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Monographs on the progress of research in holland modern development of chemotherapy. By E. Havinga, H. W. Julius, H. Veldstra, and K. C. Winkler. Elsevier Publishing Company, New York, 1946. xi + 175 pp. 14 × 21 cm. Price $3.50
58
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN
PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION
Modern Drugs in General Practice. 2nd ed. BY ETHELBROWNING. The Williams 81 Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 1947. viii 223 pp. 13 x 21.5 cm. Price $4. This book is intended for the use of the physicians in England, hence the frequent mention of British trade names. While the presence of trade names is very useful, it is astonishing t o find the frequent use of trade literature as a serious source of information. Trade literature is used t o the extent that it has robbed the book of much of its authenticity. The title Modern Drugs in General Practioe implies a degree of up-to-dateness that the reader fails to find in this book. For example, no antibiotic other than penicillin is mentioned and the penicillin chapter itself is inadequate. Despite the recent spate of antihistaminics, no mention of these important drugs may be found here. The fact that some of the material found in this handbook is not in accord with American beliefs and findings will limit the need for the book by physicians and pharmacists in the United States.
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Monographs on the Progress of Research in Holland Modern Development of Chemotherapy. BY E. HAVINGA,H. W. JULIUS, H. VELDSTRA, and K. C. WINKLER. Elsevier Publishing Company, New York, 1946. xi 175 pp. 14 x 21 cm. Price $3.50. It has been said that valuable goods comes in small packages. This little monograph, like so many similar volumes coming from Europe recently, is of immeasurable value. Such monographs are valuable not alone for the ideas and the data they contain but for the spirit behind them. The facts in this monograph were obtained by those who often were ill-clad, cold, hungry, and physically and spiritually oppressed. Yet under such hardships the spirit of scientific research survived and is now being recorded. This little volume is concerned with Holland’s contribution to the chemotherapy of the sulfonamide and antibiotics. Apparently considerable thought was given by the Dutch t o the relationship between the sulfonamides and p-aminobenzoic acid both from the viewpoint of bacteriology and physical chemistry. Analytical studies were conducted, as also were synthetic. On page 119 will be found a tabulation of compounds prepared. Pharmacological, immunological, and clinicotherapeutic results are also recorded in about 10 pages. It is of interest that an antibiotic, expansine, was discovered in the Netherlands from a .variety of Penuillium expansum.
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Methods in Medical Research. Volume I . V A NR. POTTER,editor-in-chief. The Year Book Publishers, 304 South Dearborn St., Chicago, 1948. xiii 372 pp. 15 x 23 cm. Price $8. This book represents the introduction of a new series of annual publications to be devoted to methodology in medical research. Recause of difficulty in
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getting papers dealing solely with technique published, the rapid introduction of new techniques in medical research, especially during the war when publication was difficult or impossible, and because of the tendency to have modifications of techniques scattered throughout the medical literature, the publication of a series of books of this sort is especially valuable. Volume I of this series is concerned with the assay of antibiotics, circulation and blood flow measurement, selected methods in gastroenterologic research, and cellular respiration and was edited by such outstanding experts as Henry Welch, Harold D. Green, A. C. Ivy, and Van R. Potter. Pharmaceutical research workers will be especially interested in the section on antibiotics. Although most of the material in this section may be found in the Federal Register, that publication is sufficiently inaccessible to scientists that republication in bound form is very useful. I n addition “nonofficial” methods will be found here. “Since pharmaceutical research is today so intimately tied in with physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and bacteriology, this series should be available to all workers in these areas of research.”
Textbooks of Phurmacology and Therapeutics. 4th ed. BY HAROLD N. WRIGHT and MILDREDMONTAG. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1948. xiii 720 pp. 13 x 20 cm. Price $4. This is an excellent, very elementary text in pharmacotherapeutics intended for nurses. Although the arrangement of this edition is slightly different from previous editions, the major change is the addition of new drugs such as BAL, folic acid, and streptomycin. The unique feature of this text resides not in the information presented but in the mode of preseptation. The “pharmaceutical arithmetic” section, which is typical of the book, is made very graphic and is preceded by a review of fifth grade arithmetic. The authors are to be congratulated for their realistic approach even though it is unfortunate that people at the college level must be taught elementary arithmetic.
