The structure of the eye

The structure of the eye

BOOK REVIEWS 546 positive pressure.” This is patent nonsense since, even under positive pressure, an improperly designed seal can lead to endless di...

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BOOK REVIEWS

546

positive pressure.” This is patent nonsense since, even under positive pressure, an improperly designed seal can lead to endless difficulties. This author goes on to say that “. . the low rates of metabolism usually encountered, result in little variation in the heating load required to maintain culture temperature constant.” One wonders how extensive is this author’s experience. It would seem to be limited to vessels of a size where heating and cooling capacity far exceeds that required for maximum efficiency and economic operation. Further along in this paper, the author states that “For these reasons the use of deep-culture vessels is preferred and the disadvantage of foaming overcome, if surface-active agents cannot be tolerated, by using vortex aeration, surface aeration in a baffled vessel, or reducing the level of aeration/agitation.” What a blithe spirit! Is he unconcerned by what his recommended solution to these complex problems do to product yield? Apparently so. In general, this article deals with experimental equipment rather than equipment useful on an industrial scale. RICHARDDONOVICK,New Brunswick, New Jersey

Biochemistry troduction. By

of Plants

and Animals:

An In-

M. FRANK MALLETTE, PAUL M. ALTHOUSE and CARL 0. CLAGETT; Pennsylvania State University. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York and London, N. Y., 1960. xiii + 552 pp. Price $8.50. This volume was written as a text for students of agriculture. It is divided into three parts relating to general biochemistry, plant biochemistry, and animal biochemistry, respectively. Presumably, it is intended to cover the requirements of a two-semester course in those aspects of biochemistry most nearly related to agricultural technology. According to the author’s prefatory statements, the book is a lineal descendent of two others written by Dutcher and Haley in 1932 and by Dutcher, Jensen, and Althouse in 1951. All of these authors were located at Pennsylvania State College. In terms of its stated objectives the book is reasonably successful. The coverage of topics is sufficiently broad to afford the student a respectable mass of information for his money. At first reading, factual accuracy seems to have been reasonably well attained. For example, the discussion of energy transfers avoids some of the thermodynamic confusions of many contemporary texts of much great,er pretensions to sophistication. Specific features of the book invite comment.

For example, it seems a bit arbitrary to decide that biochemistry for students of agriculture should include plants and animals but not microorganisms. The first chapter entitled “The Development of Agricultural Chemistry” brings to the student a historical perspective that is sadly neglected in most contemporary texts. The second chapter, entitled “Properties of Matter,” contains an only slightly revised presentation of the traditional discussions of pH, colloids, etc. The reviewer has long felt that these topics serve no useful purpose in physiological and biochemical texts and should be omitted in favor of more basic information on topics such as enzyme kinetics, protein denaturation, etc. If the student has not already acquired a working knowledge of ionic equilibria (including the hydrogen ion) and the properties of macromolecular systems, through a good course in physical chemistry, the cursory treatment afforded here is not likely to bring a useful degree of understanding. Remnants of the classical approach are evident elsewhere, including the discussion of carbohydrate chemistry. Much of this material properly belongs in a course in organic chemistry and, indeed, is usually found there. Still further trimming would permit more extended treatment of more deserving biochemical subjects. Many extensive systems of consecutive reactions are described in the form of figures with little or no amplification in the text. Thus, the student is not informed with respect to the experimental basis underlying the construction of such pathways. Nor is he provided with means for its appraisal. However, the book is intended for use in an area where applications rather than scientific derivations are the important objective. Furthermore, the authors exercise refreshing candor in printing the vintage of each such scheme in its corresponding legend. No two texts in a rapidly growing field such as biochemistry would be likely to agree with respect to choice of organization or of subject matt,er. On the present scene, however, the student of agricultural chemistry would find it difficult to locate more information within the jackets of a book in the price range of the present volume. R. F. DAMSON, New York, New York The Structure of the Eye. Edited by GEORGE K. SMELSER,College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. Academic Press Inc., New York and London, 1961. xvi + 570 pp. illus. Price $15.00. This book represents the results of a two and one-half day symposium concerned with the st,ruc-

