is discussed, would precede chapters 13 and 14 which assume some knowledge of the relation of amino acids to proteins. Like criticism may he made of the sequence of other chapters in the volume. Each of the chapters r d e c t s the interests of the authors rather than an attempt to convey t o the reader an integrated view of the subject as a whole. However, for reference purposes, this does not constitute a material handicap t o the use of the monograph. The price of books that are appearing a t the present time is a deterrent t o their wide sale to college students. The writer is of the opinion that graduate students should purchase some hooks that will always be of use to them, especially in their field of interest, rather than depend on a library, and he has encouraged his students to do this. It is becoming increasingly difficult f o ~students to accumulate hooks for a small working library. Aside from the points that have been mentioned and other shortcomings that might be pointed out iri a more extensive review. Cahn and Edsall's monograph must be considered as a contribution to the literature of amino acids, peptides, and proteins and should find a place in all laboratories whose interests lie in this field. The reader should not expect t o digest its contents in an afternoon nor even in a longer period of time. A lot of hard work is required t o assimilate the facts. Having done this, he will have gained a rather thorough knowledge of a t least a portion of the available information relating t o the chemistry of this important and most interesting class of compounds. He will also realize that the field is by no means a closed one. A lot of hard work, of the type that will test the ingenuity of a t least another generation of workers, will have to be carried out before the chemistry of the proteins can he considered in a fairly satislactory state, especially from the organic standpoint. CARLL. A. SCHMIDT CAULPOBNI* BBXKDL~Y, cALuroaau
is that the text lacks balance among the several subdivisions of physical science. Being a physicist, the author has yielded t o the natural temptation of overemphasizing his own chosen field; more than half of the hook is devoted to physics and its applications. The part that chemistry plays in physical science is inadequately treated. The following are a few of the loose statements in the text which should be corrected. On page 265, "Nitrogen is prepared commerci+lly by the fractional distillation of air and from deoosits such as those men-.timed above " (Nitrate beds of Chile?) The implication is misleadinr ~ - - ~ -. ~ ~ ~ - ~ On page 272, "Water that is absolutely pure can he prepared only by distillation." "Pure" should be defined. On page 275, the author fails to mention the need of a cayalyst in discussing the subject of hydrogenation. Also, the important present use of hydrogen in the manufacture of ammonia. is omitted. Page 309, the reviewer believes the state of Arizona might challenge the statement "The most valuable copper deposits i n the United States are in northern Michigan." Page 267. "On the Fahrenheit temperature scale, water freezes or solidifies a t 32'F. and boils or vaporizes a t 212'F." The effect of pressure on the hoiling point should he mentioned. Also, water vaporizes throughout its liquid temperature range. C. S. ADAMS ~
A ~ r r o c nC O L L B ~ ~ YBLLOW SPE~NDS, Oar0
UNIVBBSITY OF
HIS PHYSICAL WORLD. DwighI E. Grey, Associate Professor of Physics, The University of Akron. First Edition. D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., New York, 1942. xii 665 pp. 218 figs. 15 X 23 cm. $3.75. This book represents "the outgrowth of several years of experience as the director of a science survey course required of all students except those majoring in a scientific field. Consequently the hook is concerned primarily with the instruction of those students for whom i t will constitute the principal, and in many cases, the only formal college contact with existing knowledge in the fields of astronomy, chemistry, geology, and physics." The hook contains 33 chapters arranged in units entitled, "Man and the Universe," "Man and the History of the Earth." "Man and the Tools of Science," "Man and Materials." "Man and Energy," and "Man Applies Science." Each chapter is accampanied by the following types of questions: discussion questions, multiple choice questions, and true-false exercises. "The discussion questions are intended to he useful in promoting classroom discussion, while the multiple choice and true-false exercises are based entirelv on the textbook and mav be used for grade-determining quizzes." There is an excellent Reading List in the appendix. The hook is well written in dear English and the style is stimulating. Teachers of physical science, who are interested in a text for a survey course in physical science in a program of general or liberal education, will find it an interesting and an original treatment of the subject. There is always great danger of oversimplification in writing a text of this kind. Loose statements and the sacrifice of scientific accuracy result. The reviewer found that the author was guilty of this common fault in a number of instances. However, the principal criticism, in the opinion of the reviewer, M A N AND
+
THE CHEMISTRYOF N A T ~ COLOR~NG L MATTERS. T h e Constitutions, Properties, and Biological Relations of the Important Natural Pigments. Fritz Mayer, formerly Professor of Chemistry in the University of Frankfort-on-Main. Translated and Revised by A. H. Cook, Professor of Chemis try, Imperial College of Science, London. American Chemical Society Monograph Series. Reinhold Publishing Corporation. New York. 1943. 354 pp. 15 X 22.7 cm. $10.00. This excellent monograph will he welcomed by all chemists interested in the naturally occurring pigments. Although it is based upon the 1935 edition of Professor Mayer's "Chemie der organischem Farhstoffe," the material has been entirely revised and rewritten. The death of Professor Mayer in July, 1940, threw the entire burden of translation and revision upon Dr. A. H. Cook who has accomplished the task admirably. This monograph provides reference material concerning the constitution and chemical and physical properties of the natural pigments. Whenever passihle the biological aspects and relationshim are minted out. Over 5000 references to earlv and rcccnt literature (to June. 19111 concerniug the source, isdotion, structure, and syntheses of pigmcnts occurring not only in flowers and fruits hut also in roots, seeds, leaves, wood, bark, resins, fungi, lichens, insects, bacteria, algae, worms, milk, eggs, liver. etc., are included. The treatment is clear, concise, and organized from a chemical point of view. The material is presented in five main chapters: Carotenoids (92 no.). . . Diarovlmethane Cam~ounds (3 . no.). . . .. Carlmyvlic Compounds (59 pp 1, Heterocyclic Connpounds ~contrininghetcroryrlir oxygen atoms tI0R pp ), Compounds Containing Ilrterwyrlic Nitrogen Atoms (70 pp.). There are numerous subdivisions under these main headings, and a good author index and a subject index areprovided. Both the author and the translator are to be congratulated for providing research workers with this thorough review of a very extensive field. R. L. SHRINER INDIAN* UNIYBRSIrn
.
..
B L O O ~ ~ ~ N OINDIANA TON,
