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Statistical Methods for Chemists. By W. J. Youden. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1951. x + 126 pp. 15.5 × 23.5 cm. Price $3
January, 1952
SCIENTIFIC EDITION
53
StatiJticnl Methods for Chemists. By W. .J. YOUDEN. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. 1951. x 126 pp. 15.5 x 23.5 cm. Price $3. This book is written for chemists who rnake measurements and interpret experiments. It is unique in that no space is given to thc preseutation of statistical theory and proofs, which can be found in the listed books on statistics. Thcse and other omissions from the text reflect the author’s opinion that many of the ordinary situations confronting thc scientist require knowledge of only a fcw statistical techniques. His stated purpose is t o make available to tlie scientists, many of whom are inarticulate iu the explanation of their rcsults, tlie modern statistical system of units for expressing scientific coriclusions. This is done with particular effectiveness through the use of actual data from experimental obscrvations a t the National Bureau of Standards. Dr. Youdcn states that by means of statistical techniqucs the requisite latitude in making an estimate can be specificd in terms of the quantity of data available. Statistical verdicts may be regarded as matheInatically objective judgments based upon the Phernzacoposy. By ROBERTSON PRATT and HEBER numerical relationships among measurements. ArVV‘.YOUSCKEN, Jr. J. B. Lippincott Company, guments are given for and against tbc value of staPhiladelphia, 1951. xi 6-14 pp. Illustratcd. tistical considerations of data with the affirmative 15.5 x 23.5 cm. Price $8.50. winning handily. I t is stressed that the detection This book presents an entirely new approach to and cliniination of inaccuracy are experimental the subject of pharmacognosy. The authors con- tasks, not statistical ones. It follows, therefore, sider pharmacognosy to be essentially a biochemic &at false data caused by manipulative errors should science that is based on botany, chemistry, biochern- be eliminated before thc dcgree of precision is deteristry, plant physiology, and rclatcd sciences. Fol- mined statistically. lowing this concept, the emphasis throughout the The text material is presented clearly and the exbook is on chemical, physical, and physiological amples arc well chosen, The headings of the 10 principles and their integration and application. chapters indicate the scope of the text: (1) Prccisiou The authors have succeeded admirably in presenting and Accuracy; ( 2 ) The Measurement of Precision; information so that the student may acquire an ( 3 ) Thc Comparison of Averages; (4) The Rcsoluundcrstanding of the factors involved in the production of Errors; ( 5 ) Statistics of the Straight Line; tion and use of plant and animal drugs. The book (6j The Analysis of Variance; (7) Interaction beis divided into six parts. I n the first part the general tween Factors; (8) Rcquirements for Data; (9) aspects of pharmacognosy, dcfinitions, and soul-ces Arrangements for Improving Precision; and (10) of drug materials arc explained. Part 2 presents an Experiments with Several Factors. excellent introduction to cellular chemistry, and in An index and tables of critical valucs of t and F Part 3 the utilization and classification of drugs are and a table of squares are included. presented in an interesting style. Part 4 includes an adequate discussion of products of biosyntheses, certain of their derivatives, and their physiologic Biologicnk Antagonism. By GUSTAVJ. MARTIN. and pharmaceutical applications. In Part 5 the The Blakiston Company, Philadelphia, Pa., 1951. production, preservation, and evaluation of crude vii 516 pp. 16 x 23.5 cm. Price 38.50. drugs are outlined undcr the heading “Practices and 111this book, Dr. Martin reviews biological anProcedures.” Part 6, consisting of over more than tagonism as reflected in natural and synthetic dis50 pages, treats thc subject of pest and weed control placing agents, covers antagonism as seen in the and other problems in public health. The book is both interesting and inspiring. It fields of amino acids, purines, pyrimidines, vitamins, hormones, tnierals, and as it forms the basis of recognizes that the classical ideas of pharrnacognosy no longer possess the significancc they did thirty immunology, pharmacology, and chemotherapy. or more years ago. The fact is recognized, and ern- Finally, he offers the conccpt of biological relativity based upon his extensive study of these biological phasized throiighout the book, that plant products will probably continue to play an important role as a antagonisms. “Biological antagonism is a new science, hringing source of drugs, but the background informatiou relating to these drugs from plants, is far more realistic within its scope elements of biochemistry, pharmacology, chemotherapy, immunology, etc. It is based than the conventional type of pharmacognosy that has heretofore been required in schools of pharmacy. upon a functional concept which is fundamental I t is hoped that this new approach to an important to every biological science. Life exists because of biological antagonisms. This is an extremely broad pharmaceutical subject will inspire teachers of statement but reflects no more than the fact t i n t pharmacognosy t o emulate the design outlined by biological systems are orderly and that orderliness the authors for teaching pharinacognosy with a could not be except for antagonistns,” according to modern outlook, and a consideration of the nccds of Dr. Martin. the present generation of pharmacy students.
impropcrly collected and preserved specimens when these might yield erroneous and misleading results. All the procedures throughout the text are abundantly illustrated with excellent cuts demonstrating handling technique and showing the equipment used. Complete references are given a t each point of mention in the text. New material iu this revision includcs a rapid system for routine urine analysis, the Papanicolaou cytodiagnosis of cancer, determination of spiiial fluid protein, pregnancy tcst with frogs, Isenberg’s methcd for staining spermatozoa, Alving and Miller’s inulin clearance and the thymol turbidity tests for liver function, tests for bacterial susccptibility to antibiotics and assay for antibiotics in body fluids, R h factor tests, slide flocculation and micro- and macroflocculation tests for syphilis, flame photometry, and skin tests for histoplasmosis and drug allergies. This book is a must for libraries available to cliiiical laboratory workers, and its thoroughness makes it especially suitable as a text for thc instruction of students in this field.
