Book Reviews T}•E ART OF RESgARth, by B. E. Noltingk, Elsevier Publishing Com- pany, Inc., New York, 19(35, 142 pages, illustrated. Price $5.75. This book is aimed primarily at the "lowlier research worker" and the graduate student who is beginning a career in research. Naturally, the volume is directed to British readers but very little imagination is needed to make this book of interest to an international readership. A volume of this size cannot possibly cover methods and principles which should be followed in order to do worthwhile research at an ap- propriate pace. The author's major thesis, in this reviewer's opinion, is summarized in the following quote from this book. "He [the scientist] should, therefore, also keep himself generally educated on a broad front in preparation for what the future may bring forth." Admittedly, modern society demands a degree of specializa- tion of the researcher which, at times, certainly is undesirable. Thus, Noltingk quotes Lavoisier as follows: "Most of the work still to be done in science and the useful arts is precisely that which needs the 181 knowledge and cooperation of many scientists--that is why it is necessary for scientists and technologists to meet--even in those branches of knowledge, which seem to have the least relation and connection with one another." Two further quotes from Noltingk will serve to emphasize this point. "The all-too-prevalent attitude: 'This is not relevant to my current work I cannot afford to take notice of it.' is a vicious one." Later on, Noltingk refers to the need for extensive and broad reading in the researcher's field "the research worker must keep himself informed of world progress, both before and while he makes his o•vn contribution to it." A second point which struck this reviewer as particularly noteworthy is Noltingk's comments on criticism. It is not sufficient that the research worker examine his own work and conclusions critically to eliminate flaws and mistakes there is also a second area of criticism which ex- tends beyond the research worker's own activities. Thus, Noltingk states: "Familiarity [with other people's work] should even have bred an element of contempt! since

182 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS an instinctive respect for the printed word makes it difficult for most people to appreciate that it is occasionally completely false. Such wisdom is not difficult to come by, provided a consious [sic] effort is made to cultivate it." It would deprive the reader of enjoyment to highlight more of the interesting points that the author makes. Instead, this reviewer feels that any research worker who will spend two or three hours reading this book will be the richer for it and a better scientist.--M. M. R•EGER, Warner-Lambert Research Institute. DIE NORMALE UND PATHOLOGISCHE PHYSIOLOGIE DER HAUT by G/inter St/ittgen. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany. 1965. 577 pages, illustrated and indexed. Price 88 M. In contrast to other textbooks of dermatology, St•ttgen's book uses skin physiology to differentiate be- tween normal and pathological condi- tions. Thus, deviation from the normal function of the skin is used as the basis for describing its pathologi~ eal changes. As a result, one finds relatively little in this volume on morphology and skin anatomy. In- stead, the chemical and physical properties and the metabolism of the normal skin are described in detail. It is for this reason that this volume should indeed be of particular interest to cosmetic chemists. The volume is divided into 24 chapters of widely varying lengths. Most of these chapters are further subdivided into minor headings. Each chapter is followed by extensive literature references, which include not only original research papers but also books and review papers. It is a special credit to the author that refer- ences-considering the formidable subject and the number of citations-- are quite up-to-date. As noted above, this book differs from other books on the same subject in ap- proach it is also unusual in style and arrangement. The author has managed to keep the size of the book to a minimum by making tables, listings, flow diagrams, classifications, etc., intrinsic parts of the text. By this technique, unnecessary repetition is avoided, and an unusual amount of information has been crammed into relatively little space. Of particular interest to the cos- roetie chemists is the chapter on penetration and absorption. The graphic approach to molecular and ionic size and the tabulation of those chemicals the penetration of which has been studied are unique and in- struetive and deserve special men- tion. Other excellent chapters of immediate value to cosmetic chem- ists are the chapters on the influence of light on skin and on the reactivity of human skin. This volume is not only an ex- cellent introductory text to derma- tology but should prove useful as a definitive reference work to the vast literature which pertains to the physiology of skin. The price of about $19 is high but still less than that of many American books on