which characterizes edema" (p. 220). "My constantly reiterated claim that certain changes in tissues are due to an 'increased acid content' cannot at will be made to read an 'increased (hydrogen ion) acidity.' The latter may under otherwise constant conditions become evidence of the former, but the reverse need not follow" (p. 633). Recent criticisms by Henderson and collaborators are considered on pages 633-4. This book deserves to be studied by every investigator of problems involving the biological relationships of water, for it presents effectively, and in a stimulating and interesting manner, from many points of view, the gist of our knowledge, theories, doubts and errors on this important general subject. A review of the literature of phosphorus compounds in animal metabolism. By E. B. Forbes and M. Helen Keith, Wooster, Ohio. Pp. 748-42 x 74. Ohio Agric. Exp. Sta'n Technical Series, Bull. No. 5. This comprehensive review is recommended unreservedly as the best work of reference on phosphorus in its relation to normal animal nutrition. The parts (pp. 13-588) are (1), Chem. of organic compounds of P; (2) P of foods; (3) P of animal bodies and products; (4) normal P metab.; (5) P metab. in disease. An unusually complete bibliography is appended (pp. 589-709), including the title of each paper mentioned; and a complete and detailed index is included (pp. 711-48). The spirit in which this splendid achievement was conceived and executed is indicated by the following quotation from the introduction (p. 11): "Throughout the intricacies of these processes in considering the relations of the animal to its food-let it be our point of view that inheritance has furnished the plans, the details and specifications which are to govern the whole course of metabolism; that food builds the structure and maintains its processes, in so far as made possible by the nature and amounts of its constituents; that variability in the composition and functions of the animal body, and excess of capacity in its structures, constitute a provision of safety, a means of adaptive response to changes in dietary conditions; that time lends to these adaptations such permanency, in the individual, as to constitute specific effects of foods on the life and structure of the animal; that these specific effects of foods are, in general, due rather to their limitations than to stimulation of supernormal function; that the nature and possible extent of these effects have been separately determined for each species by the particular conditions, and the variability of conditions of life to which, through the ages, they have become adapted; and that in relation to practical animal nutrition our interests are in the highest states of function rather than in irreducible physiological minima, since the whole range of success and profit lies close, and ever closer, to maximum possibilities." The chemistry of colloids and some technical applications. By W. W. Taylor, lect. in chem., Univ. of Edinburgh. Pp. 328-32 x 6; $2.00. Longmans, Green & Co., London, 1915. "It is curious that although colloid chemistry owes its development in no small degree to British investigators, hitherto there has been not only no English text-book on the subject, but no text-book in English available, the foreign works that have been translated dealing with particular aspects of the subject only, or with its bearings on other sciences." This volume is based on the author's lectures on heterogeneous systems, delivered to advanced students in the Univ. of Edinburgh. It is a very useful text-book, and a valuable work of reference for biological chemists. The four main parts deal with (1) general properties of colloids, (2) methods of preparation, (3) adsorption, (4) applications of colloid chem. (including biology, pp. 295-318). A text-book of medical chemistry and toxicology. By James W. Holland, emeritus prof. of med. chem. and toxicol.; dean, Jefferson Med. Coll., Phila. 