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Die biochemie der tierischen gifte. Einzeldarstellungen aus dem gesamtgebiet der biochemie. Neue folge, vol. II
BOOK
245
REVIEWS
The editor has done an excellent job in presenting an accurate record of a very stimulating and well-planned symposium. Carefully organized reviews are presented which deal with such basic immunochemical subjects as “Synthesis and Degradation of Antibodies, ” “Characterization of the Antibody Response,” “Physical-Chemical Studies on the Nature of Antigen-Antibody Reactions,” “Adaptive Transfer of Immune Reactions by Cells,” and “Hypersensitivity,” in which hemolysis has been used as a model for the fundamental mechanism in hypersensitivity reactions. A new theory involving somatic mutation and the modification of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by antigen, was proposed for a mechanism of antibody formation in a paper entitled “Concepts of Protein Synthesis in Relation to Antibody Formation.” The paper on “The Cellular Basis for Antibody Formation” suggested the possibility of a new type of mononuclear cell as an intermediary in antibody formation as well as presenting a general review of the field. This reviewer was particularly interested in the paper entitled “The Activation of Amino Acids and Concepts of the Mechanism of Protein Synthesis” since it presents a fairly complete logical picture of protein synthesis with the knowledge available at present. was of paramount interest The Special Session on bone marrow transplantation in the Symposium. This field, dealing with the results of marrow transplants in irradiated animals is reviewed, and some new work presented, in a series of five papers and pertinent points of the open discussion. Important points of open discussions, which were a very stimulating part of the Symposium, are well documented in the edited version. Some of the entertaining highlights, which this reviewer remembers, were omitted and probably sacrificed for the sake of science in the final printed copy, but the confession of one harassed participant “. , . that at least his wife loves him” remains for posterity. DAN H. CAMPBELL,
Pasadena,
California
Die Biochemie der tierischen Gifte. Einzeldarstellungen aus dem Gesamtgebiet der Biochemle. Neue Folge, vol. II. By ERICH KAISER, Medizinisch-chemisches Institut der Universitiit Wien and HERIBERT MICHL, Chemisches Institut der Universitilt Wien. Verlag Franz Deuticke, Wien, Austria. viii + 258 pp. Price 6st. S. 258.00. This work is based on a survey of approximately 10,000 publications, some as recent as 1957. It is not surprising, therefore, that the resulting book turns out to be a remarkably complete compilation of almost all that has been written about the interesting field of animal poisons. The first and larger part of the book is concerned with a survey of just about every toxic substance ever isolated from polycellular organisms, starting with the sponges and working up to the duckbilled platypus and the shrews. Since practically nothing is known about the nature of many of the poisons discussed, this part of the book does not follow either a chemical or a pharmacological arrangement of topics, but is arranged in terms of zoological classification of the organisms from which the toxic agents are derived.
246
BOOK REVIEWS
For each claes of animals, zoology, morphology, habitat, derivation of the poisons, and pharmacology of the poisons are reviewed briefly. In those cases where the nature of the toxic agents discussed has been elucidated, e.g., can tharidine, samandarine, and related compounds, and the toad poisons, the authors present a thorough discussion of the chemistry, proofs of structure, and, when available, methods of synthesis of the key compounds, making this book, among other things, a repository of some extremely interesting organic chemistry. The treatment of the toad poisons is particularly stimulating, including as it does a discussion of many important steroids and of indole alkylamines closely related to serotonin. The second part of the book presents a brief review of the enzymes found in animal poisons, of their functions, and of their relation to the toxicities observed. Since almost every enzyme one can think of has at one time or another been derived from a toxic animal product, and since this part of the book is only 55 pages long, the treatment of this topic is, perforce, quite cursory. This is a subject, particularly in the field of snake venoms, of great interest to biochemists, and it is to be regretted that this chapter could not have been expanded. This is a very stimulating book, not only because of the voluminous information it contains, but also because of the many challenging, unsolved problems it presents. HENRY G. MAUTNER,
New Haven, Connecticut
Radiological Physics. By M. E. J. YOUNG, formerly lecturer in physics, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine (University of London). Academic Press Inc., New York, N. Y., 1957. x + 365 pp. Price $7.50. With the rapidly increasing use of a great variety of radiation sources for medical as well as for industrial purposes, the problem of adequate training of personnel working with different kinds of penetrating radiation becomes more pressing. Only a small percentage of the people who are concerned with radiation problems now or will be in the near future have extensive training in physics; many of them are chemists, physicians, or engineers. These differences in background knowledge make it especially difficult to set up a general training program in basic radiation physics. On the other hand, only a thorough understanding of such properties as the interaction of radiation with matter, radiation detection, and dosimetry will help to avoid mistakes which could lead to serious accidents. The fact that during recent years several books on radiological physics have been published, emphasizes the need for adequate presentation of that material. The author of the present volume presents in a well organized and extensively illustrated form as much information on the subject as can be packed into 350 printed pages. At the end of each of the 14 chapters there is a short list of basic references and a few examination questions. All this will be welcomed by those who are looking for a book as an underlying text for a course in radiological physics. For those with some training in the field, Young’s book will be a valuable aid to pick up detailed information on a great variety of subjects. In Chaps. l-4 the emission of x-rays from the atomic shells of different elements,
