Book Notices
Traite' de Pharmacie ch,imique. 4th ed. 1101. I-V. Masson et Cie Paris, 1956. 4,984 pp. 17 x 25 cm. Price 32,000 fr. This 5-volume treatise on pharmaceutical chemistry, published under the direction of Professors Lebau and Janot, furnishes a very adequate revision of the preceding edition which was published in 1947. The editorial directors have been ably assisted in the completion of this work by Professors M. Guillot, Y. Raoul, M. Chaigneau, 0. Valette, A. Morette, and P. Corriez, all of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Paris. The new fourth edition of Trait6 de Pharmacie chimipue is unique in the comprehensiveness of its scope. It includes information on the preparation, physical-chemical characteristics, analytical procedures, and the principal pharmacodynamics and therapeutic properties of thousands of medicinal chemicals. It is documented throughout with the most signscant references t o the original literature relating to all phases of medicinal chemistry. Because of the breadth of its coverage, the new edition will be of interest to practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical chemists, physicians, pharmacologists, and students. In the course of the revision of the previous edition, chapters included therein have been thoroughly revised and brought up-todate. In addition, many new chapters have been added to provide basic information on hundreds of new drugs from both synthetic and natural sources which have been developed since 1947. Thus, drugs in entirely new pharmacological categories have been added and their properties adequately summarized. As in previous editions, the chemical classilkation of medicinal chemicals has been employed. The first volume of the series is devoted entirely to inorganic chemicals used as therapeutic agents. It includes chapters on radioactive elements and on colloids. This volume covers 838 pages and is quite properly indexed separately. The other four volumes cover completely all pertinent information relating to organic medicinal chemicals from natural sources and those prepared synthetically. Information relating to intermediates used in the syntheses of chemotherapeutic agents is also included. Volume V of Trait6 de P h r m a c i e chimipue includes an alphabetical subject index which is unusually complete and thus enhances the value of the treatise as a reference work. The contributors to the new edition of this well-known treatise on Dharmaceutical chemistry are to be congratulated upon the completion of such a monumental task. The printing and binding are of excellent quality and the arrangement of the text throughout is uniform and logical. This new 5-volume edition should find wide acceptance, not only in France, but by all who have an interest in any phase of chemotherapy.
A n Introduction to Modern Organic Analysis. By SIDNEYSICGIAand HANSJ. STOLTEN. Inter-
+
science Publishers, Inc., New York, 1956. vii 250 pp. 15.5 x 24 cm. Price $4.50. This book describes the different approaches and techniques utilized in organic analysis and presents the logical utilization of the methods in practical applications. Detailed and elementary discussions are omitted but sources are indicated by reference. The text is divided under the following headings: the organic analytical problem ; elemental analysis; chemical functional group analysis; potentiometric titration; absorption spectroscopy; freezing point; polarographic analysis and amperometric titrations; x-ray diffraction; refractive index and density; methods of separation-distillation, extraction, chromatographic adsorption, ion exchange, miscellaneous methods; specialized approachesmicroscopy, mass spectrometry, Roman spectroscopy, polarimetry; some typical problems illustrating the interrelationship of analytical approaches. An index is appended. The book is a n excellent review of the subject in which chemical and physical methods are correlated, and it is a very useful guide for the organic analyst faced with usual and unusual problems.
Perspectives in Organic Chemistry. Edited by SIR ALEXANDER TODD. Interscience Publishers, Inc., 527 pp. 15 x 23.5 cm. New York, 1956. x Price $7.50. This is a compilation of reviews or essays in different divisions of organic chemistry prepared by recognized contributors in these divisions. The subjects covered are: The nature of the theory of resonance (L. Pauling); Reaction mechanisms (P. D. Bartlett); The development of the concept of aromaticity (W. Baker) ; Stereochemistry (D. H. R. Barton); Bedeutung der vielgliedrigen Ringverbindungen fiir die theoretische organische Chemie (V. Prelog); Biosynthetic theories in organic chemistry (A. J. Birch); Synthesis (R. B. Woodward); Neue Entwicklungen der metallorganischen Synthese (K. Ziegler); Carbohydrates (E. L. Hirst); Nucleic acids (A. Todd); Bedeutung der theoretischen organischen Chemie fiir die Chemie der Terpenverbindungen (L. Ruzicka); Steroids ( C . W. Shoppee); Alkaloids (E. Schlittler); Isotopes in organic chemistry (J. W. Cornforth); Microorganisms in organic chemistry (K. Folkers); Chemotherapy (J. Walker); Organic chemistry and conifer taxonomy (H. Erdtman); Organische Chemie und Genetik (A. Butenandt). Each discussion is documented and a general subject index is appended. The discussions are limited in scope; they are interesting and informative and make a good volume for advanced reading in organic chemistry. The book is handsomely produced, and it is offered as a tribute to Sir Robert Robinson by the editor, Sir A. R. Todd.
+
75