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Ocular Therapezltics. BY WILLIAM J . HARRISON. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill.. 1947. 112 pp. 13 x 19 cm. Price $3.50. “The purpose of this pocket manual is t o provide the practicing ophthalmologist with a n easy, ac- . cessible reference for prescriptions currently used in the treatment of the various categories of eye cases.” The drugs presented in the book are classified therapeuticlly as used in ophthalmology. The information is kept at a practical level and always slanted toward the specialty. Sample prescriptions are used frequently, a feature that often appeals to the pharmacist. The pharmacist usually views such a book as Ocular Therapeutics with mixed emotions. Because of the practical slant and the pharmaceutical approach i t stimulates good pharmaceutical-medical relations. On the other hand, brevity and practicality tend to breed dogmatisms and superficiality.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN
PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION
Modern Drugs in General Practice. 2nd ed. BY ETHELBROWNING. The Williams 81 Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 1947. viii 223 pp. 13 x 21.5 cm. Price $4. This book is intended for the use of the physicians in England, hence the frequent mention of British trade names. While the presence of trade names is very useful, it is astonishing t o find the frequent use of trade literature as a serious source of information. Trade literature is used t o the extent that it has robbed the book of much of its authenticity. The title Modern Drugs in General Practioe implies a degree of up-to-dateness that the reader fails to find in this book. For example, no antibiotic other than penicillin is mentioned and the penicillin chapter itself is inadequate. Despite the recent spate of antihistaminics, no mention of these important drugs may be found here. The fact that some of the material found in this handbook is not in accord with American beliefs and findings will limit the need for the book by physicians and pharmacists in the United States.
+
Monographs on the Progress of Research in Holland Modern Development of Chemotherapy. BY E. HAVINGA,H. W. JULIUS, H. VELDSTRA, and K. C. WINKLER. Elsevier Publishing Company, New York, 1946. xi 175 pp. 14 x 21 cm. Price $3.50. It has been said that valuable goods comes in small packages. This little monograph, like so many similar volumes coming from Europe recently, is of immeasurable value. Such monographs are valuable not alone for the ideas and the data they contain but for the spirit behind them. The facts in this monograph were obtained by those who often were ill-clad, cold, hungry, and physically and spiritually oppressed. Yet under such hardships the spirit of scientific research survived and is now being recorded. This little volume is concerned with Holland’s contribution to the chemotherapy of the sulfonamide and antibiotics. Apparently considerable thought was given by the Dutch t o the relationship between the sulfonamides and p-aminobenzoic acid both from the viewpoint of bacteriology and physical chemistry. Analytical studies were conducted, as also were synthetic. On page 119 will be found a tabulation of compounds prepared. Pharmacological, immunological, and clinicotherapeutic results are also recorded in about 10 pages. It is of interest that an antibiotic, expansine, was discovered in the Netherlands from a .variety of Penuillium expansum.
+
Methods in Medical Research. Volume I . V A NR. POTTER,editor-in-chief. The Year Book Publishers, 304 South Dearborn St., Chicago, 1948. xiii 372 pp. 15 x 23 cm. Price $8. This book represents the introduction of a new series of annual publications to be devoted to methodology in medical research. Recause of difficulty in
+
getting papers dealing solely with technique published, the rapid introduction of new techniques in medical research, especially during the war when publication was difficult or impossible, and because of the tendency to have modifications of techniques scattered throughout the medical literature, the publication of a series of books of this sort is especially valuable. Volume I of this series is concerned with the assay of antibiotics, circulation and blood flow measurement, selected methods in gastroenterologic research, and cellular respiration and was edited by such outstanding experts as Henry Welch, Harold D. Green, A. C. Ivy, and Van R. Potter. Pharmaceutical research workers will be especially interested in the section on antibiotics. Although most of the material in this section may be found in the Federal Register, that publication is sufficiently inaccessible to scientists that republication in bound form is very useful. I n addition “nonofficial” methods will be found here. “Since pharmaceutical research is today so intimately tied in with physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and bacteriology, this series should be available to all workers in these areas of research.”
Textbooks of Phurmacology and Therapeutics. 4th ed. BY HAROLD N. WRIGHT and MILDREDMONTAG. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 1948. xiii 720 pp. 13 x 20 cm. Price $4. This is an excellent, very elementary text in pharmacotherapeutics intended for nurses. Although the arrangement of this edition is slightly different from previous editions, the major change is the addition of new drugs such as BAL, folic acid, and streptomycin. The unique feature of this text resides not in the information presented but in the mode of preseptation. The “pharmaceutical arithmetic” section, which is typical of the book, is made very graphic and is preceded by a review of fifth grade arithmetic. The authors are to be congratulated for their realistic approach even though it is unfortunate that people at the college level must be taught elementary arithmetic.
+
Ocular Therapezltics. BY WILLIAM J . HARRISON. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Ill.. 1947. 112 pp. 13 x 19 cm. Price $3.50. “The purpose of this pocket manual is t o provide the practicing ophthalmologist with a n easy, ac- . cessible reference for prescriptions currently used in the treatment of the various categories of eye cases.” The drugs presented in the book are classified therapeuticlly as used in ophthalmology. The information is kept at a practical level and always slanted toward the specialty. Sample prescriptions are used frequently, a feature that often appeals to the pharmacist. The pharmacist usually views such a book as Ocular Therapeutics with mixed emotions. Because of the practical slant and the pharmaceutical approach i t stimulates good pharmaceutical-medical relations. On the other hand, brevity and practicality tend to breed dogmatisms and superficiality.