BOOK REVIEWS HANDBOOK OF MICROBIOLOGY, by M. B. Jacobs and M. J. Gerstein. D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., Prince- ton, N.J. 317 pages. Price $8.50. This "handbook" represents a collection of 38 reference tables of diverse microbiological data, said to have been compiled on the basis of a thorough review of the litera- ture. The diversity of this tabular in- formation may be gauged by the following selective listing of head- !ngs: Characteristics of Micro6rgan- •sms, Classification of Bacteria, Rickettsia and Viruses, Condensed Classification of Fungi, Antibiotics, Culture Media and Methods, Micro- biological Reagents and Tests, Stains and Staining Techniques, Phenol Coefficients, Some Bacterial Diseases of Human Beings and Animals, Some Viral Diseases of Human Beings, Differentiation of Clostridia, Differentiation of Staphylococci from Micrococci, Dif- ferentiation of Streptococci from Pneumococci, Important Toxins, Antitoxins and Antisera, Toxoids and Vaccines, etc. This volume should be a handy source of ready information for bacteriologists, sanitarians and others engaged in relevant labora- tory work.--E. G. KLARMANN, I.ehn & Fink Products Corp. SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION OF MATERIALS, by Rolt Hammond. Philosophical Library, Inc., New York. 327 pages, illustrated and indexed. PriceS10. One of a series of books on en- gineering procedures as they apply to chemists. Seven chapters cover the follow- ing subjects: separation of solids separat!on of solids from liquids separation of solids from gases distillation centrifugal separation separation of gases and separation and purification in nuclear engineer- ing. The use of the book calls for a reasonable knowledge of mathe- matics and physics. The book is well made but seems a bit high priced. Engineers and those dealing with equipment will find it useful.--M. G. DEN. DISPERSION OF MATERIALS, by Rolt Hammond. Philosophical Library, Inc., New York. 230 pages, il- lustrated andindexed. PriceS10. A companion to the above titled book by the same author. Six chapters cover crushing, grinding, classifying, fluidization, floatation and dispersions in liquids as well as in gases (atmospheric pollution). Little of the equipment mentioned finds use in cosmetic practice. The section dealing with homogenization is only fair and does not cover the various types of machines in use. Cosmetic application is not men- tioned. Engineers dealing with basic ma- terial dispersions will find the book useful. It, like the campanion volume mentioned, is a bit highly priced.--M. G. DEN. 126