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The enzymes — chemistry and mechanism of action. Vol. I, Part I. Edited by James B. Sumner and Karl Myrbäck. Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1950. xvii + 724 pp. Illustrated. 15.5 × 23.5 cm. Price $13.50
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICANI'HARMACEW'I'ICAL ASSoCIATIuN
178
Scheeie and Pricstlcy, both based on partial views only, is quite as illuminating a s his interpretation of the controversy between Ingenhousz and other contemporary scientists, especially Rumford and Sennebier. The book is not only enlivened, but substantially enriched by a number of rather rare and well-chosen illustrations. Readers in this country will notice with special interest two letters written to Ingenhousz by Benjamin Franklin.-GEoRcE URDANG. Pharmaceutical Emulsions and Emulsifying Agents. By LAWRENCE M. SPALTON. Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., 1950. vii 132 pp. Illustrated. 14 x 22.5 cm. Price $3.75. This is a book intended t o introduce the pharmacist or student to the preparation of emulsions and to the use of some of the newer types of emulsifying and suspending agents. The text explains simply and briefly how emulsions are formed, and what constitutes an emulsion. I t describes the various common types of emulsifying agents and attempts to point out the usefulness of each type. Agents that are used for improving the stability of emulsions are included, and the preservatives that are of value are discussed. A large number of formulas for emulsions and emulsifying ointment bascs are included as illustrations of various principles and methods. Finally, there is a classified list of emulsifying agents, and the American reader will be pleased t o find that U. S. trade names are included for most of the emulsifying agents. Each agent in the table is classified according to type, and reference is made to the discussion of this agent in the text. Although this book is not as detailed as would be desired by the research worker, it constitutes an excellent introduction to the subject of emulsions and t o the use of some of the newer emulsifying agents. I t should be quite useful to the practical pharmacist, the student, and t o the small-scale manufacturer.
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The Enzynies -Chemistry and Mechanism of AcLion. Vol. I, Part I . Edited by J A M E S B. SUMNER and KARL M Y R B ~ C KAcademic . Press, Inc,, New York, 1950. xvii 734 pp. Illustratcd. 15.5x 2:3.5cm. Price$13.50. This is the first of a set of books planned to survey the ficld of cnzyrnology. and this series is most wclcome, indeed, to all biochemists, pharmacologists, and workers in related fields. The expansion of knowledge in the field of enzymology has been so great in recent years that concepts of a few years ago have been, in many instances, completely replaced by knowledge based on more exact measurements and more careful research. The literature on enzymes has been so voluminous and individual reports so specialized, that a survey such as this will be extremely valuable. The chapters are written by authoritative workers in the various fields. The book includes a n excellent introduction which reviews the physical nature and properties of enzymes and co-enzymes, along with some introductory material on kinetics. There is :HI exccllciit chapter o n kiiietics :ind physical clieinistry of cnzynies which includcs inatlic-
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Vol. SL,No. 3
matical treatment of enzyme reactions and the factors affecting reactions. Descriptions are given of the methods of measurement of molecular weight, use of electrophoresis in determination of enzyme purity, etc. It seems that this particular section might have deserved even more detailed treatment and the use of more examples from the literature, although as it now stands it comprises almost 50 pages. Other subjects included in this book are Enzyme Specificity, Enzymes in Relation to Genes, Viruses, Hormones, Vitamins and Chemotherapeutic Drug Action, Cytochemical Foundations of Enzyme Chemistry, Modern Aspects of Enzymatic Adaptation, Enzymes Hydrolyzing Fats and Esters, Acetylcholine Esterase and Cholinesterase, Phosphatases, Metaphosphate and Its Enzymatic Breakdown, Sulfatases; Invertase. a-D-Glucosidases, 8-Glucosidase, Hydrolysis of Galactosides, Mannosides, and Thioglycosides, fl-Glucuronidase, and Amylases and the Hydrolysis of Starch and Glycogen. One of the sections that is particularly well treated is that of enzyme inhibition, and this subject is of special interest t o those engaged in medicinal chemistry. This book will be an important and essential reference to all who work in the field of enzyme chemistry and for many in the field of medicinal chemistry. Organic Reagents for Organic Analysis. 2nd ed. By the Staff of Hopkin and Williams Research Laboratory. Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., 1950. 263 pp. 14 x 22 cm. Price $5. This is a simple but very useful book for the organic chemist. It lists groups of selected reagents, and other reagents that are suitable for the preparation of derivatives of various organic compounds. In the second section, it treats each of the selected reagents in more detail, describing the reagents and their properties, and presenting in brief form the directions for using the reagents. Of special value is the inclusion of references for each procedure. This type of organization makes the book very practical i n the lahoratory. If one wishes to identify a sccotidary aniine, for example, he can turn to the scction on amines, secondary, and find a list of about 12 sclccted rcagciits useful in preparing dcrivatives. He can then go back to the tablcs of derivatives which list most of the secondary amincs and, in a moment, can select which derivative will give conclusive identification. Having decided upon the reagent, he can turn to the section of the hook where the usc of that reagent is described and obtain directions for carrying out the reaction and isolating the product. I t seems that the availability of the list of selected reagents, which are stated t o have been selected with great care, will be a special convenience to the chemist, and will, perhaps, avoid many unsuccessful trials in preparing derivatives for characterization. For teaching purposes, this book might conceivably be used as the main text, but it seems more suitable as an auxiliary reference. By all means, i t sccms that thc studcnt should become familiar with it during a. coursc in qualitativc organic cheniistry.
