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Experimental immunochemistry. By Elvin a. Kabot and Manfred M. Mayer. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill., 1948. xv + 567 pp. 15 × 23 cm. Price $8.75
SCIENTIFIC EDITION
533
Book Reviews Experimental Immunochemjstry. BY ELVINA. KABOT and MANFREDM. MAYER. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill., 1948. xv 567 pp. 15 x 23 cm. Price $8.75. There have been very few books written in the field of immunochemistry, despite the fluorishing and profitable research in the field. Some of the best earlier books are now out of print. Although this book by Kabot and Mayer is not complete, it brings together, for the first time, the scattered techniques used in immunochemistry. These methods, which are drawn from many fields, are described in working detail and discussed as to both applicability and limitations. During this era of radioactive isotope tracers, the fact is a p t t o be overlooked that the immunochemist has a large store of tagged molecules at his disposal and these tagged molecules are able t o yield precise measurements of the magnitude of those of the atomic physicist. In fact, the authors stress these analytical relationships, bringing out the important functions they perform. The book is divided into four main parts. Part I deals with methodology and is concerned with general reactions. Part I1 gives details of the applications of these methods. Part I11 is concerned with actual working instructions of the many techniques used. Part IV gives methods of preparing individual proteins, enzymes and their precursors. antibodies, and other biochemical entities used in this field. An appendix gives detail of many common techniques which may not be familiar to the uninitiated in this field. The authors are t o be congratulated for bringing this material together in one volume and for presenting it in an interesting and stimulating manner. The addition of eighty tables and eighty figures makes the book more useful.
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The Plant Alkaloids. 4th ed. BY THOMAS A. HENRY. The Blakiston Co., Philadelphia, 1949. xxiii 804 pp. 15 x 23.5 cm. Price $12. Like many other branches of chemistry, alkaloid chemistry has progressed in rapid strides during the past decade. Hence it is fitting that this standard reference work should be thoroughly revised at this time. The fourth edition of this useful reference follows in general the pattern of previous editions with certain convenient modifications. Because either strictly chemical or strictly botanical classifications often obscure physiological relationships, the chemical classification has been modified in cases where an extensive series, including several chemical types, occurs in one plant or in clokely related plants. If this results in a chemical group being recorded in more than one place, the author has been generous with his cross references. Little has been said concerning the modern nomenclature based on electronic configurations.
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A Handbook of Commonly Used Drugs. By MIcnEL PIJOAN and CLARK H. YEAGER. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill., 1947. 198 pp. 15 x 23 cm. Price $3.75. The authors of this small handbook have accumulated the basic facts on the use of common drugs for use on field expeditions when extensive reference material is difficult t o obtain. The authors have done an unusually good job in condensing essential information in so few pages. Although brief, there has been no sacrifice in accuracy. I n addition, a very selective bibliography is presented which is a key to review literature and highly significant papers. This book should appeal t o those needing hand-books of this type.
The Chemistry and Technology of Enzymes. By HENRYTAUBER. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1949. viii 550 pp. 15 x 23 cm. Price $7.50. The Chemistry and Technology of Enzymes is an expansion of a previous book, Enzyme Technology, by the same author. The book is divided, almost equally, into two portions. Part I deals with the chemistry of the enzymes and Part 11, the technology. I n the first part of the book will be found a n introductory chapter which gives principles of nomenclature and classification, activity, PH curves, principles of enzyme kinetics, including a discussion of the Michaelis-Menten theory, enzyme activation and inhibition, general methods of preparing enzymes and other general consideration. This is followed by chapters on individual classes of enzymes, i.e., esterases, carbohydrases, phosphatases, etc. Part 11is characterizied by chapters on the role of enzymes in industry. Yeast, alcohol production, brewing, mold and bacterial fermentations, and many other industrial applications are discussed. Included is a n important chapter on microbiological methods for estimating the amino acids and vitamins. Each chapter contains many well-selected references t o the more pertinent papers in the field. Workers in the enzyme and related fields will find this book a useful and modern handbook.
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Pharmaceutical Arithmetic. By IGNATIUS J. BELLAFIORE. 2nd ed. C. V. Mosby Co.. St. Louis, Mo., 1947. 393 pp. 19 x 27 cm. Price $3.75. The second edition of this workbook in pharmaceutical calculations essentially follows the style of the first edition. Some new illustrations, a new chapter on the preparation of isotonic solutions, and material on the relationship between density and temperature have been added. The pages may be removed easily f o r grading by the instructor. The book is intended for use in the college, but some pharmacists will find i t interesting, particularly if they enjoy working problems.
