SYNERGISM IN VITRO OF CERTAIN ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS 549 (28) Deeb, E. N. and Boenigk, J. w. J. Am. Pharrn. Assoc. Sci. Ed. 47 807 (1958). {29) Littlejohn, O. M. and Husa, W. F. ibid. 44 305 (1955). (30) Schimmel, J. and Husa, W. J. ibid. 45 204 (1956). {31) U.S. Pat: 2,807,568. (32) Wegmann, T. Deut. Meal. Wochschr. 91 713 (1966).

Book reviews ANTIBIOTICS. Editors: D. Gottlieb and P. D. Shaw. I. MECHANISM OF ACTION. Pp. xii 4- 785 + Ill. (1967). DM 156. $$9. II. BIOSYNTHESIS. Pp. xi + 466 + Ill. (1967). DM 96. $24. Springer- Verlag, Berlin. In this encyclopaedic work the editors have called on the services of many experts in the writing of sections on many individual antibiotics or groups thereof. They have attempted to "include any and all antibiotics about which some pertinent information had been published". The work is the outcome of the editors' attempt to keep abreast of the literature and maintain a bibliography on antibiotics. As the subject was enlarging so rapidly, this soon became impracticable, and they have attempted to ensure that the present volumes are as up-to-date as possible by including 'addenda' for many of the sections where new information has become available shortly before going to press. This has added greatly to their value. There is little of the clinical aspects, except of the penicillins, but the details of mechanism of action and biosynthesis are so complete that there is much to interest both the clinician and laboratory scientist. The many tables of sensitivity of organisms is but one example of the way in which these books will serve as valuable reference works to all who use these materials. There is a useful list of antibiotics according to their sites of action at the end of Volume I. There is much variation in mode of presentation of the material, as one would expect where the authors (58 in Vol. I and 34 in Vol. 11) are from all parts of the world, from both academic units and industrial laboratories, but this adds to the interest of the volumes and the editors have achieved a high standard of integration of the various sections. In a work of this kind, the references and index are all important and one is not disappointed. The references are full and extensive and in each volume there is both a 'Subject index' and 'Index of organisms'. Although knowledge in this field is advancing rapidly, the present volumes will serve as encyclopaedic references for a long time, and indeed will prove of permanent value as a record of the early years in the history of antibiotics. M.A. COOKE. ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS. Vol. II. 2nd Edn. Editor: R. W. Weiss. Pp. xix q- 697. (1967). Springer-Verlag, Berlin]Heidelberg/New York. DM 98. $24.50 Volume II of this series follows closely the pattern of the first volume in the series [reviewed J. ll) 262 {1968)]. The preparation and reactions of organic compounds 551