BOOK IIEVIEWS 57 NORME SOS•ANZE TENSIOATTIVE. Vol. 1. Commis- sione tecnica governative per gli olli minerali, i grassi, i colori, le vernici e i detergenti. (1965). Stazione sperimentale per le industrie degli olii e dei grassi, Milan. This work is sponsored by the Italian Government and aims to set out in detail, standard analytical procedures for the analysis of surfactants. The loose-leaf book is the first volume of this mammoth task and is written in clear Italian. All the methods described have been checked by the committee who have been working for four years. They are, however, standard procedures already well documented elsewhere, with no novel features. The system of subdivision is good and the inclusion of sampling procedures for each substance is praiseworthy. The incomplete state of the book is immediately obvious. None of the special methods long associated with surfactant analysis are yet published nor are there any methods for anionics, amphoterics or nonionics. Without further amplification this volume is, at present, of very limited value and can only be appreciated in an Italian context. MRS. D. M. GABRIEL OXIDATION IN ORGANIC CHEMISTRY. Editor: K. B. Wiberg. Pp. xii + 443 d- Ill. (1965). Academic Press, London/ New York. 112s. This book is volume 5A in a series of ,nonographs on organic chemistry under the general editorship of Alfred T. Blomquist of Cornell University. There are six chapters by specialist contributors, each dealing with a different oxidant or type of reaction. They are concerned with, respectively:-potassium permanganate: chromic acid and chromyl coinpounds: the vanadium (v) cobalt (iii) and lnanganese (iii) ions: the ceric ion: lead tetra acetate: and glycol cleavage and similar reactions. Part B, which is in preparation will deal with a further selection of oxidants. The book is a detailed review for the advanced student and preparativ½ organic chemist and the emphasis is on the mechanism of the reactions rather than on detailed practical procedure. Nevertheless, practical details are given for typical procedures in many cases. Full discussion is presented on the possible mechanisms of the reactions and formulae, equations and tables are numerous and detailed. A helpful feature for the preparative chemist is the inclusion of tables giving methods, references and yields for individual compounds. An indication of the analytical significance of the reactions is given where appropriate. References to the original literature are profuse and extend to 1964, and any chemist interested in the oxidation of a compound by one of the selected reagents should be able to find the information he needs with the minimum of trouble. S. J. BUSH

Society of Cosmetic Great Britain Chemists of DIPLOMAS AND THE HIBBOTT MEMORIAL PRIZE Diplomas awarded to candidates who had successfully completed the Society's Diploma course in 1968/66, were presented at the Scientific Meeting on 6th October 1966. The presentation was made by the President, Dr. A. W. Middleton, who explained that the prize for the best student of the year would in future be known as the Hibbott Memorial Prize. This decision had been taken in honour of the late Dr. H. W. Hibbott, a former President, who had done so much to further the Society's educational activities. Eight of the eleven successful candidates were present to receive their Diplo- mas, including Mr. E. J. Pilcher who was the first recipient of the new prize (a Parker 61 pen). SYMPOSIUM ON PRODUCT TESTING A Symposium on Product Testing held at the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne, on the 14th and 15th November 1966, was attended by 107 participants from France, Holland and the United Kingdom. One of the highlights of the event was a 'Brains Trust' in which the panel discussed some interesting points under the heading 'General aspects of product testing'. On Monday evening, the Mayor of Eastbourne, Alderman Mrs. W. L. Lee, J.P. was the Society's principal guest at a Dinner, and was introduced to parti- cipants by the President, Dr. A. W. Middleton. 1967 PROGRAMME Lectures will be delivered on the following Thursdays: Venue: The Royal Society of Arts, John Adam Street, London, W.C.2. Time: 7.30 p.m. 2nd February 1967 Cosmetic raw materials '67 W. Harding (Croda Ltd.) 4th May 1967 The examination of hair by new physical techniques Dr. A. W. I-Iolmes (Unilever Research Laboratory, Isleworth) MEDAL LECTURE: Wednesday, 22nd March 1967 The inter-action of detergents and skin Professor M. K. Polano (Professor of Dermatology, Leiden University) 58