Lehrbuch der allgemeinen Physiologie (Gellhorn, Ernst)

VOL. 8, No. 9 RECENT BOOKS 1907

infer that in general excellence this text has improved with each edition since 1897, and that its popularity and usefulness will he increased by the seventh edition.

H. H. BARBER U-RSITY OF MINNESOTA

MINNBAPOLIS. MINN.

An Introduction to Biochemistry. ROGER J. WILLIAMS, Ph.D., Professor of Chem- istry, University of Oregon. First edi- tion. D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., New York City, 1931. xiv + 501 pages. 14 X 21.5 cm. $4.00.

This texthwk is designed to give stu- dents of medicine, biology, home econom- ics, and agricultue an acquaintance with the broader and fundamental aspects of the rapidly growing subdivision of sci- ence--biochemistry. The author empha- sizes the f a d that the chemistry of life is now becoming a subject of great interest to many organic chemists, and has en- deavored to interpret in this text the im- portant chemical and biological phenom- ena of the subject matter embraced under the general expression, "chemistry of or- ganisms." A student who will follow closely the general discussion as presented in this hook will acquire a gwd funda- mental knowledge of the underlying basic principles characterizing the science of biochemistry. The author presupposes that any student to follow understandingly his text will have had at least one year's course in chemistry and an additional preparatory course in the principles of organic chemistry. A knowledge of the elementary topics of physical chemistry and familiarity with the basic principles of general biology are also very essential. The author acknowledges the assistance of several workers in this country, who have made important contributions in hio- chemistry, in the construction of his book, and the general arrangement and selection of topics for presentation indicates that the author has conscientiously endeavored to present a useful and instructive text. I t is not easy to coiirdinate the literature of a field of science which is gmwing so

rapidly as that of biochemistry today. Our ideas are changing rapidly and new facts are accumulating as the result of an enormous amount of research work. The hook serves well, however, its purpose and should offer an easy opportunity for the new beginners to acquire important information and make an orderly approach to the further study of biochemistry.

The subject matter of the bwk is taken up under six sections covering in general the following topics:

1. Cell Structure, Living and Non-Liv- ing Portions of Organisms.

2 Nutritional Requirements of Organ- isms.

3. Mechanisms Used by Organisms in General for Promoting and Regulat- ing Chemical Changes.

4 Metabolism of Single Cells. 5. Metabolism in Green Seed Plants 6. Metabolism in Mammals.

As will he seen from reading these sec- tion headings, emphasis is hid on the bio- logical aspects of biochemistry rather than the chemical. Stated bridy the author has endeavored to give information as completely as possible and to answer the following questions: (1) Of what are or- ganisms composed? (2) What do or- ganisms take from their environment during growth? (3) How do they main- tain themselves during their life cycle? In the discussion of chemical transforma- tions occurring in living organisms, the author has necessarily been obliged to re- strid himself. To handle properly this feature of biochemistry would call for the construction of another very large hook. The book fits in well with the modern ad- van- of educational work in chemistry and should serve a useful purpose in gen- eral instruction in hiochemistry.

TREAT B. JOHNSON YALE u m n s , r u

NBW HAY^. CONN.

Lehrbuch der allgemeinen Physiologie. ERNST GELLHORN, a.0. h f e s s o r of Physiology. University of Halle, at present Associate Professor of Physiol-

1908 JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION SEPTEMBER, 1931

ogy, Oregon State University, and COL- LABORATORS. George Thieme Verlag. Leipzig. Germany, 1931. xiii + 741 pp. 126 figs. 17 X 25 cm. M. 47.-, geb. M. 49.50.

Besides Professor Gellhorn, the editor, and author of the first section, pp. 1-232. on the Cell as a Physical-Chemical Sys- tem, the fallowing men have codperated to produce the hook: PROF. CARL OP- PENHErMER 0f Berlin. Section 11. pp. 235- 429 on the Chemistry and Energetics of Cell Processes; PROP. SPEK of Heidelberg, on The Cell as a Morphological System. pp. 431-52, and the General Physiology of Development and Attainment of Form, pp. 457-598; Pnoa. LEON ASHER of Bern, on the General Physiology of Ex- citatory Processes, pp. 603-81; and PROF. W. v. B ~ D D E N B R ~ C K , of Kid, on the Tropisms. pp. 687-727. The names of the authors are a guarantee of the soundness of the contents of the book, since each is a master of his field.

The book as a whole is, however, dis- appointing. It aims to he and is rather a textbook than a handbook. I t is not an exhaustive compendium and references are only sometimes given, although at the end of the chapters there is a pretty good list of references, mainly German. except in two of the chapters, where more detailed information can be obtained. Being written by a group of men it lacks unity. I t is not a good textbook for this reason; and it is not a good handbook either. I t cannot compare, for example, in interest and suggestiveness, with Bay- l i d "General Physiology." Many of the chapters are very dull reading, but no one can read the whole volume without learn- ing many new an.3 instructive things. I t lacks all philoswhical outlook. Indeed it may be said. I think, that no editor would edit or compile a hook of this sort if he had any philosophical outlook. There is no doubt a place for books of this kind, which give a fair compilation of present factual knowledge about some in- teresting things; but their usefulness is a limited one. The intra3uction states

that the baok is written for physicians as well as biologists; and no doubt any one who reads it will profit from doing so.

The best chapters, in the reviewer's opinion, are those by Prof. Spek. They are clearly and interestingly written, accu- rate, inspiring, critical, and written in an easy, flowing style. Pmf. Oppenheimer brings much together in his attempt at the impossible task of presenting the whole of biochemistry in a few pages. Prof. Asher presents the recent important wark on the importance of the time element in excitation. Both Prof. Spek and Prof. Asher dominate their subjects; but Prof. Gellhom and Prof. Oppenheimer seem to be dominated by theirs.

I do not helieve the book will live or will have more than a passing value.

ALBERT P. MATHEWS

Annual Survey of American Chemistry. Volume V, 1930. Edited by CLARENCE J. WEST under the auspices of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of the National Research Council. Published for the National Research Council by the Chemical Cata- log Co.. NewYork City. 1931. 629 pp. 13 X 21 cm. 55.00.

This volume is uniform in format with its predecessors. Content and organiza- tion follow the established policies. Chap- ters which appeared in Volume IV hut are omitted from Volume V are as follows: Oxidation-Reduction Potentials; Heavy Acids; Chromium; Nickel; Stereochem- istry; Ceramic Products; Solvents and Lacquers; Synthetic Resins. For Elec- trochemistry has been substituted Ap- plication of Electrochemistry and for Rayon, Synthetic Yarns. New chapters are as follows: Subatomic Phenomena; Physical Methods in Analytical Chem- istry; The Rare Earths; Cement and Concrete; Chemistry of the Silicates; Paints, Varnishes and Lacquers; Chemical Economics.

I t is perhaps worthy of mention that, whereas Volume IV covered a period of