178
Scheeie and Pricstlcy, both based on partial views only, is quite as illuminating a s his interpretation of the controversy between Ingenhousz and other contemporary scientists, especially Rumford and Sennebier. The book is not only enlivened, but substantially enriched by a number of rather rare and well-chosen illustrations. Readers in this country will notice with special interest two letters written to Ingenhousz by Benjamin Franklin.-GEoRcE URDANG. Pharmaceutical Emulsions and Emulsifying Agents. By LAWRENCE M. SPALTON. Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., 1950. vii 132 pp. Illustrated. 14 x 22.5 cm. Price $3.75. This is a book intended t o introduce the pharmacist or student to the preparation of emulsions and to the use of some of the newer types of emulsifying and suspending agents. The text explains simply and briefly how emulsions are formed, and what constitutes an emulsion. I t describes the various common types of emulsifying agents and attempts to point out the usefulness of each type. Agents that are used for improving the stability of emulsions are included, and the preservatives that are of value are discussed. A large number of formulas for emulsions and emulsifying ointment bascs are included as illustrations of various principles and methods. Finally, there is a classified list of emulsifying agents, and the American reader will be pleased t o find that U. S. trade names are included for most of the emulsifying agents. Each agent in the table is classified according to type, and reference is made to the discussion of this agent in the text. Although this book is not as detailed as would be desired by the research worker, it constitutes an excellent introduction to the subject of emulsions and t o the use of some of the newer emulsifying agents. I t should be quite useful to the practical pharmacist, the student, and t o the small-scale manufacturer.
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The Enzynies -Chemistry and Mechanism of AcLion. Vol. I, Part I . Edited by J A M E S B. SUMNER and KARL M Y R B ~ C KAcademic . Press, Inc,, New York, 1950. xvii 734 pp. Illustratcd. 15.5x 2:3.5cm. Price$13.50. This is the first of a set of books planned to survey the ficld of cnzyrnology. and this series is most wclcome, indeed, to all biochemists, pharmacologists, and workers in related fields. The expansion of knowledge in the field of enzymology has been so great in recent years that concepts of a few years ago have been, in many instances, completely replaced by knowledge based on more exact measurements and more careful research. The literature on enzymes has been so voluminous and individual reports so specialized, that a survey such as this will be extremely valuable. The chapters are written by authoritative workers in the various fields. The book includes a n excellent introduction which reviews the physical nature and properties of enzymes and co-enzymes, along with some introductory material on kinetics. There is :HI exccllciit chapter o n kiiietics :ind physical clieinistry of cnzynies which includcs inatlic-
+
Vol. SL,No. 3
matical treatment of enzyme reactions and the factors affecting reactions. Descriptions are given of the methods of measurement of molecular weight, use of electrophoresis in determination of enzyme purity, etc. It seems that this particular section might have deserved even more detailed treatment and the use of more examples from the literature, although as it now stands it comprises almost 50 pages. Other subjects included in this book are Enzyme Specificity, Enzymes in Relation to Genes, Viruses, Hormones, Vitamins and Chemotherapeutic Drug Action, Cytochemical Foundations of Enzyme Chemistry, Modern Aspects of Enzymatic Adaptation, Enzymes Hydrolyzing Fats and Esters, Acetylcholine Esterase and Cholinesterase, Phosphatases, Metaphosphate and Its Enzymatic Breakdown, Sulfatases; Invertase. a-D-Glucosidases, 8-Glucosidase, Hydrolysis of Galactosides, Mannosides, and Thioglycosides, fl-Glucuronidase, and Amylases and the Hydrolysis of Starch and Glycogen. One of the sections that is particularly well treated is that of enzyme inhibition, and this subject is of special interest t o those engaged in medicinal chemistry. This book will be an important and essential reference to all who work in the field of enzyme chemistry and for many in the field of medicinal chemistry. Organic Reagents for Organic Analysis. 2nd ed. By the Staff of Hopkin and Williams Research Laboratory. Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., 1950. 263 pp. 14 x 22 cm. Price $5. This is a simple but very useful book for the organic chemist. It lists groups of selected reagents, and other reagents that are suitable for the preparation of derivatives of various organic compounds. In the second section, it treats each of the selected reagents in more detail, describing the reagents and their properties, and presenting in brief form the directions for using the reagents. Of special value is the inclusion of references for each procedure. This type of organization makes the book very practical i n the lahoratory. If one wishes to identify a sccotidary aniine, for example, he can turn to the scction on amines, secondary, and find a list of about 12 sclccted rcagciits useful in preparing dcrivatives. He can then go back to the tablcs of derivatives which list most of the secondary amincs and, in a moment, can select which derivative will give conclusive identification. Having decided upon the reagent, he can turn to the section of the hook where the usc of that reagent is described and obtain directions for carrying out the reaction and isolating the product. I t seems that the availability of the list of selected reagents, which are stated t o have been selected with great care, will be a special convenience to the chemist, and will, perhaps, avoid many unsuccessful trials in preparing derivatives for characterization. For teaching purposes, this book might conceivably be used as the main text, but it seems more suitable as an auxiliary reference. By all means, i t sccms that thc studcnt should become familiar with it during a. coursc in qualitativc organic cheniistry.