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solubility, properties in the liquid s t a t e ) ; chemical reactions (salts, esterification, and intercsterifiC#ation, alkylation. pyrolysis, halogenation, hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis, oxidation and hydroxylation, autoasidation, biological oxidation, nitrogen derivatives, sulfur derivatives); synthetic m e t h o d s i n vitro and in i,ii,o; isolation, separation, and identification of individual fatty acids. I n connection with the presentation of the physical data, the author has made an effort t o evaluate critically those in the literature although. as he says. this is a matter of some difficulty, for many of the data were recorded a t a time when p u r r materials could not possihly have been available. The reviewer thinks that the book suffers because of the obvious attempt a t inclusiveness. Even very elementary organic clieniistry of the acids is considered, and it mould probably have made a more readable hook if the writing had been directed toward the specialist who, presumably, already has a thorough knowledge of elementary organic chemistry. This tendency to go back t o “first things” gets the author into difficulties once in a while-as, for example. on pages 431-2 where there is confusion as t o the meaning of the terms geometric and optical isomers as applied to the dihydroxybehenic acids. These are, however, minor criticisms and on the whole the book is well written. What is more, it is the only book of its kind published hitherto, and as such it will be of great value as a reference. Therc are good subject and author indexes. The book-making is good. The work is attractively printed on good paper, and the binding is first rate. LEE IRVINSMITH.
Aclioas oJ Radiations O R Licing Cells. By D. E . LEA. 400 pp. London: Cambridge Cni. versity Press. 1947. Price: $4.50. T h r effect of radiation on living cells is a subject of fundamental imporranre in medicine, biology, and genetics. The author shows full recognition of t h r necrssity ( i f understanding the underlying principles of physirs, chemistry, and hiology in approaching his subject. Thoroughly equipped with this knowledge, he has applied it xvith admirable effectiveness. The book is intended for the student and research worker rather than for the radiologist or practitionw. Kevertheless, much of the data and other material Ivould he of great practical use in the hands of one equipped t o understand and apply i t . After discussing the physical properties and the chemical effects of various ionizing radiations, the possible mechanism of biological action is presented. Detailed attention is given to the genetic effects, t o the structural changes produced in chromosomes by radiation, t o mutation, and t o lethal effects. I t is with great regret that one learns of the recent untimely death of the author. I t is fortunate t h a t he leaves this splendid work ufhich, quite beyond its direct usefulness, is a monument t o his genius and a guide for future progress. S. C. LIND.
The Terpenes. 1-01, I. By J. L. SIMORSEN A N D L . N. OWEX. Second edition.
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x 4i9 pp. Cambridge: The Kniversity Press; Kew York: The Macmillan Company, 1947. Price: $6.50. This is the first volume of the second edition of a standard work-indeed, about the only comprehensive work-covering the field of the terpenes. Sixteen years have elapsed since the first edition of the work appeared, and in the intervening times much work i n the field has been done. The plan and scope of the second edition follow closely those of the firat. I n fact, this may be considered more of a reprinting, with some additions, of the first edition than a truly new edition, for many of the sections are merely reprints of those occurringin the first edition. The literature “has been consulted up t o the end of 1945, and it has proved possible t o include also some work of a later date.” This edition is a much better job of book making than was the original edition. Although
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the new Volume I contains some 50 pages more than the old, i t is about half as thick; the quality of the paper and the binding are much improved. There are author and subject indexes. LEE IRVINSMITH.
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103 pp. New York: Pitman Publishing Corporation, 1947. Essays in Rheology. vii Price: $3.00. This little book is a compilation of a series of papers presented a t the 1944 Oxford Conference of the British Rheologists Club. The Club was established in 1940 under the presidency of Professor Sir Geoffrey Taylor for the discussion of problems relating t o the deformation and flow of matter. The first chapter, “The Rheology of Metals, Polymers and Liquids,” was prepared by G . W. Scott Blair on the basis of papers read by E. Orowan (“The Plasticity of Metals”), R . F. Tuckett (“The Rheology of Polymers”), and A. G. Ward (“The Liquid State”). The present status of inquiry in these fields is reviewed in a simple and easily understandable form, with emphasis on the descriptive and qualitative aspects, rather than on the more difficult mathematical and physical aspects, although the latter receive adequate attention for a book of this scope. Other interesting chapters include “The Relationship Between Compression and Shear Tests”; “The Time Variations of Stress and Strain”; “Rheological Nomenclature and Symbols”; “Theology and Medical Science”; “Rheology and Kava1 Problems”; “Rheology in the Fine Arts.” An appendix on the “Ordinate Method of Exponential Analysis” should prove useful for those interested in the quantitative analysis of relaxation phenomena. This easily readable little hook is a contribution of value not only for the specialist, but also for the non-specialist who wishes to orient himself in the field of rheology.
JOHNG . KIRKWOOD.
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1767 271 pp, of matheHandbook of Chemistry. By S . A . LANGE. Sixth edition. xiv matical tables and formulas. Sandusky, Ohio: Handbook Publishers, Inc., 1946. Price: $7 .oo The first edition of this book was published in September, 1934, and contained 1556 pages. The present edition contains 2038 pages of material of use t o chemists with 16 pages of prefaces, acknowledgments, and table of contents, and an index of 28 pages. I n order to appreciate the extent of the material in this sixth edition and the care and work required to get this material together, one must spend many hours browsing through the hook. After these hours have been well spent, the reader will come to the conclusion that Lange’s Handbook of Chemistry is to the chemist what the unabridged edition of the dictionary is to the student of English literature. To compile a book of the scope of this handbook without error would not fall within the realm of probability, but one has to search diligently to find errors. For instance, on p. 662 the compound vinylamine, CHI . C H , K H * , is listed, and a footnote is given t h a t this product is actually ethylene imine, CHz.CHz.SH.
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The formula for this latter compound should be written C H 2 . C H z , h H . The compound vinylamine has not been prepared and should be omitted from the list of organic compounds. The printing, the paper, and the binding are excellent. €I. H . BARBER. Methods of Vilarnin A s s a y . Prepared and edited by the Association of Vitamin Chemists, Inc. 189 pp. S e w York: Interscience Publishers, Inc., 1947. Price: $3.50. This hook admirably fills the need for a compilation of tested methods of vitamin assay applicable t o and tested with E great variety of materials. As stated in the preface, “the methods described here are the result of the pooling and interchange of information on analytical technics, and thus represent the combined knowledge and experience of many persons. Only such methods have been included as have been successfully applied to a
