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50 Jahre Arzneimittelforschung. By C. L. Lautenschlager. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1955. 486 pp. 18 × 25 cm. Price $8.60
Book Notices Small-Scale Inorganic Qualitatiwe Analysis. By J. T . STOCK and J. HEATH. Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., New York, 1954. 96 pp. 12.5 x 18.7 cm. Price $2.50. The classical “six-group’’ method of qualitative analysis, modified for application to centigram or semi-micro scale procedure, is described in this small book. The text is concisely written and includes illustrated descriptions of the apparatus used. Most liquid transfers are made with “teat pipettes” (long-tipped droppers), separations utilize the centrifuge rather than filtration, and simple gas pressure systems replace bubbling hydrogen sulfide gas. The book can serve as a laboratory guide for the instructur in qualitative analysis. Appendixes give approximate quantities of chemicals required t o prepare reagents and solutions for analytical practice.
Meethoden der Organischen Chemie (Houben- Weyl). 4th ed. Vol. 4, Part 2. Allgemeine chemische Methoden. B. HELFERICH,H. HENECJCA, G. HESSE, H. Koch, J . KREBS,H. KROPER,F. MULLER,W. G. SCHILLER, H. SIMON,K. STETTER,W. REISNER, F. WEYGAND, K. WIMMER,K. ZIETHEILACKER, CLER. Editors. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1955. XSVIII 1004 pp. 19 x 26 cm. Price $36.20. This volume of Houben-Wey2 is the fourth in the series constituting the complete revision of this important reference manual. The volumes constituting the new revision are not appearing in numerical sequence. For a short resume of the three earlier volumes, see THISJOURNAL, 43, 447( 1954). The latest volume covers the subject of catalysis in a comprehensive manner. About one-half of the book is devoted to a treatment of catalytic processes, including a survey of the entire field of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions. Methods of preparation of catalysts, descriptions of the different types of apparatus, and general procedures used in heterogeneous catalytic organic reactions are stressed. The section on catalysis is introduced by two short chapters in which homogeneous catalysis is discussed and interpreted in a theoretical manner. The section on catalysis is followed b y a discussion of pyrochemical processes, electrochemical procedures, the preparation of optically-active compounds, and a comprehensive treatment of the synthesis of isotopes. Other procedures are described for the preparation and conversion of large ring systems. The methods of preparing such ring compounds are theoretically interesting from a preparative standpoint and they are discussed with this in mind. Volume IV (2) is concluded by two chapters discussing general methods of biochemistry and microbiological chemical working techniques. Here organic rather than biochemistry is particularly emphasized. Documentation includes references t o the scientific and t o the most important patent literature up to the middle of 1954. The book is provided with an adequate index which is not so detailed as to present difficulties in its use.
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50 Jahre Ar,.nt.imittelforschung. By C. L. LAUTENSCHLAGER.Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1955. 486 pp. 18 x 25 cm. Price 88.60. Few writers are in the fortunate position of the author of this interesting and stimulating book. He has been active as a pharmacist, a physician and a chemist in retail pharmacy, industry, and teaching positions for over fifty years-the period covered by the historical presentation which represents the main theme of his work. The book is, however, not limited to a description of past developments, but presents a lucid survey of the present state of research and practice. Chemotherapy, hormones, organotherapeutic preparations, narcotics and other pharmaceuticals are taken up systematically and with equal adeptness. Professor Lautenschlager deplores the fact that the pharmacist is not given proper educational opportunities to familiarize himself sufficiently with the allied fields of medicine and biology to be able t o keep abreast of the rapidly changing ideasand practices derived therefrom-in today’s therapy. His book leaves no doubt about his sovereign mastery of all these fields. The reference value of the work suffers from lack of an index which is only partly compensated by a detailed table of contents.
