Wings in the Sea. The humpback whale

Organosilicon and Bioorganosilicon Chemistry. Edited by H. Sakurai. Pp. 298. Ellis Horwood, Chichester. 7985. f35.00.

This volume contains the Plenary and Invited Lectures at the Symposium on Organosilicon Chemistry, Kyoto 1984, with the exception of the extensive contributions of Professor Wiberg’s group, which are given only in brief outline. The title is misleading. There are 27 talks altogether and only one of these is devoted to bioorganosilicon chemistry. The text is taken directly from the manuscripts and therefore the presentation varies widely, that of Professors Bock and Solouki being particularly imaginative. The book summarises many current trends in its field. It succeeds well in showing how almost commonplace have become compounds and intermediates containing previously elusive silicon double and even triple bonded species, which appear in many chapters, not only in Part 1. Of particular interest is the clear exposition by C. Eaborn of his novel and exciting work on sterically hindered organosilicon compounds, and the thoughtful exposition by I. Fleming of the careful work being done on stereochemical control in electrophilic addition to allylsilanes and particularly to l3-silylenolates. The important oxidative cleavage of the C-5 bond also appears in Fleming’s chapter and more fully in the talk by K. Tamao. This book should certainly be in chemical libraries, though I would hesitate to recommend it for private purchase. A. Petter Advances in Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy. Vol. 12. Edited by R. J. H. Clark and R. E. Hester. Pp. 360. Wiley, Chichester, 7985. f72.00.

Volume 12 in this very useful and wellproduced series contains a number of timely articles, which serve to emphasize the continuing development and usefulness of infra-red and Raman spectroscopy. In Chapter 1, Bewick and Pons review the methods by which infra-red spectra of species adsorbed on electrode surfaces can be obtained with monolayer sensitivity. In the second chapter, Tallandier, Liquier, and Taboury discuss infra-red spectroscopic studies of DNA conformations and show how subtle conformation features can be characterized. Mathias and co-workers review in Chapter 3 recent work on the vibrational analysis of the retinal isomers. In particular, the sensitivity of observed bands to geometric and electronic perturbations are considered. In the fourth chapter Lee and Albracht present a unified theoretical account of Raman, resonance Raman, and resonance fluorescence spectroscopy based on the density matrix method. This is a valuable contribution to our understanding of these processes. Barron and Vrbancich treat in detail in Chapter 5 the theory, experimental methods, and experimental results for magnetic Raman optical activity.

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In Chapter 6 Hamaguchi presents a useful and comprehensive account of the phenomena of depolarization in vibrational Raman scattering, including the resonance case. The volume concludes with a review by James of low-frequency depolarized light scattering from liquids and solutions. Studies of the so-called ‘Rayleigh wing’ for many systems, including electrolyte solutions and aqueous solutions of nucleosides and nucleotides, are presented and discussed. Each chapter is of necessity specialised and few laboratories or individuals are likely to be deeply involved in all the subjects treated here. Nevertheless, the volume should be regarded as an essential for scientific libraries and one of the tools of the trade for practising molecular spectroscopists. D. A. Long

Olefin Metathesis and Ring-Opening Polymerization of Cycle-olefins. By Valerian Drag&an, Alexandru T. Balaban and Mihai Dimonie. Pp. 544. Editura Academiei, Bucarest and Wifey, Chichester. 1985. f34.50.

The story of olefin metathesis and ringolefin polymerisation of cycle-olefins, catalysed by transition metals, is a fascinating and remarkable aspect of chemistry. Organic chemists will be interested by the synthetic potential of metathesis reactions. metal chemists have Organo-transition shown remarkable ingenuity in unravelling the intimate details of mechanisms and the role of the catalyst. Industrial applications of metathesis are discussed in depth. This book covers the subject in a thorough and lively manner. The literature is covered up to 1982 and with occasional more recent references. The book is written in an authoritative manner and it is clearly presented. The more academic aspects such as mechanism are considered in detail, yet the practical aspects are also described. The last chapter presents a very extensive and comprehensive tabular survey of catalytic systems for metathesis. A survey of this table, which covers 68 pages, reveals the remarkably large number of systems, mainly heterogeneous, which have been investigated for their activity towards methathesis of olefins. This book will certainly be useful, and serve both as an introduction to the subject and as a reference work for investigators in the field. M. L. H. Green

Polymers. The Origins and Growth of a Science. By Herbert Morawetz. Pp. 306. Wiley, Chichester. 1985. f54.95.

