Book Notices La RauwolJia. By LIVIOMEDIANI. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milan, 1957. xvi 582 pp. 15.5 x 22 cm. This book reviews, in a competent manner, the history, chemistry, and pharmacology of the several known species of Rauwolfia. It includes references to the original literature, but has no index.
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organic substances; organic compounds: ( I ) drugs; (11) pesticides; and (111) miscellaneous. In two other chapters poisonous plants and radioactive materials are discussed from a toxicological standpoint. The eighth and final chwter covers quite adequately methods employed in toxicological analysis.
Volumetric Analysis, Vol. III-Titration Methods: Oxidation-Reduction Reactions. B y I. M. Kolthoff and R. Belcher with the cooperation of V. A. Stenger and G. Matsuyama. Interscience Publishers, Inc., New York, 1957. ix 714 pp. 15 x 23 cm. Price $15. The third and last volume of “Volumetric Analysis’’ deals exclusively with oxidation-reduction titrations. It is logically arranged in a series of fifteen chapters, is well documented throughout, and is provided with author and subject indexes. The first chapter discusses reactiohs, indicators, and general techniques in oxidation-reduction titrations. Other chapters discuss potassium permanganate as a volumetric reagent, oxidimetry with permanganate and with ceric salts, potassium dichromate as oxidizTables for Use with Binomial Samples. By DONALD ing titrant, iodometry, determination of water with MAINLAND,LEE HERRERA, and MARION I . the Karl Fischer reagent. Other chapters cover the SUTCLIFFE. Department of Medical Statistics. use of potassium iodate as an oxidizing titrant; oxiNew York University, New York, 1957. xix 83 dation of organic compounds with periodate; popp. 27.5 x 21 cm. Price $2. tassillm bromate as a titrimetric reagent; oxidation with hypohalites; titrations with iron, titanium, The statistical tables published by Mainland and and other strong reducing agents ; and miscellaneous his collaborators during the past eight years are of pharmaceutical interest. All of the tables, with titrants. The book constitutes a useful reference t o instructions, are now reissued in book form by photo- titration methods involving oxidation-reduction offset from typed material, with a stiff (twillpex) reactions. cover and spiral binding. It contains many more entries than in the original versions, in order t o Advances in Pest Control Research. Vol. I. Edited minimize the need for interpolation. The tables by R. L. METCALF. Interscience Publishers, Inc., remove the need for computation or reduce it to a New York, 1957. vii 514 pp. 15 x 23 cm. line or two of simple arithmetic. Tables I-IV are Price $11. for the significance testing of fourfold contingency This is the first in a series of selected contributions tables (comparison of two percentage frequencies). by specialists in fields related t o pest control Tables V-IX show binomial confidence limits for research. The pests include economically destrucsample sizes from 1 t o 100,000, with intervals of 1% tive species of plants and animals, variously classified or less between sample percentages for the 95% and as. viruses, bacteria, fungi, weeds, protozoa, 99% limits, and somewhat wider intervals for the nematodes and other helminths, molluscs, insects 80% limits. Estimates of sample sizes required and other arthropods, fish, birds, and rodents. under various conditions are obtainable from all the The text of this volume includes the following tables, but Table X is specially designed for this. subjects: Control of health hazards associated with the use of pesticides, The chemistry and mode of Veterinary Toxicology (Formerly Lander’s Veterinary action of herbicides, Uses of radioisotopes in Toxicology). By R . J. GARNER. The Williams pesticide research, The chemistry of action of & Wilkins Company, Baltimore, 1957 (distribu- organic phosphorus insecticides, Mechanisms of tors for Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, London). iv fungitoxicity, Recent advances in control of soil 415 pp. 15 x 23 cm. Price $7.50. fungi, Repellents for biting arthropods, The status This book was published originally under the of systemic insecticides in pest control practices, title “Lander’s Veterinary Toxicology,” the last Chemical analysis of pesticide residues, and Bioedition of which appeared in 1945. Since that time, assay of pesticide residues. The text includes many so much new material has accumulated that it references which are given a t the end of each has been necessary to prepare a complete revision. chapter. A good subject index is appended. The style, format, type, and binding of the book Most toxic compounds to which animals may be exposed have been covered by dividing them into six are very good. The text material represents good, classifications. These classifications include in- comprehensive reviews with suggested approaches t o
Science looks at Smoking: A New Inquiry into the Effects of Smoking on Your Health. By ERIC NORTHRUP.Coward-McCann, Inc., New York, 1957. 190 pp. 13.5 x 20.5 cm. Price $3. An effort is made t o inquire into the effects of smoking, and to appraise some of the reports that have been so widely circulated. The reports on smoking as a cause of lung cancer and heart failure are reviewed and evaluated. The author points out that faulty research methods and preconceived attitudes have made some of the publicized conclusions invalid and suspect, and that as a result the public has been unduly alarmed by the hasty release of inconclusive reports and findings.
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