245
REVIEWS
The editor has done an excellent job in presenting an accurate record of a very stimulating and well-planned symposium. Carefully organized reviews are presented which deal with such basic immunochemical subjects as “Synthesis and Degradation of Antibodies, ” “Characterization of the Antibody Response,” “Physical-Chemical Studies on the Nature of Antigen-Antibody Reactions,” “Adaptive Transfer of Immune Reactions by Cells,” and “Hypersensitivity,” in which hemolysis has been used as a model for the fundamental mechanism in hypersensitivity reactions. A new theory involving somatic mutation and the modification of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by antigen, was proposed for a mechanism of antibody formation in a paper entitled “Concepts of Protein Synthesis in Relation to Antibody Formation.” The paper on “The Cellular Basis for Antibody Formation” suggested the possibility of a new type of mononuclear cell as an intermediary in antibody formation as well as presenting a general review of the field. This reviewer was particularly interested in the paper entitled “The Activation of Amino Acids and Concepts of the Mechanism of Protein Synthesis” since it presents a fairly complete logical picture of protein synthesis with the knowledge available at present. was of paramount interest The Special Session on bone marrow transplantation in the Symposium. This field, dealing with the results of marrow transplants in irradiated animals is reviewed, and some new work presented, in a series of five papers and pertinent points of the open discussion. Important points of open discussions, which were a very stimulating part of the Symposium, are well documented in the edited version. Some of the entertaining highlights, which this reviewer remembers, were omitted and probably sacrificed for the sake of science in the final printed copy, but the confession of one harassed participant “. , . that at least his wife loves him” remains for posterity. DAN H. CAMPBELL,
Pasadena,
California
Die Biochemie der tierischen Gifte. Einzeldarstellungen aus dem Gesamtgebiet der Biochemle. Neue Folge, vol. II. By ERICH KAISER, Medizinisch-chemisches Institut der Universitiit Wien and HERIBERT MICHL, Chemisches Institut der Universitilt Wien. Verlag Franz Deuticke, Wien, Austria. viii + 258 pp. Price 6st. S. 258.00. This work is based on a survey of approximately 10,000 publications, some as recent as 1957. It is not surprising, therefore, that the resulting book turns out to be a remarkably complete compilation of almost all that has been written about the interesting field of animal poisons. The first and larger part of the book is concerned with a survey of just about every toxic substance ever isolated from polycellular organisms, starting with the sponges and working up to the duckbilled platypus and the shrews. Since practically nothing is known about the nature of many of the poisons discussed, this part of the book does not follow either a chemical or a pharmacological arrangement of topics, but is arranged in terms of zoological classification of the organisms from which the toxic agents are derived.
246
BOOK REVIEWS
For each claes of animals, zoology, morphology, habitat, derivation of the poisons, and pharmacology of the poisons are reviewed briefly. In those cases where the nature of the toxic agents discussed has been elucidated, e.g., can tharidine, samandarine, and related compounds, and the toad poisons, the authors present a thorough discussion of the chemistry, proofs of structure, and, when available, methods of synthesis of the key compounds, making this book, among other things, a repository of some extremely interesting organic chemistry. The treatment of the toad poisons is particularly stimulating, including as it does a discussion of many important steroids and of indole alkylamines closely related to serotonin. The second part of the book presents a brief review of the enzymes found in animal poisons, of their functions, and of their relation to the toxicities observed. Since almost every enzyme one can think of has at one time or another been derived from a toxic animal product, and since this part of the book is only 55 pages long, the treatment of this topic is, perforce, quite cursory. This is a subject, particularly in the field of snake venoms, of great interest to biochemists, and it is to be regretted that this chapter could not have been expanded. This is a very stimulating book, not only because of the voluminous information it contains, but also because of the many challenging, unsolved problems it presents. HENRY G. MAUTNER,
New Haven, Connecticut
Radiological Physics. By M. E. J. YOUNG, formerly lecturer in physics, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine (University of London). Academic Press Inc., New York, N. Y., 1957. x + 365 pp. Price $7.50. With the rapidly increasing use of a great variety of radiation sources for medical as well as for industrial purposes, the problem of adequate training of personnel working with different kinds of penetrating radiation becomes more pressing. Only a small percentage of the people who are concerned with radiation problems now or will be in the near future have extensive training in physics; many of them are chemists, physicians, or engineers. These differences in background knowledge make it especially difficult to set up a general training program in basic radiation physics. On the other hand, only a thorough understanding of such properties as the interaction of radiation with matter, radiation detection, and dosimetry will help to avoid mistakes which could lead to serious accidents. The fact that during recent years several books on radiological physics have been published, emphasizes the need for adequate presentation of that material. The author of the present volume presents in a well organized and extensively illustrated form as much information on the subject as can be packed into 350 printed pages. At the end of each of the 14 chapters there is a short list of basic references and a few examination questions. All this will be welcomed by those who are looking for a book as an underlying text for a course in radiological physics. For those with some training in the field, Young’s book will be a valuable aid to pick up detailed information on a great variety of subjects. In Chaps. l-4 the emission of x-rays from the atomic shells of different elements,