426 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS Six additional contributors wrote various chapters in their respective specialties. The book is well done and printed in legible type. No errors were noted. Coverage goes through 1953. This is a useful reference on surfactants and related textile aux- iliaries.--M. G. DENAVARRE. THE LIPIDS. Volume II, by Harry J. Deuell, Jr. Interscience Publish- ers, Inc., New York 1, N.Y., 1955. 919 pages, 6 X 9 inches, illus- trated and indexed. Price $25. Six chapters discuss the digestion, absorption, transport and storage of fat in and by the body. This is called the biochemistry of the lipids. The complex process by which water insoluble substances are di- gested and absorbed into the cir- culation is described in great detail in the first chapter. Obviously the vital role of enzymes comes into play. The more recent knowledge of the usefulness of cortical hot- ,nones is included. This is a chap- ter of almost 200 pages. The fate of digested lipids, how and where they are stored, their pathological effects and value to the body, are all subjects well reviewed. Lipids of special nature with their properties, certain lipcid soluble vitamins, lecithins and brain lipids are all thoroughly described. The author has brought together and evaluated many useful facts on lipids. Those working or having an interest in this field cannot be with- out this volume or its earlier Volume I which discussed chemistry of lipids. A third volume is due in the future. No errors were noticed after fairly thorough examination of the entire book. The index which was used by the reviewer seems ade- quate. The price seems a little high, but the limited size of the edition ,nay have been the cause. This is a recommended and valu- able reference.--M. G. DENAvARRE. GENERAL CHEMISTRY, SECOND EDI- TION, by Linus Pauling. W. H. Freeman & Co., San Francisco, Calif., 1953. 710 pages, 61/4 X 91/2 inches, illustrated and indexed. Price $6.00. Along with several new chapters, the text has been completely over- hauled. While a class text, it requires a considerable background in chemistry and related sciences to be thoroughly understood. Illus- trations help explain the text. Thirty-three chapters cover the usual range of subjects in a general chemistry course. The section on organic chemistry is sketchy as it often is in a general chemistry text. However, the author illustrates the helical configuration of polypep- tides with a short description. Sili- cones are described but a more thorough coverage is indicated. If you want a general chemistry reference this is an up-to-date book. --M. G. DENAVARRE. POCKET BOOK OF CHEMICAL TECH- NOLOGY, by V. Stannett and L. Midin Chemical Publishing Co., Inc., Brooklyn 2, N. Y. 1954. 283 pages, indexed, 41/2 X 68/4 inches. Price $4.75. The book is small enough for a pocket book but its stiff cover makes it unhandy to be used this way. The chemical data are not com- plete. Tables of properties of or- ganic and inorganic substances cover only the more common materials, data on which are readily found in any of several chemical handbooks. Specific heats of some organic sub- stances are too limited to be of•nuch use. About half of the book is devoted

BOOK REVIEWS 427 to chemical data, the balance being engineering facts and tables. There are better handbooks on both chemical and engineering tech- nology.--M. G. t)ENAVARRE. SOLVENTS MANtSAL, by Cyril Mars- den. Elsevier Press, Inc., Houston, Texas. 1954. 429 pages, indexed. Price $12.95. A compilation of solvents, criti- cally evaluated and selected by the author, based on data accumulated during the course of his profes- sional work. Solvents are described through the agency of their properties, source and manufacture, indus- trial grade, azeotropes, physiologi- cal properties, storage, handling and manufacturers. The appendices give test methods and other per- tinent data in 47 pages including an index of trade and proprietary The solvents data seem complete, including many solvents used in cos- metics though carbitol is not given. No typographical errors were noted. Checking the index of trade names, Cellosolve is erroneously defined as ethyl glycol many items are left out and some given do not belong in the list, such as Santo- merses. A valuable adjunct is a solvents solubility chart separately found in the inside book cover.--M. G. DENAVARRE. PRACTICAL PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEM- ISTRY, by Philip B. Hawk, Bernard L. Oser and William H. Summerson. Blakiston Co., Inc., New York 22, N.Y. 1954. 1439 pages, 6 X 9 inches, indexed and illustrated. Price $12. Though the title is over fifty years old, it is quite misleading. Actually the book is a large labora- tory test manual, since most of the material is "test methods." The contents are up to date including a thorough chapter on steroids, radioactive isotopes and the helix theory of protein struc- ture. The illustration on page 108 show- ing palmitic acid is meaningless unless corresponding figures show at least stearic acid as well. One would like to see more on lipoproteins, including appropriate tests. While it is true that the book deals mainly with test methods, the same are introduced with a compact discussion of a given physiological subject. The present volume is considerably larger than the previous edition which raises two questions, namely (1) whether to divide the material into two volumes, one on tests and the other on physiological chemis- try and (2) delete much old material resulting in a more useful book.-- M. G. DE•5•'AVARRE. ELECTROMETRIC pH DETERMINA- TIONS, THEORY AND PRACTICE, by Roger G. Bates. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York 16, N.Y. 1954. 331 pages, 6 X 9 inches, illustrated and indexed. Price $7.50. It has been time for a book to appear on the subject of the present one. Determination of pH has changed much since the indicator method became popular. The present effort is largely theoretical though practical applica- tion is included. One would like to see Chapter 9 give a comparison of one type of pH meter against another, instead of reviewing their construction and theory only. How does one take