Recent Books

Quantitative Pharmaceutical Chemistty. GLENN L. JENKINS, Ph.D., and ANDREW G. DUMEZ, Ph.D., professors in the School of Pharmacy. University of Maryland. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.. New York City, 1931. xxiii 408 pp. 14.5 X 21.5 cm. 68 Figs. W.50.

Wile conditions governing the practice of pharmacy in the United States have resulted in its commercializatian to a very large extent, the pharmacist's work is based upon a considerable xientific foundation. There was a time when pharmacists were almost the only working chemists and they contributed a great deal t o the development of chemistry in the formative period of that development, before 1850. These facts are exemplified in the nature and content of the book under review. Not a l l pharmacists practice a m lytical chemistry t o the extent covered by this book, but a thorough study of the subject is a part of their training and a considerable number of pharmacists approach the practice of analytical chemistry through pharmacy. Some idea of the pharmaceutical applications of quantitative analysis can be obtained from a brief outline of the contents of the hook. After a statement of the scope of the subject, the book is divided into four parts. Under general chemical methods used in quantitative analysis of chemicals and drugs official in the United States Pharmacopeis and the National Formulary, we find general directions for analytical work, a few exercises on gravimetric methods; a thorough treatment of volumetric methods, including general principles of volumetric analysis, alkalimetry, acidimetry, precipitation, oaidation-reduction methods; gasometric methods and electrolytic methods. Under physical methods 'for the quantitative analysis of official chemicals and drugs, we find methods for the determination of solu-

bility, specific gravity, melting, congealing and boiling points, refractive index, index of rotation, and viscosity. Under special methods nsed in quantitative analysis of official chemicals and drugs, we find methods for the determination of ash. moisture, extractive matter, constants of fats and oils, constituents of volatile oils, and enzymes, and several chapters on alkaloidal assay work. I n the 6nal see tion on special non-official methods, we find chapters on hydrogen-ion mncentration, photometric methods, and ultimate analysis. Like many books which cover both the theory and practice of a laboratory subject, this treatise combines laboratory manual, textbook and reference book between its covers and not all colleges of pharmacy would he able to allow in their crowded curricula the time necessary to cover the whole hook. The writer of this review is keenly aware of the need of a good book on this subject and a careful examination of this book convinces us that Messrs. Jenkins and DuMez have gone far t o satisfy this need. T. BRADLEY THEODORE

The Quantum Theory. FRITZ REICHE. Principal of Physics a t the University of . HATBreslau. Translated by H. S FIELD, B.Sc.. Ph.D.. AND HENRYL. BROSE. M.A. Second edition. E. P. Dutton and Company. Inc., New York 218 pp. 15 Figs. City, 1930. viii 12 X 18.5 cm. $2.10. At the time of the appearance of its first edition this little hook was one of the clearest and most useful guides available for those who were making their 6rst acquaintance with the quantum theory. The second edition which now appears - after a lapse of nine years is essentially the older book with a few changes and an additional chapter which discusses briefly the