Essentials of practical microtechnique

MICROCHEMICAL

JOURNAL

(1965)

9, 239-241

Book Essentials

of Practical Lea

T\T. KOZLOFF.

and

Reviews

Microtechnique

Febiger,

By

Philadelphia,

ALBERTE

GALICHER

Pennsylvania.

1964.

AND

EUGENE

484 pp. $10.00.

This book is a practical guide for the preparation by the biologist of animal materials for microscopic study. First published in 1934: it soon went out of print, and Mr. Galigher was part way through a complete revision at his untimely death in 1960. Dr. Kozloff picked up the torch, and has done a magnificent job. It is primarily a text book for students, but medical technicians, histologists, and other experienced biologists will find it a valuable aid. Although botanical methods are not included, techniques for invertebrates, including parasites, are treated extensively. The first chapters on laboratory equipment and supplies, the use of the microscope, standard procedures, and general rules are definitely for the student but will bear review by the experienced worker. The other chapters cover various methods for the fixing, mounting, staining and study of many types of animal material. Each method is introduced by a discussion of the principles involved and is followed by a detailed step-by-step procedure with explanations when necessary. Formulas and explicit methods for the preparation of all the commonly used stains and counterstains form a valuable section. The chapter on metallic impregnation is particularly good. The book is a valuable handbook for the biological laboratory. DAVID

Tables

B. SABINE,

U. 5’. Vitamin

for Identification

1.5 Pharmaceutical

of Organic

piled by MAX FRANKEL AND SAUL PATAI. land, Ohio, 1964. x $ 301 pp. $7.00.

Corp.,

Compounds. The

Chemical

Yonkers,

New

Second Edition. Rubber Company,

York

ComCleve-

This book is a supplement to the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics and is designed to assist in the identification and characterization of organic compounds. Close to 6000 compounds are included and are tabulated and grouped into 22 classes. Alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, esters, and amides have been added since the first edition. Arrangement of the tables is in the classical manner, the listing within each group being in order of increasing boiling point or melting point. For the most part, more than one derivative is listed for each parent compound. Refractive index and density are tabulated and, for amino acids and carbohydrates, optical rotation and Rf values. Unfortunately, no information or references are given to absorption spectra, which would serve to render the work more complete. The last part of the book contains information on solvent pairs, surface tension of liquids, emergent stem correction, boiling point correction, molecular boiling point elevation, and molecular freezing point depression. HAROLD

SOLOWAY,

U. S. Vitamin

& Pharmaceutical 2.19

Corporation,

Yonkers,

New

York