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Sergei N. Winogradsky, his life and Work—the story of a great bacteriologist. By Selman A. Waksman. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, N. J., 1953. 150 pp. 14.5 × 22 cm. Price $4
320
JOURNAL OF THE
AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION
Rat Quality A Consideration of Heredity, Diet and Disease. Proceedings of the Symposium held a t Columbia University, College of Phy scians and .Surgeons, New York, N. Y., January 31, 1952. The National Vitamin Foundation, Inc., New York, 1953. 138 pp. 15.5 x 23 cm. Paper bound. Price $2.50. These proceedings are the result of a meeting held in January, 1952, at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in New York. The book includes the papers presented during the formal program, comments made from the floor, and reports submitted by individuals participating in the symposium. Experiments in the breeding and raising of rats and the relative efficiencies of stock and special diets are rarely published despite their value to other workers. In some of the formal papers included in this book, comparison is made of various commercial rat diets with respect to their nutritional contributions. Perhaps unfortunately, such diets are indicated by code rather than by name to prevent unfair public comparison that would serve no scientific end. This drawback is compensated for by the author’s willingness to furnish such information to research workers who desire more precise information, on the titles used when specifically requested by letter. The record of the symposium proceedings should serve a useful purpose in clarifying many problems and characteristics of various strains of rats which have heretofore not been well known.
Dictionary of Organic Compounds-The Constitution and Physical and Chemical Properties of the Principal Carbon Compounds and their Derivatives, together with the Relevant Literature References. (In four volumes.) 2nd ed. SIR IAN HEILBRONand H. M. BUNBURY,Editors-inChief. Oxford University Press, New York, 1953. Vol. I : Abadole-Cyrosine, 654 pp. Vol. 11: D. A.-Hystazarin, 845 pp. Vol. 111: IbogaineNW-Acid, 838 pp. Vol. IV: ObaculactoneZymosterol, 694 pp. 21.5 x 27 cm. Price $78 the set. This Dictionary of Organic Compounds, the first edition of which was published between 1934 and 1937, in three volumes, is familiar to many organic chemists in the United States. A new revised edition appeared in 1943 and 1944, and the present new, revised edition in four volumes was completed in July, 1953. In general, the design of the new edition follows that of its predecessors. All of the organic compounds listed are arranged in strictly alphabetical order. Thus any required data may be located readily without the necessity of consulting a supplementary index. In order t o use the Dictionary with facility, however, it is necessary first to study the arrangement of the text which is clearly explained in the introduction. This is true because so many compounds may be designated in a variety of ways by either trivial or strictly systematic chemical names. The ease of locating required information is enhanced by the generous use of cross references, sometimes as many as three or four. In each short monograph the full struc-
Vol. XLIII, No. 5
tural formula is given for the compound listed. Functional derivatives are usually given under the parent compound unless they are sufficiently important t o justify separate inclusion as main references. In each monograph literature references citing the best method of preparation are included. The order in which data are presented is, in general, the same in all entries. These data include sources, where of interest; physical properties (melting point, boiling point, solubility, density, refractive index, heat of combustion, optical rotation, etc.) and chemical properties. Among the chemical properties the most important include typical reactions and analytical tests. It must be realized, of course, that in many instances only a limited number of chemical and physical properties have been recorded in the chemical literature and are unavailable for listing in the Dictionary. During the course of the revision leading to the publication of the latest edition, each of the previous 15,000 entries was carefully scrutinized and brought up to date. This resulted in the addition of more than 2,500 new principal entries. Many of the changes incorporated include results of research even up to and including the early part of 1953. In the new edition, the type area has been appreciably increased without detracting from the ease of handling. By the judicious use of the Dictionary, the time required in literature searches may be reduced considerably, and it is predicted that the new edition will enjoy an even more popular reception than did its predecessors.
Sergei N . Winogradsky, His Life and Work--The Story of a Great Bacteriologist. By SELMAN A. WAKSMAN. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, N. J., 1953. 150 pp. 14.5 x 22 cm. Price $4. This is a biography of the Russian bacteriologist whose works are particularly associated with studies on the autotrophic bacteria, or those organisms which obtain their energy by oxidation of inorganic elements and compounds. He also contributed to the knowledge of nonsymbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, bacterial oxidation of sulfur, bacteriology of cellulose decomposition, and methods of soil microbiology. References to his 60 published papers are appended.
Glutathione-S,~gniJicant References from the Pages OJ Biological Abstracts. Compiled by F. A. VELAY. Biological Abstracts, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., January, 1954. 19 pp. 21.5 x 28 cm. Price $0.75. This is the first effort at compiling special bibliography, undertaken by Biological Abstracts and a highly successful one. The topic is timely, the subject arrangement has been done expertly, and the format is perfect. A short historical introduction enhances the value of the list. I t is to be hoped that future compilations will maintain the high standards set by the first one.
