7 8z SCIENCE PROGRESS 



somewhat " confused feeding " ; but here the sectional treatment of the multi- 

 farious developments conduces rather to the proper feeling of unity than to one 

 of complexity. To the many students who wish for a single volume giving a clear 

 purview over the modern foundations of chemistry, this book should prove most 

 welcome. 



I. M. 



American Chemical Journal. Vol. 50, Nos. 4 and 5 (Baltimore). 



Of the six papers contributed to these numbers, the longest deals with work 

 carried out by Guy and H. C. Jones on absorption-spectra of salt solutions as 

 measured with the radio-micrometer. Two papers are concerned with compounds 

 between inorganic salts and organic bases ; another describes the preparation of 

 numerous organic compounds. Finally, there are two papers on certain chemical 

 and physical results of high-tension discharges. Other matter includes reviews, 

 and reports of Royal Institution lectures by Sir J. J. Thomson and by Dr. Dobbie. 

 The journal is now merged in that of the American Chemical Society. 



The Nature of Enzyme Action. By W. M. Bayliss, D.Sc, F.R.S. 

 Third Edition, revised and enlarged. [Pp. vii+180.] (London: Long- 

 mans, Green & Co. Price 5.?. net.) 



The justification for the series in which this monograph takes its place is stated 

 by the general editors to be the facility with which, in this method of publication 

 the text-book may keep pace with our rapidly growing knowledge of the subject. 

 This can only be accomplished by the repeated issue of fresh editions of separate 

 monographs ; new editions which are not reprints, but have been carefully revised 

 to take account of more modern points of view. It is from this standpoint that the 

 present edition of the book needs to be regarded, and, as would be expected from 

 its author, it is an eminently satisfactory example of the value of the monograph 

 method of publication. 



Attention will naturally be directed to the main alterations in this third edition. 

 These seem to be significant of modern trends of biochemical investigation, and in 

 particular of the influence of pressing biological problems upon the development of 

 biochemical ideas. 



The chapter upon reversibility of enzyme action, for instance, has been 

 practically rewritten, and now includes a valuable discussion of the conflicting 

 evidence as to the part played by enzymes in synthesis. 



Recent work on the asymmetric synthesis of carbohydrates by enzyme agency 

 has enabled the author to reaffirm with greater confidence the position he took up 

 in the earlier edition. The whole chapter is very valuable for its insistence that in 

 these complex phenomena the investigator should retain a clear conception of the 

 present position of the theory of catalytic action, and that assumptions not com- 

 patible with this position should only be accepted after critical examination of the 

 experimental evidence. This leads the author to a conservative position in 

 relation to the so-called " synthetisising enzymes " which will probably prove of 

 more value to progress than an uncritical acceptance of these new suggestions. 



It is generally anticipated that we may have to extend our ideas as to the 

 possibilities of enzyme action, with increased knowledge, but nothing is to be 

 gained by a rapid solution of our difficulties through ready acceptance of new 

 properties and new names for enzyme catalysts, which merely hide our difficulties 

 of interpretation under a cloud of words. 



In this connection it is interesting to notice the growing importance of Note E 



