Book reviews OUTLINE OF iNDUSTRiAL OR- GANIC CHEMISTRY. A. Rieche. 3rd edn. Pp.xix+572 • Ill. (1969). Butter- worths, London. f4.90. This is an appropriate contri- bution from Germany, the birthplace of much of the organic chemical industry. The first (1955) edition was based on a series of lecture notes summarising the development of the more significant techniques used in the industry. The deliberate but nevertheless regrettable omission of organic dyestuffs, pharma- ceuticals and pesticides has been reme- died-albeit briefly--in this trans- lation of the 3rd (German) edition. However, cosmetic che•nists should note that industrial processing in perfumery and essential oils has still not been treated. The brief introduction is a common sense exposition of basic concepts and an explanation of the symbols em- ployed. The meat of the book is or- ganised in three divisions. The largest is concerned with the chemistry of the formation and properties of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and crude oil--100 pages) and the petrochemicals industry derived therefrom (172 pages). A further 94 pages are allotted to agricultural and forestry products--wood, saccharides, fermentation, lipids and tannins. For many readers, however, the most inter- esting division will be that comprising a series of short studies of the pro- cessing of natural and synthetic mater- ials: fibres, polymers, textiles, pharma- ceuticals, pesticides, dyestuffs and ex- plosives. Perhaps the best section {44 pages) is, predictably, that on synthetic dyestuffs. Pesticides, however, are dis- missed in a mere 7 pages: in the pre- liminary discussion the phenomenon of insect resistance is briefly mentioned but there is no reference at all to the major environmental problem of per- sistent residues. Coverage of the phar- maceutical industry attempts to be more comprehensive but condensed and over simplified pharmacology is probably out of place, especially to the prejudice of space for details of industrial manu- facture. There are three discrete sections in the pharmaceutical chapter. The first deals with agents for the treatment of infectious diseases--mainly antibiotics: development of resistance is mentioned but the manufacturing account is restricted to fermentation. The text is severely outdated in supposing that "at least partial synthesis of many (antibiotics) should become possible one day". Another section examines the preparation of biological catalysts, notably hormones and enzymes how- ever, reference to androgens is strangely placed in a discussion of corticosteroids. The vast field of chemotherapeutic agents is reviewed in a series of short sub-sections allocated according to pharmacological function: each has a brief outline of the class of drug with a limited number of illustrative syntheses. Narcotics are too briefly discussed and nothing is foreseen of the considerable industrial applications of work, for example, by Paul Janssen (in Belgium) and K. W. Bentley (in England). On points of detail, it is difficult to agree with the description of paraldehyde as a "harmless hypnotic" or accept the several references to "malaria pro- ducing germs". The book is generally well trans- lated although in a number of instances chemical nomenclature has suffered in the process. There are relatively few 501

502 BOOI• RF•VIEWS indications of careless set blocks al- though one deprecates the survival of some saturated hexagons where phenyl is intended. The process treatments are in the main fair and helpfully illus- trated with well draxvn schematic flow sheets. The emphasis is on unit oper- ations within each technology. As might be expected, the bibliographies appended to each chapter lean heavily on German texts but there are generally more than 10% of American sources. Similarly, the historical background describes mainly German discoveries and con- temporary East German manufacture, but references are made to North American practice, with some mention of British and Swiss processes, but rarely Soviet industry. The regular use of Brevier type is rather irritating--- leaving the reader unsure how serious would be the omission were he to skip such passages. There is a general tendency to employ trade names-- usually of German registration not too familiar to British readers--in prefer- ence to approved international and national non-proprietary names (as for pesticides and pharmaceuticals). In sum, one's view of the book depends very much on one's chemical speciality. To this reviewer it seems that half the book is too large an allocation for the fossil fuel and petro- chemical industry, notwithstanding their importance and innovation. The length of Part 2 is about right, although possibly Dr. Rieche's personal ex- perience of microbological protein syn- thesis and the chemical processing of wood have persuaded him to allocate a more extensive treatment than appears justified by their economical importance, especially when contrasted with notably briefer expositions in other sections of the book. Certainly Part 3 is too com- pressed but it makes interesting read- ing. At its price this book is by today's standards inexpensive for the "Outline" it offers. G.F. PHILLIPS USING COLOUR TO SELL. E. P. Danger. Pp.xii + 224-½ Ill. (1•t38). Gower Press, I. ondon. This is an excellent book for the beginner. The basic principles governing the use of colour in commerce and industry are well set out. For the experienced marketing man, however, the book is somewhat dis- appointing. There is considerable repeti- tion and the promise of secrets to be revealed. But in the event it adds up to market research and test-marketing to find the right colour combination for a product, which most of us knew anyway. The earlier chapters suggest that much of the guesswork can be taken out of colour selection: "this is not just a question of choosing a few new shades by guesswork or hunch. It pays to study the market and consumer trends in detail and to make sure that every colour offered has a reason behind it and does something positive for sales". (page 4). One's hopes are raised by this and many similar paragraphs that a new formula will be presented which xvill resolve the dilemma of the marketing man trying to decide pack design and colour. The fact that this new formula never emerges is not so much the fault of the author, who certainly covers the traditional means of colour testing, as one's own hopes for a magic "crock of gold" at the foot of the rainbow that will resolve forever the heartsearching that goes on in every marketing meeting where pack design and colour are in question. It is therefore unkind to criticise the author tor not having achieved the impossible. I1 one wants a good work- manlike statement of the principles and methods behind colour selection in commerce, this is it. F. LEIGH-DAVIS