366 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS most of which are of a review nature. Nobody interested in skin can even remotely hope to read all the pertinent material which appears in the techni- cal literature perforce we must depend on high-caliber predigested versions in the form of reviews which may cover either broad or very nar- row areas. As is customary with reviews, some are more •vorthy of mention than others. This reader considers Nicolaides' review of lipids in the epidermis and Weber's of carbohydrate metabolism the most outstanding. The latter should be of particular interest to cosmetic chem- ists and dermatologists alike in view of the recent postulates that uridyl diphosphate sugars are the precursors of hyaluronic acid and that enzymes may affect the synthesis of chondro- itin sulfate. Few today question that faulty carbohydrate metabolism (i.e., the formation of ground sub- stance) is somehow related to hyper- keratoses due to increased •nitotic activity (psoriasis) and hyperkera- roses due to retention. With a few exceptions, the proof- reading of this volume is excellent. Each chapter is thoroughly docu- mented by extensive up-to-date bib- liographies.- M. M. Rmo•R--War- ner-Lambert Research Institute. MUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES by J. S. Brimacombe and J. M. Webber, Elsevier Publishing Co., Amsterdam. 1964. 181pages, indexed. PriceS10. This small book represents Volume VI in the Biochimica et Biophysica Acta Library and is a comprehensive account of the chemistry of muco- polysaccharides. Although the vol- ume is concerned primarily with the organic chemistry and the elucidation of structures of the various acid mucopolysaccharides, the reader will find, in addition, much information on on the occurrence, properties and function of hyaluronic acid, chon- droitin sulfates, heparin, and kerato- sulfates. In addition, the related subjects of chitin and of blood group substances are adequately covered. Mucopolysaccharides are major constituents of the ground substance of animals and men. They have been widely studied, and it is no surprise that their nomenclature has been in a state of confusion siuce the term "mucopolysaccharides" was first coined by Meyer in 1938. Until recently, the study of these com- pounds has been the domain of the physiologist and of the biochemist. However, today clinicians, cosmetic chemists, and pharmacologists have become concerned with the influence that the mucopolysaccharides may have on disease and health of the cutaneous tissues. Thus, mucopoly- saccharides are believed to be in- volved in both hair growth and the etiology of psoriasis. There has even been a suggestion that mucopoly- saccharides may influence nutrition of cutaneous and subcutaneous tis- sues, a subject of vital interest to the cosmetic chemist. With this in mind, this reviewer agrees with Stacey's statement in the Foreword, "The book will be of value to all those who are interested in the rapidly expanding field of nitrogen-contain-

JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS 367 ing carbohydrate substances and I am pleased to commend it."--M. M. RmcER--Warner-Lambert Research Institute. CONTACT ANGLE, WETTABILITY, AND ADhESiON, Vol. 43 in Advances in Chemistry Series, American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C., 1964. ix -+- 389 pages with index. Price $8. This book represents the series of papers presented by a group of distinguished surface chemists at the Symposium in 1963 of the Divi- sion of Colloid and Surface Chem- istry the symposium. was held in honor of William A. Zisman upon receipt of the Kendall Award. The first chapter by Zisman, en- titled "Relation of the Equilibrium Contact Angle to Liquid and Solid Constitution," is an excellent review of all the requirements involved in the studies of wetting and adhesion. The other twenty-seven represent original contributions by various authors, both academic and indus- trial. These cover the whole gambit of studies on wetting, spreading, and adhesion as applied in many facets of modern technology. At first glance, few, if any, of the systems used by these investigators would appear to be of direct interest to the cosmetic chemist. However, no one can read Zisman's initial chapter without gaining a greater insight into, and comprehension of, cosmetic problems of spreadability and of formulating difficulties in wetting of powders. From there on, many of the other chapters will give insight into other specialized prob- lems. Thus the various chapters on adhesion might well stimulate ideas for improved chip resistant nail polishes. Although probably only a few cosmetic chemists may care to own their own copy, a careful perusal of this book might well stimulate useful avenues for formulation study. In this regard, the index is excellent, providing an access not usually found in books of this type.--JonN H. WOOD-- Bristol-Myers Products Div.