Clinical chemistry: Principles and procedures - ACS Publications

---

Professor Wright has succeeded remarkably well in his undertaking to expound the pertinent fundamentals of these highly technical suhjeots in "ordinary English as far as it can be pushed." He has created an exceedingly lucid, instructive, and fascinating treatment of olfaction and a t the same time has painted a highly enlightening picture of scientific endeavor a t its best. "The Science of Smell" would make ideal reading for young people who are or should be considering s. career in science. It also can be recommended to almost anyone who is interested in learning more about this sense that is of such vital importance to much of the animal world. The homing scents that guide fishes to their spawning grounds and the sex attractants of insects are used as examples of the extreme sensitivity of the olfactory sense and of the first-class detective work perfarmed by scientists of many disciplines, including the author, in proving the olfactory nature of these phenomena, long regarded as miraculous. The difficult task of isolating, identifying, and synthesiaing the first few sex attractants is described concisely and dramatically, and the economic possibilities of still more potent synthetic attractants are set forth. A concise presentation is made of the anatomy of the human olfactory system, odor strengths, the relationship of chemical structure to odor, classification of odors, and theories of olfaction. The author has long been the foremost proponent of intramolecular vibration as the mechanism whereby odorant molecules affect the olfactory receptors. He presents here potent arguments for the view that vihrations of frequency below 500 per second must he given serious consideration as effectorsof odor impulses. The author postulates that resonance between the odorant molecule and a pigment molecule in the olfactory epithelium results in vibrations of abnormal frequency in the latter, thereby allowing the return to ground state of an excited electron and leading to a nerve impulse. Professor Wright presents a wellbalanced and quite plausible general theory of alfsction. He ends his hook on a, note of true scientific restraint: "The next years should see new advances and interesting discoveries that will prove some of the 'facts' and many of the ideas in this book to he wrong." This is undoubtedly true, but "The Science of Smell" should encourage and direct many of the future advances. PAULG. I. LAUPFER Chesebrorcgh-Pads, Ine. Stamford, Conneclieut

Process Systems Analysis and Control

Donald R. Coughanowr and Lowell B. Koppel, Purdue University. McGrawHill Book Co., Inc., New York, 1965. xii 491 pp. Figs. and tables. 15.5 x 23.5 cm. $15.50.

+

Until two or three wars a m there was s control courses. Now, several choices are

694

/

Journal of Chernicol Education

available, among which the latest is "Process Systems Analysis and Control," by Coughanowr and Koppel of Purdue University. The text is fai~lyeasy reading for junior or senior undergraduate students. One of its better features is that it provides an admirable degree of insight into problems the uninitiated student will encounter in the study of process control, and generally amplifies the discussion satisfactorily a t these points. The mathematical level is easily handled including the introductory chapters covering Laplace transforms. The mathematical treatment is by no means rigorous, but w quite satisfactory for engineers and should he easily assimilated by them. The text covers all the classioal topics such as Linear open and close loop control, transfer functions, and stability tests (root locus, frequency response, Nyquist criterion). In addition, some excellent features not usually found in process control books oriented toward chemical engineers are: three chapters an the use and characteristica of analog computers in the simulation of control systems, and techniques of phase plane anslysis and the description of functions for nonlinear problems. Throughout the text there are many suitable examoles followinp: each section. An especially braiseworth; feature is the continual tie of the mathematical description to physics1 systems. There is also a very brief section on distributed parameter systems. For those interested in the hardware aspects of process control, there is a short chapter describing instruments and their functions. which would have to be supplemented by the instructor who desires to emphasize this aspect of process control. Along with commendable features it is disappointing to the teacher to find that there is no single table of notation for quick reference and that there are few problems for homework assignment. I t is hoped that the authors will correct these two deficiencies in their next edition, and particularly supply more problems, some with answers. It would also he desirable if the authors would provide supplementary references for eaoh chapter which would enable students to refer to other texts an process control and the literature. In the opinion of this reviewer the text appears to satisfactorily fulfill the requirements for an undergraduate process control course better than mast of the other recent texts and it is recommended favorably for trial.

methods and his many uaeful, practical hints for good laboratory practice should certainly go a long way toward achieving this objective. As an example of the practicality of the hook, nine points are considered in detail under the general discussion of choosing a flame photometer, and eleven common problems of flame photometry are d i s w e d along with their cure or prevention. Many of the chapters on methods wutain similar useful paragraphs on general rules and precautions. In Part I1 (Methods section) of the hook, the author discusses care of equip ment, explains the reasoning behind certain taken-for-granted technics and reagents, and reviews the clinical significance of more than 100 procedures. Welcome additions to the previous edition a r e s manometric method for oxygen; methods for transaminases and lactic dehydrogenase in the enzyme chapter; and barbiturates and blood alcohol in the drug metabolism chapter. A procedure for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gamma globulin and a section on gastrio audysis have been added to the CSF chapter; s. magnesium method is now included with calcium and phosphorus procedures in a single chapter; the cholesterol procedures have been combined with added methods for phospholipids, totallipids and fatty acids intoa new chanter. A new hormone chanter inone an serum iron and one on proteinbound iodine. Along with new material, the author has changed many of the methods in the new third edition to more recent but wellestablished procedures, some of them simpler than the originally-recommended methods. Newer technics, such as chromatography and electrophoresis are discussed. Preceding the longer Methods part of the hook. is a four-chaoter section of basic technics ' and fundamental information.

tiou's information on colorimetry, quantitative analysis review (with sample pmhlems), and basic equipment (such as pipets, burets, eto.) along with basic procedures such as cleaning glassware and obtaining specimens). The book contains a. proliferation of footnotes and cross references which might have been incorporated into the text for the convenience of the reader. The very few errors attest to the c a m which both the author and the publisher have devoted to D. M. HLUMELBLAU the publication. On page 134 o-toluidine is mentioned as a reactant whereas the University o j Tezas compound actually used in the method is Austin a-tolidine. On page 197 a reference is incorrectly cited. The third edition of "Clinical ChemisClinical Chemistry: Principles and try, Principles and Procedures" by Joseph Procedures S. Annina is hiehlv recommended to Joseph 8 . Amino, Massbchusetts Memteachers and studekdof clinical chemistrv orid Hospitals, Boston. 3rd ed. Little, Brown, and Ca., Boston. mii 400 pp. Figs. and tables. 16 X 24 cm. istry. 39.75. ALFREDH. FREE Joseph Amino's book is written with Ames Research Laboratmy the hope that the text will lead to Elkhart, Indiana "more enlightened analysts." His clearlyoutlined chapters, his arrangements of (Continued on page A988)

+