Although polymer science has only been in existence for little over sixty years, it has become one of the commercially and intellectually most important disciplines of

chemistry. Yet for all its contemporary significance, little systematic work has been done on its history. Compared with, for example, the history of the development of other presently important disciplines such as nuclear physics or molecular biology, this is a striking lacuna. Herbert Morawetz, a professor at the Polytechnic Institute of New York (formerly Brooklyn Polytechnic), a centre famed for its role in the development of polymer science, has made a good attempt to fill this gap in the historical literature. Morawetz has been assiduous in his examination of the scientific literature; he gives references to over one thousand original papers and monographs, and he has been aided by many of his fellow polymer scientists, especially his close colleague, Herman Mark. The product comprehensively covers the development of polymer science from the original definition of the term ‘polymer’ by Berzelius in 1832 to the early 1960s. Although there are several typographical errors and I would disagree with one or two assertions in the text, it is in many ways an excellent account. Morawetz gives some attention to industrial developments, in particular the synthetic rubber industry, and there is a brief but interesting chapter on the impact of the rise of National Socialism on several polymer scientists. As a scientific account of the development of polymer science, Morawetz’s book will appeal chiefly to other chemists who want a detailed overview of the evolution of the subject, and it will also be an indispensible reference book for historians working in this field. However, the wealth of technical detail, which is one of the book’s strengths, may prove daunting to the general reader. P. Morris Wings in the Sea. The Humpback Whale. By Lois K. Winn and Howard E. Winn. Pp. 151. University Press of New England, New Hampshire. Distributed by Tfevof Brown Associates, London. 7985, Cloth f25.00, Paperback f 15.95.

The humpback whale was given protection from whaling in the N. Atlantic in the 1956 and in the N. Pacific ten years later. Since then, as these stocks have slowly recovered, they have become the best studied and most completely known whale populations in the world. That so much could be learned without the death of a single whale is a testament to the many researchers who pioneered this new approach and should be a lesson to those ‘scientific whalers’ whose blinkered opinion is still that a prerequisite for really studying a whale is its death. Howard and Lois King Winn have been involved in humpback whale research for the last sixteen years and in this book they present an up to date picture of the natural history of this species centering around their own findings and research. Whilst this makes for a readable account it is worth stressing that this is not a disinterested overview of humpback whale research in

recent years. Rather it is an account based on the work of one team. The work of other scientists is often mentioned only briefly. Many may feel that some important research, such as the Paynes’ detailed analysis of song, or the extensive behavioural observations made in Hawaii, could have received more attention. In style the book aims at that elusive middle-ground between dry, statistically proven, scientific fact and anthropomorphic nature yarn. They almost make it, though at times the prose becomes rather plodding. One advantage of this approach is that many interesting field notes and conjectures, which would never make it into the can be included. scientific literature, Another enjoyable aspect is the inclusion of much material from early, almost forgotten early work, whaling accounts, and myth and folklore. References are not given explicitly in the text but a full bibliography is included as an appendix. The book is illustrated with good, clear pen-and-ink drawings and blackand-white photographs which usually serve to elucidate points made in the text. While the scientists will find much of interest, and even the expert may find some new material, the layman should find this a readable, easy-to-follow, account. Jonathan Gordon.

Butterflies of Europe. Vol. 1. Concise Bibliography. Edited by Ofakar Kudrna. Pp. 447. AULA-Verlag, Wiesbaden. 1985. DM 248 (subscription price DM 2 16).

This is the first of a projected eight-volume work to be written by ‘a group of leading lepidopterologists’ and intended for ‘the small circle of collectors of butterflies’ and the wider spectrum of ‘scientists, students and conservationists.’ The remaining volumes will include one on an introduction to lepidopterology; four offering a systematic treatment of the European butterflies; and one each on ecology and conservation. It is stressed in the introduction that butterflies are on the decline as a result of farming, forestry, and industry, and that they are sensitive indicators of the ecological health of an area. They are also beautiful and interesting in their own right, hence the need for an up-to-date treatise. But will these volumes become the most authoritative on European butterflies? It is difficult to say, because volume 1 is no more than a bibliography of 6000 references selected from the 50 000 available, an unusual start to a multi-volume work. Moreover, it is not always obvious how the selection of references has been made. For example, there are a remarkable number of general references to butterfly evolution and systematics which have little to do with European butterflies, and there are also references to publications on species that do not occur in Europe. Nevertheless, the bibliography must be the most comprehensive available and as such it is to be welcomed. Denis Owen.