533
Book Reviews Experimental Immunochemjstry. BY ELVINA. KABOT and MANFREDM. MAYER. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill., 1948. xv 567 pp. 15 x 23 cm. Price $8.75. There have been very few books written in the field of immunochemistry, despite the fluorishing and profitable research in the field. Some of the best earlier books are now out of print. Although this book by Kabot and Mayer is not complete, it brings together, for the first time, the scattered techniques used in immunochemistry. These methods, which are drawn from many fields, are described in working detail and discussed as to both applicability and limitations. During this era of radioactive isotope tracers, the fact is a p t t o be overlooked that the immunochemist has a large store of tagged molecules at his disposal and these tagged molecules are able t o yield precise measurements of the magnitude of those of the atomic physicist. In fact, the authors stress these analytical relationships, bringing out the important functions they perform. The book is divided into four main parts. Part I deals with methodology and is concerned with general reactions. Part I1 gives details of the applications of these methods. Part I11 is concerned with actual working instructions of the many techniques used. Part IV gives methods of preparing individual proteins, enzymes and their precursors. antibodies, and other biochemical entities used in this field. An appendix gives detail of many common techniques which may not be familiar to the uninitiated in this field. The authors are t o be congratulated for bringing this material together in one volume and for presenting it in an interesting and stimulating manner. The addition of eighty tables and eighty figures makes the book more useful.
+
The Plant Alkaloids. 4th ed. BY THOMAS A. HENRY. The Blakiston Co., Philadelphia, 1949. xxiii 804 pp. 15 x 23.5 cm. Price $12. Like many other branches of chemistry, alkaloid chemistry has progressed in rapid strides during the past decade. Hence it is fitting that this standard reference work should be thoroughly revised at this time. The fourth edition of this useful reference follows in general the pattern of previous editions with certain convenient modifications. Because either strictly chemical or strictly botanical classifications often obscure physiological relationships, the chemical classification has been modified in cases where an extensive series, including several chemical types, occurs in one plant or in clokely related plants. If this results in a chemical group being recorded in more than one place, the author has been generous with his cross references. Little has been said concerning the modern nomenclature based on electronic configurations.
+
A Handbook of Commonly Used Drugs. By MIcnEL PIJOAN and CLARK H. YEAGER. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill., 1947. 198 pp. 15 x 23 cm. Price $3.75. The authors of this small handbook have accumulated the basic facts on the use of common drugs for use on field expeditions when extensive reference material is difficult t o obtain. The authors have done an unusually good job in condensing essential information in so few pages. Although brief, there has been no sacrifice in accuracy. I n addition, a very selective bibliography is presented which is a key to review literature and highly significant papers. This book should appeal t o those needing hand-books of this type.
The Chemistry and Technology of Enzymes. By HENRYTAUBER. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1949. viii 550 pp. 15 x 23 cm. Price $7.50. The Chemistry and Technology of Enzymes is an expansion of a previous book, Enzyme Technology, by the same author. The book is divided, almost equally, into two portions. Part I deals with the chemistry of the enzymes and Part 11, the technology. I n the first part of the book will be found a n introductory chapter which gives principles of nomenclature and classification, activity, PH curves, principles of enzyme kinetics, including a discussion of the Michaelis-Menten theory, enzyme activation and inhibition, general methods of preparing enzymes and other general consideration. This is followed by chapters on individual classes of enzymes, i.e., esterases, carbohydrases, phosphatases, etc. Part 11is characterizied by chapters on the role of enzymes in industry. Yeast, alcohol production, brewing, mold and bacterial fermentations, and many other industrial applications are discussed. Included is a n important chapter on microbiological methods for estimating the amino acids and vitamins. Each chapter contains many well-selected references t o the more pertinent papers in the field. Workers in the enzyme and related fields will find this book a useful and modern handbook.
+
Pharmaceutical Arithmetic. By IGNATIUS J. BELLAFIORE. 2nd ed. C. V. Mosby Co.. St. Louis, Mo., 1947. 393 pp. 19 x 27 cm. Price $3.75. The second edition of this workbook in pharmaceutical calculations essentially follows the style of the first edition. Some new illustrations, a new chapter on the preparation of isotonic solutions, and material on the relationship between density and temperature have been added. The pages may be removed easily f o r grading by the instructor. The book is intended for use in the college, but some pharmacists will find i t interesting, particularly if they enjoy working problems.