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Vinyl and Related Polymers. By Calvin E. Schildknecht. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1952. xi + 723 pp. Illustrated. 15.5 × 23.5 cm. Price $12.50
June, 1952
SCIENTIFIC EDITION
Inorganic Pharmaceutical Chemistry. 5th cd. By CHARLESH. ROGERS, TAITO 0. SOINE, and CHARLES0. WILSON. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1952. 850 pp. Illustrated. 16.5 x 24 cm. Price $10. The fifth edition of Dean Rogers’ well-known textbook represents a thorough revision whereby it has been brought cntircly up to date. The ncw edition includes many recent advances in the field of inorganic pharmaceutical chemistry and conforms to LJ S P. XIV and N.F IX. The pharmacology, action%, and uses of the medicinal chemicals described are stressed to a greater extent than in previous editions. In the new edition, only salts of organic acids in which the inorganic portion of the molecule contributes to the therapeutic activity have been included. In general, the arrangement of each chapter is essentially the same as in previous editions. In each chapter a short historical sketch of the individual elemcnt under consideration precedes information concerning its occurrence, physical and chemical properties, tcsts for identity and purity, commercial manufacture and pharmacological action. This is followed by a comparable treatment of each conipound of pharniaceutical interest. Analytical chemists will approve the inclusion of brief explanations of the principles and reactions involved in official assays. This feature was omitted from the previous edition, and its reintroduction will greatly enhance the value of the book as a reference t o this important phase of pharmaceutical chemistry. The book is replete with important tabular material of considerable reference value which is not readily found elsewhere. The book should continue to enjoy the wide use and popularity accorded the previous editions. The binding and printing are of good quality, but one has a feeling that the format could be improved by making it more attractivc and more modern in appearance. The Merck Index of Chemicals and Drugs. 6th ed. Merck and Co., Inc., Rahnay, N. J., 1952. xiv 1167 pp. 16 x 23.5 cm. The Merck Index has been known to pharmacists as an excellent reference book since the publication of the first edition in 1889. The edition immediately preceding the current one was published in 1940. The great advances that have been made since 1940 are reflected in the new sixth edition of the Merck Index. This cdition, as have previous editions, continues to provide a con6ise and reliable encyclopedic type of information relating to chemicals and drugs used in pharmacy and in the allied professions. Of the 8,000 descriptions of chemicals and drugs, 2,900 are new, and those retained from previous revisions have been thoroughly revised. Most of the useful tables of the fifth edition have been revised and retained. In addition to these, the sixth edition includes a table of standard buffers for calibrating p H measurements, a table of radioactive isotopes with pertinent information concerning each, and a table of medical uses for radioactive elements and their compounds. Of special interest to pharmaceutical chemists is the inclusion of a new section in which more than
+
339
300 organic “Name” reactions arc listed, with original and review references, together with a brief description and structural representation of the reaction. The new sixth edition of The AJerck Index has been designed to furnish an enormous amount of useful information for the chemist, pharmacist, physician, and allied professions, and it can be recommended as a useful reference book for members of any of these groups. Vinyl and Related Polymers. By CALVIN E. SCIIILDKNECHT. John Wiiey & Sons, Inc., New York, 1962. xi 723 pp. Illustrated. 15.5 x 23.5 cm. Price $12.50. In this book the chemistry and physics of polymerization and polymers, the basic inventions, the methods of synthesis, the advantages, and the limitations of the vinyl and related polymers are discussed. The book is divided into 14 chapters, and its scope can best be indicated by listing the titlcs of these chapters, which are: Styrene Polymerization ; Styrerie Copolymerization ; Styrene Dcrivative and Related Polymers; Methacrylic and Acrylic Ester Polymers; Acrylonitrile, Acrylic Acid and Related Polymers; Polymers from Vinyl Acetate and Related Monomers; Vinyl Chloride Polymers; Vinylidene Chloride and Fluorovinyl Polymers; Ethylene High Polymers and Copolymers; High Polymers and Copolynlers of Isobutylene; Vinyl Ether Polymers; Sulfur-Vinyl Compounds; Nitrogen-Vinyl Polymers ; and Vinyl Ketone and Miscellaneous Polymers. The book is of special pharmaceutical interest because of its treatment of ion exchange resins, blood plasma substitutcs, and dental resins. Another useful feature is the citation of more than 4,000 references to the original literature appearing between 1835 and the second half of 1951. Throughout the book the trade names for hundreds of European and American products are given. The book is provided with an adequate index and thc printing and binding are of excellent quality.
