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and " Phyto-psychology " and their natural corollary, anti-Darwinism. " I am as 

 firmly convinced," he says, " as I was forty years ago, that the ' mechanistic con- 

 ception ' and Darwinism have been bequeathed by the ' wonderful century ' to the 

 still infant science of plant physiology as the two sure guides for its further 

 evolution." 



Here and there are passages to which objection can be taken as a little out of 

 date perhaps, if not incorrect ; such, however, are rare. The reference, at p. 167, 

 under osmotic pressure, to albumen and gum as being productive of the same effect 

 as sugar is a case in point. Clarity of argument and of statement, however, are 

 main characteristics of the work. 



In these days, when so many are interested in the practice of horticulture, 

 such a book should meet with a most cordial reception from all who desire to gain 

 some understanding of the life history of plants ; it should also be of great service 

 in schools. 



One of its chief advantages is that Prof. Timiriazeff has known what to leave 

 out. He has not attempted to make details clear but has dealt broadly with the 

 various problems. 



Monographs on Biochemistry. The Chemical Constitution of the Proteins. 

 Part I. Analysis. By R. H. A. Plimmer, D.Sc. Second edition. 

 [Pp. xii 4- 188.] Price 5.?. 6d. net.— The Physiology of Protein Meta- 

 bolism. By E. P. Cathcart, M.D., D.Sc. [Pp. viii + 142.] (Price 

 4.5-. bd. net.) London : Longmans, Green & Co. 



Dr. Plimmer has increased the value of his now well-known monograph by 

 giving a more detailed description of the methods followed in analysing the 

 proteins and has brought his account up to date in other respects. Reference 

 is made in the preface to the astonishing activity displayed by Abderhalden. 

 Dr. Cathcart gives a list of no fewer than fifty communications published under 

 this worker's name up to the close of the year 1910. The two books under notice 

 serve to bring out very clearly the almost superficial character of much of the 

 work that has been done with proteins and the faults inherent in the German 

 method, which unfortunately involves placing tasks of the utmost difficulty, time 

 after time, in the untried and inexperienced hands of student operators. If we 

 are to progress, the work must be done in a more thorough manner in future, more 

 in accordance with the example set by the pioneer investigator in this field, Emil 

 Fischer and his distinguished American follower Osborne. 



Dr. Cathcart's is probably the most valuable monograph published in the series 

 and is exceptionally well written. The subjects dealt with are the digestion and 

 absorption of proteins ; protein regeneration ; feeding experiments with products 

 of digestion free from biuret ; the removal of the amino-group ; influence of food 

 on the composition of the tissues ; protein requirements ; theories of protein 

 metabolism ; starvation ; and work. The work done in each of these chapters is 

 noted and considered — somewhat hastily, it must be confessed, but none the less 

 skilfully. The book has a fault which probably is inseparable from its size, too 

 little being said of the manner in which the investigations considered were con- 

 ducted to enable the reader to appraise their value as evidence. The vagueness 

 of the conclusions arrived at in most cases is very apparent. On this latter 

 account, the book will not appeal very strongly to the beginner ; but it will be 

 invaluable to the serious student in guiding him through the literature— much of 