4th ed. Pp. 678-4 x 634; $3.00. W. B. Saunders Co., Phila. and London, 1915. This excellent volume continues to present in systematic form the essentials of chemistry as they are related to practical and scientific medicine. The book is primarily intended for students of medicine who are required to take, in medical schools, courses in inorganic, organic and physiol. chem., and in toxicology. In the revision successful effort was made to give a thoroly satisfactory presentation of the "aid now offered to diagnosis by the chem. laboratory." The author acknowledges his indebtedness to Prof. P. B. Hawk, and Messrs. M. A. Saylor and Olaf Bergeim, "for helpful suggestions in this revision." Collected papers from the Physiological Laboratory of King's College, London. Ed. by W. D. Halliburton. Vol. XIII; 1915 (17 reprints). Publications from the Jefferson Med. Coll. and Hospital, Phila. Vol. V; 1915 (27 reprints). Vol. VI; 1915 (pp. 190; 18 original papers, not published elsewhere). Studies from the Department of Physiology, Cornell Univ. Med. Coll., including contributions from the Russell Sage Inst. of Pathology. Vol. IV; 1915 (24 reprints). Studies from the Department of Physiology of Columbia Univ., at the Coll. of Physicians and Surgeons. Vol. V; 1910-12 (24 reprints). Vol. VI; 1913-1914 (23 reprints). Studies from the Department of Pathology of the Coll. of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia Univ. Vol. XIV; 1914 (30 reprints). Studies from the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. Vol. XXI; 1915 (pp. 637; 64 reprints). Collected papers from the Research Laboratory of Parke, Davis and Co., Detroit, Mich. Dr. E. M. Houghton, Director. Vol. III; 1915 (pp. 341; 22 reprints). Hydrographic, plankton, and dredging records of the Scripps Institution for Biological Research of the Univ. of California, 1901 to 1912. Compiled and arranged, under the supervision of W. E. Ritter, by Ellis L. Michael and George F. McEwen. (No. 1, Vol. XV; Univ. of Cal. publications). 1915; pp. 206. The Illinois Chemist. "A quarterly published in the interests of the Faculty, Alumni and Students of the Dep't of Chem. of the Univ. of Ill., under the auspices of the Univ. of Ill. Sect. of the Amer. Chem. Soc., the Chem. Club, Alpha Chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon, and Zeta Chapter of Alpha Chi Sigma." Introductory number: June, 1915; pp. 44. The list of members of the Columbia University Biochemical Association, which has been kept running on an insert in the quarterly issues, will be published hereafter, in revised form, semiannually-in the June and December issues. This space will be used, hereafter, for announcements pertaining to biochemical "positions vacant" and "positions wanted." Such announcements will be published free of charge. CONTENTS PAGE FRACTIONATION OF THE PHOSPHOTUNGSTIC-ACID PRECIPITATE THE BROMINE AND IODINE COMPOUNDS OF HEXAMETHYLENETET- THE BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY, ENGLAND. Jacob Rosenbloom. 22 R. H. A. Plimmer, Secretary. 26 SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALYSTS, AND OTHER ANALYTICAL CHEMISTS. E. Richards Bolton, Secretary.......... ... 27 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ANNUAL MEETING OF THE FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SOCIETIES FOR EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY, IN BOSTON, DEC. 26-29, 1915. Paul E. Howe and collaborators. 28 BIOCHEMICAL NEWS, NOTES AND COMMENT. The BIOCHEMICAL BULLETIN is a monthly biochemical review. It publishes results of original investigations in biological chemistry, preliminary reports of researches, addresses, lectures, criticism, reviews, abstracts of papers, practical suggestions, biographical notes, historical summaries, bibliographies, quotations, questions, news items, proceedings of societies, personalia, views on current events in chemical biology, descriptions of new substances, methods and apparatus,-any and all suitable items of personal and professional interest to students, investigators and practitioners of biochemistry. Subscription prices: Vol. I, $6.00; vol. II, $5.00; vol. III, $4.50; vol. IV, $3.50; vol. V, $2.75 ($3.00, foreign). Address remittances, manuscripts and correspondence to the Managing Editor, William J. Gies, 437 West 59th St., New York. 515= Edited, for the Columbia University Biochemical Association, by Herman M. Adler, Helene M. Boas, Norman E. Ditman, H. D. Goodale, Charles F. Bolduan, H. B. Goodrich, Samuel Bookman, Sidney Born, O. C. Bowes, F. G. Goodridge, John L. Kantor, and the executive editorial sub-committee: Anton R. Rose, William J. Gies, Benjamin Horowitz, Paul E. Howe, William A. Perlzweig NEW YORK Entered as second-class matter in the Post Office at Lancaster, Pa. |