BOOK

REVIEWS

ture of the eye, which was held concurrently with the 7th International Congress of Anatomists, Sew York City, April, 1960. It is a considerable editorial and publishing achievement that the book should be released well within a year of the symposium. Thirty-six papers are presented along with some discussion by a larger group of investigators t,han ,just those who aut,hored papers. Participation included interested scientists from distant parts of the world. To a very considerable extent electron microscopy dominates t,he volume. Eighteen papers are principally concerned wit,h this, and include authorship by such well-established investigators in the, field as de Robertais, FernBndcz-Moran, Jakus, Pappas, SjGtrand, and Yamada, to mention but, some in alphabetical order. Crorge Wald also now blends his knowledge of the eye with electron microscopy in writing a, summarizing article which attempts to combine fine structure with molecular patterns in an effort to understand retinal function bctier. This group of papers treats many parts of the eye including: the receptor elements, synaptic connections, the pigment rpithelium, nutritional l)roblems of the retina, the lens, the vitreous body, the cornea, the iris pigment, and the riliary epithelium. It also includes a report by FcrnindrzMoran on photoreceptor structures prescrvcd in very unusual ways, particularly by “frcxeze-substitution,” coupled with a variety of exotic staining procrdurrs. A number of report,s which depend upon rrlatimely new histochemical and biophysical determinations also indicate other important directions of current, research. Thus, there are two papers which deal with the localiz&ion of oxidative enzymes. Two other papers are concerned with lens antigens. The autoradiography of tritium-labeled t,hymidinr is dealt with in three other papers conccrncd with the lens and the cornea. Another study reports an effort, t,o relate permeability properties to the submicroscopic structure of t,he cornca. Blso, in the grneral area of biophysics, there is one paper concerned with radiation ilamagc to the lens, and another dealing with structural and opt ical properties of the cornea. In one paper t)he comparative anatomy of the mammalian retina has been npproachcd by st,udying the clectrorctinographic response t,o light. Several of the above papers are mainly or partly concerned with developmental problems. More traditional techniques ha\-c been employed hy sc>vcral investigators to mine now information in old areas. Thus the trabecular network has been studied by Rohen, and cncnpsulated sensory endings in the anterior chamhcr as well as in t,he endothclium are described and discnsard by Vra-

547

bee. A developmental approach, defining t,issuc interaction and differentiation, has been explored b> Herrmann in relation io the cornea1 and scleral stroma. Maternal factors which can lead to congenital malformations are considered hy inl-estigators of the Paris T,aboratoire d’Embryologie. The work of Wolter, depending upon traditional sil\-er trchniqurs, demonstrates successfully new glixl rrlationships in the retina. This was indeed a remarkable symposium, surprisingly comprehensive in scope. This published volume will 1lrove to be of the utmost importance for years to come to scientists and clinicians interested in the eye. In some instances established investigators have been able to formulate comprchensirf> and more or 1133scomplete accounts of their specialties. In other instances it is obvious that our knowledge is still in a state of flux, but) this book goes a long way toward defining what is known and what is currently being investigated. Thus, very importantly, this volume represents current thinking and knowledge. Most, particularl) it has brought to the surface very much information that, otherwise would have been greatly drlayed in publication, and would undoubtedly have been scattered far and wide in diverse journals. Dr. Smelscr and the publisher undoubtedly deserve much crc,dit for an editorial job well and rapidly pcrform~d. DANIEL

C. PEASE, Los Sngeles,

California

Drugs and Behavior. Edited by LIEOXAHD IJHR, Research Psychologist, and JAXES G. MILLER, Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology, and Dire&or, Mental Health Research Institutcl, The University of Michigan. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New ‘k-ork, N. T., 1960. xx + 676 pp. illus. Price $10.75. The many specialists now investigating the effects of drugs on behavior include physiologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and biochemists among others. It is virtually impossible for one individual to be rxpert in all of these areas, and, even if he were, hc could not keep up with the literature describing the advances in thesr diverse fields. A volume such as Drugs clncl Rchatior. therefore, is sorely needed t>o inform both the casual reader and the scriorls investigator. The> Ilook is dirided ini-o two major sect,ions. One describes theoretical and methodological concepis. Thr other outlines specific prn&ical npI)roatchrs. ;\s might be expert,ed in a volume of this i.ype, the papc>rs, many by expcrls in their partirulnr fif>ld. are of varying quality, but most are lucid and l)rovocat,ive. Perhaps a shortcoming is that a nlmihrr of the articles have appeared prryiously