JOURNAL OF THE
AMERICAN PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATION
Rat Quality A Consideration of Heredity, Diet and Disease. Proceedings of the Symposium held a t Columbia University, College of Phy scians and .Surgeons, New York, N. Y., January 31, 1952. The National Vitamin Foundation, Inc., New York, 1953. 138 pp. 15.5 x 23 cm. Paper bound. Price $2.50. These proceedings are the result of a meeting held in January, 1952, at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University in New York. The book includes the papers presented during the formal program, comments made from the floor, and reports submitted by individuals participating in the symposium. Experiments in the breeding and raising of rats and the relative efficiencies of stock and special diets are rarely published despite their value to other workers. In some of the formal papers included in this book, comparison is made of various commercial rat diets with respect to their nutritional contributions. Perhaps unfortunately, such diets are indicated by code rather than by name to prevent unfair public comparison that would serve no scientific end. This drawback is compensated for by the author’s willingness to furnish such information to research workers who desire more precise information, on the titles used when specifically requested by letter. The record of the symposium proceedings should serve a useful purpose in clarifying many problems and characteristics of various strains of rats which have heretofore not been well known.
Dictionary of Organic Compounds-The Constitution and Physical and Chemical Properties of the Principal Carbon Compounds and their Derivatives, together with the Relevant Literature References. (In four volumes.) 2nd ed. SIR IAN HEILBRONand H. M. BUNBURY,Editors-inChief. Oxford University Press, New York, 1953. Vol. I : Abadole-Cyrosine, 654 pp. Vol. 11: D. A.-Hystazarin, 845 pp. Vol. 111: IbogaineNW-Acid, 838 pp. Vol. IV: ObaculactoneZymosterol, 694 pp. 21.5 x 27 cm. Price $78 the set. This Dictionary of Organic Compounds, the first edition of which was published between 1934 and 1937, in three volumes, is familiar to many organic chemists in the United States. A new revised edition appeared in 1943 and 1944, and the present new, revised edition in four volumes was completed in July, 1953. In general, the design of the new edition follows that of its predecessors. All of the organic compounds listed are arranged in strictly alphabetical order. Thus any required data may be located readily without the necessity of consulting a supplementary index. In order t o use the Dictionary with facility, however, it is necessary first to study the arrangement of the text which is clearly explained in the introduction. This is true because so many compounds may be designated in a variety of ways by either trivial or strictly systematic chemical names. The ease of locating required information is enhanced by the generous use of cross references, sometimes as many as three or four. In each short monograph the full struc-
Vol. XLIII, No. 5
tural formula is given for the compound listed. Functional derivatives are usually given under the parent compound unless they are sufficiently important t o justify separate inclusion as main references. In each monograph literature references citing the best method of preparation are included. The order in which data are presented is, in general, the same in all entries. These data include sources, where of interest; physical properties (melting point, boiling point, solubility, density, refractive index, heat of combustion, optical rotation, etc.) and chemical properties. Among the chemical properties the most important include typical reactions and analytical tests. It must be realized, of course, that in many instances only a limited number of chemical and physical properties have been recorded in the chemical literature and are unavailable for listing in the Dictionary. During the course of the revision leading to the publication of the latest edition, each of the previous 15,000 entries was carefully scrutinized and brought up to date. This resulted in the addition of more than 2,500 new principal entries. Many of the changes incorporated include results of research even up to and including the early part of 1953. In the new edition, the type area has been appreciably increased without detracting from the ease of handling. By the judicious use of the Dictionary, the time required in literature searches may be reduced considerably, and it is predicted that the new edition will enjoy an even more popular reception than did its predecessors.
Sergei N . Winogradsky, His Life and Work--The Story of a Great Bacteriologist. By SELMAN A. WAKSMAN. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, N. J., 1953. 150 pp. 14.5 x 22 cm. Price $4. This is a biography of the Russian bacteriologist whose works are particularly associated with studies on the autotrophic bacteria, or those organisms which obtain their energy by oxidation of inorganic elements and compounds. He also contributed to the knowledge of nonsymbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria, bacterial oxidation of sulfur, bacteriology of cellulose decomposition, and methods of soil microbiology. References to his 60 published papers are appended.
Glutathione-S,~gniJicant References from the Pages OJ Biological Abstracts. Compiled by F. A. VELAY. Biological Abstracts, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., January, 1954. 19 pp. 21.5 x 28 cm. Price $0.75. This is the first effort at compiling special bibliography, undertaken by Biological Abstracts and a highly successful one. The topic is timely, the subject arrangement has been done expertly, and the format is perfect. A short historical introduction enhances the value of the list. I t is to be hoped that future compilations will maintain the high standards set by the first one.