Methods of Biochemical Analysis. Vol 2. Edited by DAVIDGLICK. Interscience Publishers, Inc., 470 pp. 16 x 23.5 cm. New York, 1955. vi Price $9.50. This is the second of an annual series, the first of which was published in 1954, in which authoritative methods, procedures and techniques for the determination and assaying of biologically important substances and systems are presented. The first of the series was reviewed in THIS JOURNAL,43, 445( 1954). Volume I1 of Methods of Biochemical Analysis is divided into thirteen chapters. The arrangement of each chapter, in general, follows the design employed in Volume I. The first chapter of Volume 11, “Analysis of Steroids by Infrared Spectrometry” is divided into seven sections, including a n introduction, a discussion of the principles of infrared spectrometry, steroidal nomenclature, the preparation of samples, the correlation of steroid structure and infrared absorption, analytical procedures applicable t o isolated or synthesized steroids by infrared spectrometry, and a summary followed by a list of more than seventy references extending through the greater part of 1954. Other chapters follow essentially the same design wherever applicable, with a discussion of the background of previous work, a critical evaluation of the various approaches, and a presentation of methods of analysis that have been employed and found t o be satisfactory. These other chapters present methods of analysis for such biologically important compounds as epinephrine and norepinephrine in body fluids and tissues; lipide analysis; determination of lipoxidase activ-
385
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Meethoden der Organischen Chemie (Houben- Weyl). 4th ed. Vol. 4, Part 2. Allgemeine chemische Methoden. B. HELFERICH,H. HENECJCA, G. HESSE, H. Koch, J . KREBS,H. KROPER,F. MULLER,W. G. SCHILLER, H. SIMON,K. STETTER,W. REISNER, F. WEYGAND, K. WIMMER,K. ZIETHEILACKER, CLER. Editors. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1955. XSVIII 1004 pp. 19 x 26 cm. Price $36.20. This volume of Houben-Wey2 is the fourth in the series constituting the complete revision of this important reference manual. The volumes constituting the new revision are not appearing in numerical sequence. For a short resume of the three earlier volumes, see THISJOURNAL, 43, 447( 1954). The latest volume covers the subject of catalysis in a comprehensive manner. About one-half of the book is devoted to a treatment of catalytic processes, including a survey of the entire field of homogeneous and heterogeneous reactions. Methods of preparation of catalysts, descriptions of the different types of apparatus, and general procedures used in heterogeneous catalytic organic reactions are stressed. The section on catalysis is introduced by two short chapters in which homogeneous catalysis is discussed and interpreted in a theoretical manner. The section on catalysis is followed b y a discussion of pyrochemical processes, electrochemical procedures, the preparation of optically-active compounds, and a comprehensive treatment of the synthesis of isotopes. Other procedures are described for the preparation and conversion of large ring systems. The methods of preparing such ring compounds are theoretically interesting from a preparative standpoint and they are discussed with this in mind. Volume IV (2) is concluded by two chapters discussing general methods of biochemistry and microbiological chemical working techniques. Here organic rather than biochemistry is particularly emphasized. Documentation includes references t o the scientific and t o the most important patent literature up to the middle of 1954. The book is provided with an adequate index which is not so detailed as to present difficulties in its use.
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50 Jahre Ar,.nt.imittelforschung. By C. L. LAUTENSCHLAGER.Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1955. 486 pp. 18 x 25 cm. Price 88.60. Few writers are in the fortunate position of the author of this interesting and stimulating book. He has been active as a pharmacist, a physician and a chemist in retail pharmacy, industry, and teaching positions for over fifty years-the period covered by the historical presentation which represents the main theme of his work. The book is, however, not limited to a description of past developments, but presents a lucid survey of the present state of research and practice. Chemotherapy, hormones, organotherapeutic preparations, narcotics and other pharmaceuticals are taken up systematically and with equal adeptness. Professor Lautenschlager deplores the fact that the pharmacist is not given proper educational opportunities to familiarize himself sufficiently with the allied fields of medicine and biology to be able t o keep abreast of the rapidly changing ideasand practices derived therefrom-in today’s therapy. His book leaves no doubt about his sovereign mastery of all these fields. The reference value of the work suffers from lack of an index which is only partly compensated by a detailed table of contents.
Methods of Biochemical Analysis. Vol 2. Edited by DAVIDGLICK. Interscience Publishers, Inc., 470 pp. 16 x 23.5 cm. New York, 1955. vi Price $9.50. This is the second of an annual series, the first of which was published in 1954, in which authoritative methods, procedures and techniques for the determination and assaying of biologically important substances and systems are presented. The first of the series was reviewed in THIS JOURNAL,43, 445( 1954). Volume I1 of Methods of Biochemical Analysis is divided into thirteen chapters. The arrangement of each chapter, in general, follows the design employed in Volume I. The first chapter of Volume 11, “Analysis of Steroids by Infrared Spectrometry” is divided into seven sections, including a n introduction, a discussion of the principles of infrared spectrometry, steroidal nomenclature, the preparation of samples, the correlation of steroid structure and infrared absorption, analytical procedures applicable t o isolated or synthesized steroids by infrared spectrometry, and a summary followed by a list of more than seventy references extending through the greater part of 1954. Other chapters follow essentially the same design wherever applicable, with a discussion of the background of previous work, a critical evaluation of the various approaches, and a presentation of methods of analysis that have been employed and found t o be satisfactory. These other chapters present methods of analysis for such biologically important compounds as epinephrine and norepinephrine in body fluids and tissues; lipide analysis; determination of lipoxidase activ-
385
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