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The Essential Oils. Vol. V. By ERNESTGUENTHER. I). Van Nostrand Company, Inc., New York, 1952. xvii f 507 pp. Illustrated. 16 x 23.5 cm. Price $9.75. This volume represents the fifth in a series of six volumes planned to ipclude all pertinent inforniation relating to essential oils. The first four volumes have been reviewed, and a reference to these reviews will be found in THISJOURNAL, 39, 703(1950). In a work of this kind a design for presentation is established quite early arid followed throughout. Volume V continues according t o the established design and covers the essential oils obtained from the plant families Rosaceae. Myristicaceae, Zingiberaceae, Pifieraceae, A nacardiaceae, Sanhlaceae and Myoporaceae, Zygophylluceae, Leguminosue, Hamamelidaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Anonaceae. Oleaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Rubiaceae, Magnoliaceae, Caprifokiaceae, Violaceae, Resedaceae, Saxifragaceac, Caryophyllaceae, Primulaceae. Tiliaceae, and Compositae. I n this volume, one will find information relating to the history, geographic origin, botanical description, methods of cultivation of the plant from which the oil is derived, techniques of production and
SCIENTIFIC EDITION
Inorganic Pharmaceutical Chemistry. 5th cd. By CHARLESH. ROGERS, TAITO 0. SOINE, and CHARLES0. WILSON. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1952. 850 pp. Illustrated. 16.5 x 24 cm. Price $10. The fifth edition of Dean Rogers’ well-known textbook represents a thorough revision whereby it has been brought cntircly up to date. The ncw edition includes many recent advances in the field of inorganic pharmaceutical chemistry and conforms to LJ S P. XIV and N.F IX. The pharmacology, action%, and uses of the medicinal chemicals described are stressed to a greater extent than in previous editions. In the new edition, only salts of organic acids in which the inorganic portion of the molecule contributes to the therapeutic activity have been included. In general, the arrangement of each chapter is essentially the same as in previous editions. In each chapter a short historical sketch of the individual elemcnt under consideration precedes information concerning its occurrence, physical and chemical properties, tcsts for identity and purity, commercial manufacture and pharmacological action. This is followed by a comparable treatment of each conipound of pharniaceutical interest. Analytical chemists will approve the inclusion of brief explanations of the principles and reactions involved in official assays. This feature was omitted from the previous edition, and its reintroduction will greatly enhance the value of the book as a reference t o this important phase of pharmaceutical chemistry. The book is replete with important tabular material of considerable reference value which is not readily found elsewhere. The book should continue to enjoy the wide use and popularity accorded the previous editions. The binding and printing are of good quality, but one has a feeling that the format could be improved by making it more attractivc and more modern in appearance. The Merck Index of Chemicals and Drugs. 6th ed. Merck and Co., Inc., Rahnay, N. J., 1952. xiv 1167 pp. 16 x 23.5 cm. The Merck Index has been known to pharmacists as an excellent reference book since the publication of the first edition in 1889. The edition immediately preceding the current one was published in 1940. The great advances that have been made since 1940 are reflected in the new sixth edition of the Merck Index. This cdition, as have previous editions, continues to provide a con6ise and reliable encyclopedic type of information relating to chemicals and drugs used in pharmacy and in the allied professions. Of the 8,000 descriptions of chemicals and drugs, 2,900 are new, and those retained from previous revisions have been thoroughly revised. Most of the useful tables of the fifth edition have been revised and retained. In addition to these, the sixth edition includes a table of standard buffers for calibrating p H measurements, a table of radioactive isotopes with pertinent information concerning each, and a table of medical uses for radioactive elements and their compounds. Of special interest to pharmaceutical chemists is the inclusion of a new section in which more than
+
339
300 organic “Name” reactions arc listed, with original and review references, together with a brief description and structural representation of the reaction. The new sixth edition of The AJerck Index has been designed to furnish an enormous amount of useful information for the chemist, pharmacist, physician, and allied professions, and it can be recommended as a useful reference book for members of any of these groups. Vinyl and Related Polymers. By CALVIN E. SCIIILDKNECHT. John Wiiey & Sons, Inc., New York, 1962. xi 723 pp. Illustrated. 15.5 x 23.5 cm. Price $12.50. In this book the chemistry and physics of polymerization and polymers, the basic inventions, the methods of synthesis, the advantages, and the limitations of the vinyl and related polymers are discussed. The book is divided into 14 chapters, and its scope can best be indicated by listing the titlcs of these chapters, which are: Styrene Polymerization ; Styrerie Copolymerization ; Styrene Dcrivative and Related Polymers; Methacrylic and Acrylic Ester Polymers; Acrylonitrile, Acrylic Acid and Related Polymers; Polymers from Vinyl Acetate and Related Monomers; Vinyl Chloride Polymers; Vinylidene Chloride and Fluorovinyl Polymers; Ethylene High Polymers and Copolymers; High Polymers and Copolynlers of Isobutylene; Vinyl Ether Polymers; Sulfur-Vinyl Compounds; Nitrogen-Vinyl Polymers ; and Vinyl Ketone and Miscellaneous Polymers. The book is of special pharmaceutical interest because of its treatment of ion exchange resins, blood plasma substitutcs, and dental resins. Another useful feature is the citation of more than 4,000 references to the original literature appearing between 1835 and the second half of 1951. Throughout the book the trade names for hundreds of European and American products are given. The book is provided with an adequate index and thc printing and binding are of excellent quality.
+
The Essential Oils. Vol. V. By ERNESTGUENTHER. I). Van Nostrand Company, Inc., New York, 1952. xvii f 507 pp. Illustrated. 16 x 23.5 cm. Price $9.75. This volume represents the fifth in a series of six volumes planned to ipclude all pertinent inforniation relating to essential oils. The first four volumes have been reviewed, and a reference to these reviews will be found in THISJOURNAL, 39, 703(1950). In a work of this kind a design for presentation is established quite early arid followed throughout. Volume V continues according t o the established design and covers the essential oils obtained from the plant families Rosaceae. Myristicaceae, Zingiberaceae, Pifieraceae, A nacardiaceae, Sanhlaceae and Myoporaceae, Zygophylluceae, Leguminosue, Hamamelidaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Anonaceae. Oleaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Rubiaceae, Magnoliaceae, Caprifokiaceae, Violaceae, Resedaceae, Saxifragaceac, Caryophyllaceae, Primulaceae. Tiliaceae, and Compositae. I n this volume, one will find information relating to the history, geographic origin, botanical description, methods of cultivation of the plant from which the oil is derived, techniques of production and