88 
NATURE 
[OcToBER 5, 1916 
As a concise and comprehensive résumé of the 
results obtained from a wide range of experi- 
mental work, combined with a striking revision of 
their mathematical expression, the volume is a 
welcome and valuable addition to the literature on 
the subject. B. C. 
SERUM REACTIONS AND BACTERIAL 
THERAPY. 
Applied Immunology: The Practical Application 
of Sera and Bacterins Prophylactically, Diag- 
nostically, and Therapeutically. By Prof. B. A. 
Thomas and Dr. R. H. Ivy. Pp. xv+359. 
(Philadelphia and London: J. B. Lippincott Co., 
__1915:) ‘Price 16s. net. 
HIS book gives an account of those “reac- 
tions ” employed in the diagnosis of Pts 
which are based upon alterations in the body- 
fluids resulting from the action of micro-organisms 
or from the introduction of foreign proteins, and 
of the treatment of morbid conditions with serums, 
bacterial vaccines, etc. These reactions and 
treatment may be classed under the term “immun- 
ology,” since they are based upon processes 
which commonly result in the living body in a 
state of immunity or resistance to the material— 
micro-organism or protein—which produces them. 
This material is named the antigen, and the sub- 
stances which are the outcome of its action are 
known as anti-bodies. 
The opening chapter of the book deals with the 
subject of immunity, its kinds and mode of pro- 
duction, and with the history and development of 
immunology; the second and third chapters give 
an account of antigens and anti-bodies and of 
Ehrlich’s side-chain theory. These subjects are 
treated simply and briefly, but fully enough for the 
object of the book, which the authors state has 
been “to crystallise and detail the practical phases 
of serum and bacterin applications in medicine, 
thereby enabling the student and general prac- 
titioner, with even a slight laboratory experience, 
to appreciate the significance of, and more com- 
petently apply the principles underlying, immun- 
ology.”' In chap. iv. anaphylaxis or hyper- 
susceptibility is described, but we miss any refer- 
ence to Bordet’s theory of its mode of production. 
The preparation and properties of the various anti- 
toxins and anti-sera are then described, together 
with certain miscellaneous sera and extracts, and 
their use in treatment. While usually full enough, 
some sections appear to be too brief; thus, anti- 
tuberculosis sera are dismissed in four lines, and 
no mention is made of Spengler’s I.K. serum. 
The subject of agglutination and its usé in 
diagnosis are next considered. Dilution of the 
serum by means of a Wright’s pipette is de- 
scribed, but no mention is made of the “throttled ” 
pipette which is so convenient for this kind of 
work, nor is the subject of “zones of no reac- 
tion” alluded to—an omission of some moment. 
In chaps. x. and xi. the precipitin reaction and 
its application for the recognition of blood-stains, 
etc., and lysis or solvent action are described. 
NO. 2449, VOL. 98] 
The important subject of complement fixation © 
is next dealt with, and the employment of this 
reaction for the diagnosis’ of syphilis (the Wasser- 
mann reaction) naturally occupies the premier 
place. Full details are given of the method of 
carrying out this reaction, but we should have 
liked fuller information on the meaning of the 
phenomenon of fixation in the absence of antigen 
and on the reaction with cerebro-spinal fluid. 
Miscellaneous biochemical reactions, including 
the Abderhalden reaction, have a few pages 
devoted to them; and the important subjects of 
the tuberculin and similar reactions and tuberculin 
therapy are’ next considered at some length, 
following on conventional lines. 
The subjects of phagocytosis and recovery from 
bacterial infections are then dealt with, leading 
up naturally to a consideration of bacterial inocu- 
lations, the opsonic index, and vaccine therapy. 
This section is somewhat slipshod, for the authors 
have not clearly distinguished between preventive 
and therapeutic inoculations. Thus it is stated 
that ‘‘treatment” of bubonic plague with bacterial 
suspensions has been extensively practised, and 
that “therapeutic” inoculation greatly reduces — 
the severity of attacks; in both cases preventive 
treatment or inoculation is really meant. 
In an appendix the serum treatment of hamor- 
rhage, organotherapy, and chemotherapy- with 
salvarsan, etc., are briefly but sufficiently con- 
sidered. 
The book is illustrated with a number of figures, 
charts, and plates, some of the last-named being 
coloured. We. notice an error occurring through- 
out the chart illustrating the Wassermann reac- 
tion, the incubation temperature being stated to 
be 56° C. instead of 37° C. 
The book, while capable of improvement in 
many directions, may be recommended as giving 
a useful survey, free from too much detail and 
technicalities, of the subject of immunology. 
R, T. HEWLettT. 
SCHOOL MATHEMATICS. ¥ 
(1) Analytic Geometry. By Prof. H. B. Phillips. 
Pp. vii+197. (New York: John Wiley and 
Sons, Inc.; London; Chapman and Hall, Ltd., 
1915.) Price 6s. 6d. net. 
(2) Problems in the Calculus, with Formulas and 
Suggestions. By Dr. D. B. Leib. Pp. xit+ 
224. (Boston, Mass., and London: Ginn and 
| Co., 1915.) Price 4s. 6d. 
(3) Mathematical Tables for Class-room Use. By 
M. Merriman. Pp. 67. (New York: John 
Wiley and Sons, Inc.; London: Chapman and 
Hall, Ltd., 1915.) Price 2s. 6d. net. 
(4) Rural Arithmetic. By A. G. Ruston. Pp. xi 
+431. (London: University Tutorial Press, 
Ltd., 1916.) Price 3s. 6d. 
ROF. H. B. PHILLIPS believes that the 
(1) differential calculus should be given to” 
the student in college at the earliest possible 
moment, and that to accomplish this a short 
course in analytic geometry is essential. He 