Understanding AIDS. A Comprehensive Guide. Edited by Victor Gong. Pp. 240. Cambridge University Press. 1985. f 17.50.

ideal present for a technically-minded relative or friend.

This book is ‘written for a wider audience’, though how wide I am not sure. It goes into considerable, though at times incomplete, detail of the immune response such that the non-immunologist might get lost and the immunologist might remain unsatisfied. There is a good selection of references to the scientific literature but unfortunately the usefulness of this is less than it might be, as in most chapters they are not included in the text. However, the major purpose of the book would seem to be to allay unwarranted fears by giving sensible information and indication of the extent of the hazards of AIDS and I think it does this very well. For example, it estimates the number of haemophiliacs who might receive Factor VIII of one individual batch and the very small percentage of those who have contracted AIDS. There is a considerable amount of repetition, (twenty authors and fifteen chapters) which some may find tedious, others emphatic. Nevertheless, I found it a useful and helpful book though the price seems rather high if a wide market is to be achieved. Finally, I was interested to read (p. 66) that the lymphadenopathic form of Kaposi’s Sarcoma was ‘virtually unknown among practising oncologists before AIDS appeared’. I hope it is still so, though, alas, well known ‘to’ them nowadays.

Science and Civilisation in China by Joseph Needham. Vol. V, Part I. Paper and Printing. By Tsien Tsuen-Hsuin. Pp.

J. D. Milton. A Victorian World of Science. By A/an Sutton. Pp, 227. Adam Hilger, Bristol. 1985. f72.50 ($ZO.OOf

The English Mechanic was an important ‘self help’, educational, and technical journal founded in 1865. For many years it was owned by the improving philanthropist John Passmore Edwards. Under various revamped titles it survived into the midtwentieth century as a hobbies magazine, only to be killed by the growing popularity of television in 1956. Dr Sutton’s book is a compendium of extracts from the journal’s Victorian files loosely arranged into categories of practical science, domestic science, philosophical amusements, medical science, and velocipedes. The book has no scholarly pretensions - it would be extremely difficult to locate the passages quoted in the densely printed original weekly magazine, even though the year of publication, is given and Dr Sutton makes little informed attempt to place his choices in historical context. (The ordinary reader would not realize, for example, that the English Mechanic was the most important vehicle in the English press for the technical development of the bicyle.) Nevertheless, viewed as the publishers intend as ‘a collection of unusual items and anecdotes connected with ideas about science and its applications in Victorian times’, the book is enormous fun. It will make an

W. H. Brock

xxv + 485. Cambridge University Press, 1985. f45.00.

While Needham’s great work has not departed from the scheme set out on the dust-jacket of Volume I (published in 1954 at L3.75) the sheer magnitude of the work has made it necessary to publish all volumes after the third in several parts. It has also become necessary to entrust some of these parts to individual authors, beginning with Francesca Bray’s admirable study of Chinese agriculture (Vl. 2). Now a further section, on paper and printing, is contributed by Professor Tsien Tsuen-Hsuin of the Univeristy of Chicago. Rather unexpectedly, it appears as Part I of the volume devoted to chemistry and chemical technology; the four later parts of this, with more obviously chemical affinities, have already appeared. We may count ourselves fortunate that while Needham set the pattern of the book at the beginning of the project, now more than thirty years ago, he also allowed for flexibility. What was planned as a lOO-page section is now expanded to nearly five times that length. As those familiar with the work will know, Needham’s constant endeavour has been not simply to give a very comprehensive account of the history of Chinese science and technology but to relate this to developments elsewhere in the world. In many instances the exchange of knowledge and techniques has been, to some extent at least, a two-way process but in papermaking and printing we seem to have a profoundly important and uniquely Chinese invention that antedated its adoption in Europe by many centuries. As late as the beginning of the 19th century ‘more printed pages existed in Chinese than in all other languages put together’. As Professor Tsien says in his introduction ‘the unique combination of paper, ink and printing are still the basic, permanent, portable, and perhaps the least expensive and most accessible communication device known to us today’. Paper, we are reminded, was not devised simply for printing, but performed many other important roles in Chinese society for a variety of graphic arts, for clothing and lanterns, for umbrellas and wall decoration. After discussing these and the technology of paper-making, Professor Tsien proceeds to describe the evolution of printing from woodblocks to movable type and follows this with an analysis of the migration of paper and printing not only westwards into Europe but eastwards and southwards into Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. The text includes some 200 illustrations; bibliographies of Chinese and Japanese books before 1800, of Chinese and Japanese books and journals after 1800. and of

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