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SCIENTIFIC EDITION
53
StatiJticnl Methods for Chemists. By W. .J. YOUDEN. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York. 1951. x 126 pp. 15.5 x 23.5 cm. Price $3. This book is written for chemists who rnake measurements and interpret experiments. It is unique in that no space is given to thc preseutation of statistical theory and proofs, which can be found in the listed books on statistics. Thcse and other omissions from the text reflect the author’s opinion that many of the ordinary situations confronting thc scientist require knowledge of only a fcw statistical techniques. His stated purpose is t o make available to tlie scientists, many of whom are inarticulate iu the explanation of their rcsults, tlie modern statistical system of units for expressing scientific coriclusions. This is done with particular effectiveness through the use of actual data from experimental obscrvations a t the National Bureau of Standards. Dr. Youdcn states that by means of statistical techniqucs the requisite latitude in making an estimate can be specificd in terms of the quantity of data available. Statistical verdicts may be regarded as matheInatically objective judgments based upon the Phernzacoposy. By ROBERTSON PRATT and HEBER numerical relationships among measurements. ArVV‘.YOUSCKEN, Jr. J. B. Lippincott Company, guments are given for and against tbc value of staPhiladelphia, 1951. xi 6-14 pp. Illustratcd. tistical considerations of data with the affirmative 15.5 x 23.5 cm. Price $8.50. winning handily. I t is stressed that the detection This book presents an entirely new approach to and cliniination of inaccuracy are experimental the subject of pharmacognosy. The authors con- tasks, not statistical ones. It follows, therefore, sider pharmacognosy to be essentially a biochemic &at false data caused by manipulative errors should science that is based on botany, chemistry, biochern- be eliminated before thc dcgree of precision is deteristry, plant physiology, and rclatcd sciences. Fol- mined statistically. lowing this concept, the emphasis throughout the The text material is presented clearly and the exbook is on chemical, physical, and physiological amples arc well chosen, The headings of the 10 principles and their integration and application. chapters indicate the scope of the text: (1) Prccisiou The authors have succeeded admirably in presenting and Accuracy; ( 2 ) The Measurement of Precision; information so that the student may acquire an ( 3 ) Thc Comparison of Averages; (4) The Rcsoluundcrstanding of the factors involved in the production of Errors; ( 5 ) Statistics of the Straight Line; tion and use of plant and animal drugs. The book (6j The Analysis of Variance; (7) Interaction beis divided into six parts. I n the first part the general tween Factors; (8) Rcquirements for Data; (9) aspects of pharmacognosy, dcfinitions, and soul-ces Arrangements for Improving Precision; and (10) of drug materials arc explained. Part 2 presents an Experiments with Several Factors. excellent introduction to cellular chemistry, and in An index and tables of critical valucs of t and F Part 3 the utilization and classification of drugs are and a table of squares are included. presented in an interesting style. Part 4 includes an adequate discussion of products of biosyntheses, certain of their derivatives, and their physiologic Biologicnk Antagonism. By GUSTAVJ. MARTIN. and pharmaceutical applications. In Part 5 the The Blakiston Company, Philadelphia, Pa., 1951. production, preservation, and evaluation of crude vii 516 pp. 16 x 23.5 cm. Price 38.50. drugs are outlined undcr the heading “Practices and 111this book, Dr. Martin reviews biological anProcedures.” Part 6, consisting of over more than tagonism as reflected in natural and synthetic dis50 pages, treats thc subject of pest and weed control placing agents, covers antagonism as seen in the and other problems in public health. The book is both interesting and inspiring. It fields of amino acids, purines, pyrimidines, vitamins, hormones, tnierals, and as it forms the basis of recognizes that the classical ideas of pharrnacognosy no longer possess the significancc they did thirty immunology, pharmacology, and chemotherapy. or more years ago. The fact is recognized, and ern- Finally, he offers the conccpt of biological relativity based upon his extensive study of these biological phasized throiighout the book, that plant products will probably continue to play an important role as a antagonisms. “Biological antagonism is a new science, hringing source of drugs, but the background informatiou relating to these drugs from plants, is far more realistic within its scope elements of biochemistry, pharmacology, chemotherapy, immunology, etc. It is based than the conventional type of pharmacognosy that has heretofore been required in schools of pharmacy. upon a functional concept which is fundamental I t is hoped that this new approach to an important to every biological science. Life exists because of biological antagonisms. This is an extremely broad pharmaceutical subject will inspire teachers of statement but reflects no more than the fact t i n t pharmacognosy t o emulate the design outlined by biological systems are orderly and that orderliness the authors for teaching pharinacognosy with a could not be except for antagonistns,” according to modern outlook, and a consideration of the nccds of Dr. Martin. the present generation of pharmacy students.
impropcrly collected and preserved specimens when these might yield erroneous and misleading results. All the procedures throughout the text are abundantly illustrated with excellent cuts demonstrating handling technique and showing the equipment used. Complete references are given a t each point of mention in the text. New material iu this revision includcs a rapid system for routine urine analysis, the Papanicolaou cytodiagnosis of cancer, determination of spiiial fluid protein, pregnancy tcst with frogs, Isenberg’s methcd for staining spermatozoa, Alving and Miller’s inulin clearance and the thymol turbidity tests for liver function, tests for bacterial susccptibility to antibiotics and assay for antibiotics in body fluids, R h factor tests, slide flocculation and micro- and macroflocculation tests for syphilis, flame photometry, and skin tests for histoplasmosis and drug allergies. This book is a must for libraries available to cliiiical laboratory workers, and its thoroughness makes it especially suitable as a text for thc instruction of students in this field.
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