VOLUME 33, NO. 3, MARCH, 1956
meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in December, 1949. The symposium was concerned H. D. Springoll, University College of North Stafordshire. with four main topics, uiz., elementaryparticles, solid-state phys376 pp. 115 ics, chemical physics, and biophysics. These are very interestAcademic Press, Inc., New York, 1954. x figs. 23 tables. 14.5 X 22.5 om. $6.80. ing and important segments of contemporary physics, though INA relatively rhort number of pages Dr. Springall has given they certainly do not cover the whole of the science as it exists an admirably clear account of modern techniques of proteins today and therefore scarcely justify the M e . The individual from the chemist's point of view. Over 800 references to the articles are, moreover, somewhat specialized. Far example, the recent literature are cited, and hence the book serves as a con- group on elementary particles consists of two papers on cosmic radiation by E. P. Ney and J . C. Street, respectively, and one venient handbook on the subject. The book is divided into five chapters. The 6rst chapter Daner on the maenetir moment of the electron bv P. Kuseh. contains a lengthy treatment of the evidence far the existence of Theory is minimized, but the discussion of experimental details the peptide bond in proteins. The second chapter constitutes is very thorough. In the solid-state section, K. Lark-Horowitz presents an extenone of tho best reviews yet available on the in vilro synthesis of polypeptides. The third chapter contains a thoroughly up- sive review (the longest article in the volume) of semiconductor to-date account of X-ray diffraction and infrared dichroism research. This evidently has been much expanded in publicastudies of fibrous proteins. The fourth chapter deals with tion and containsreferences through 1952. Both experiment and physicochemical studies of globular proteins. Thelast chapter is theory are surveyed and there is an extensive bibliography. The s detailed account of amino acid sndysis methods and results other two articles in this suction are by Bardeen on electrons and as well as amino acid sequentid analysis. Perhaps this last holes in semiconductors, and by van Hippel on barium titanate chaptptershould have appeared as the third ohapter, sinae evidence ferroelectrics. Chemists will undoubtedly be interested in the article by Debye from amino acid and sequential analyses m used in protein structure work to supplement evidenee derived from physical on the structure of polymers. This is primarily devoted to an exposition of the light-scattering method for studying these submethods. The treatment is on the graduate student level. In fact, stances. R. L u m y and H. Eyring provide a review of recent this book should serve as an exoellent text for a one-semester developments in the chemical kinetics of biological systems accompanied by s. valnable bibliography. graduate course on the rhemi~tryof proteins. The section an biophy.qics is represented by articles an "Some GERALD OSTER physical and chemical properties of axons related to conduction POZTTECHNIC INBTITO-TE OF BROOXLTN of nerve impulses," by F. Brink, Jr., and 'lBialumineseence and B n o o r ~ ~New s . Yoax the theory of reaction rate control in living systems," by F. H. Johnson. In each o m the introductory metarial will be helpful to the general reader, though mont of the discussion is rather THE PRESENT STATE OF PHYSICS specialilized. 0 The American Association for the Advancement of Science is Edited b y Frederick S. Brackeff, National Institutes of Health. to be congratulated for having sponsored a symposium of this American Association for the Advancement of Science. Wash- kind and for having arranged the publication of the results, which 265 pp. Illustrated. 16 X 23.5 om. should be of interest to all scientists. ington, D. C., 1954. vi Retail price, $6.75. Price to AAAS members, $5.75. 0
THE STRUCTURAL CHEMISTRY OF PROTEINS
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THISvolume, having a somewhat misleading title, is a compilation of papers presented a t a. symposium held at the New York
R. B. LINDSAY
