July 3, 1913] 



NATURE 



449 



been made a very dull affair. After briefly formu- 

 lating the simple bases and amino-acids occurring 

 in plants, the author proceeds to discuss their 

 relationships and the probable way in which they 

 are actually built up in the plant. He develops 

 a simple hypothesis by which amino-ethyl alcohol 

 (which he himself recently isolated as a product 

 of the hydrolysis of lecithin) and amino-acetic 

 acid are formed from glycol and glycollic acid, 

 and regards these substances as the simple bricks 

 from which the complex lecithins and proteins 

 are built up. 



In this synthesis the primary stage is a Canniz- 

 zaro transformation of glycollic aldehyde to the 

 corresponding alcohol and acid, which the author 

 regards as effected by an enzyme mutase, citing 

 evidence in support of this view. It may, how- 

 ever, be suggested that this action is a direct 

 effect of light, as in the case of many similar 

 changes recently studied. Some of the author's 

 views as to the manner in which complex alkaloids, 

 for example laudanosine in the t'soquinoline group, 

 are built up from a single aromatic amino-acid are 

 ingenious and very probable. Interesting 



chapters in the work deal with such questions 

 as the biological significance of the betai'nes, the 

 occurrence of methylation in the plant, the nature 

 of the phosphatides and lecithins and the synthesis 

 of the purine bases within the plant. 



Some of the author's remarks on. p. 70 with 

 reference to the non-production of nicotinic acid 

 in nature would appear to need modification owing 

 to the discovery, since the work was published, 

 by Suzuki and Matsunaga of this acid in rice- 

 bran ; this acid has great significance as derived 

 from a amino-acid. 



The work would be greatly improved by equip- 

 ping it with an index. W. A. D. 

 La Secretion Pancreatique. By Emile F. Terroine. 



Pp. 133. (Paris: A. Hermann et Fils, 1913) 



Price 5 francs. 

 This little book on the pancreas forms one of a 

 series of biological monographs which are appear- 

 ing under the direction of Prof. Dastre, of the 

 Sorbonne. The first chapters treat the subject 

 historically, and show by what slow steps the 

 early knowledge of this important organ was ob- 

 tained, and the important character of Claude 

 Bernard's pioneer work. 



The bulk of the book is, however, taken up 

 with a discussion of modern views, which were 

 initiated by Pawloff and elucidated by the great 

 discovery made by Bayliss and Starling of the 

 part played by a chemical stimulus in stirring up 

 the organ to activity. This material, called secre- 

 tin, is formed in the intestine, and reaches the pan- 

 creas by the blood-stream; so that the mechanism 

 may be described as a " humoral reflex " as against 

 the nervous reflex which was formerly supposed 

 to exist. Secretin is not the only chemical mes- 

 senger in the body ; physiologists now are 

 acquainted with a considerable number of these 

 "hormones," and their discovery has created a 

 ijreat revolution in our conceptions of physiological 

 and pathological processes. 

 NO. 2279, VOL. 91] 



What secretin is chemically is not yet known ; 

 the culmination of the work in the unravelling oi 

 its composition is reserved for the future. 



The pancreas is full of interest because it also 

 possesses an internal secretion, but that aspect of 

 the subject is not treated in the present volume. 



Dr. Terroine's book is to be thoroughly recom- 

 mended to all who desire a clear account of recent 

 progress and present doctrines concerning pan- 

 creatic activity. W. D. H. 

 The Posture of School Children: with its Home 



Hvgiene and. New Efficiency Methods for 



School Training. By Jessie H. Bancroft. Pp. 



xii+327. (New York: The Macmillan Co., 



1913.) Price 6s. («/. net. 

 It is beginning to be understood by parents and 

 teachers that the complete education of children 

 includes physical as well as mental training. The 

 schools now no longer ignore the bodies of the 

 pupils, but by medical inspection, graded physical 

 exercises, which are remedial when necessary, and 

 by careful sanitation, every effort is being made to 

 make the children healthy in body as well as 

 well trained mentally. In this useful undertaking 

 doctors and teachers are cooperating, and one ot 

 the evidences of this joint endeavour is the appear- 

 ance of numerous books intended to provide 

 teachers with scientific and technical knowledge 

 in an attractive form. The present volume is by 

 the assistant-director of physical training in the 

 public schools of New York City, and gives 

 teachers guidance as to how to correct poor pos- 

 ture in the class-room, to prevent the various 

 forms of curvature, and generally to assist normal 

 growth. 

 li'catlier Signs and How to Read them. For Use 



at Sea. By W. Allingham. Pp. v + 117. 



(Glasgow: James Brown and Son, 1912.) 



Price 2s. net. 

 The author states that this booklet is a compila- 

 tion written as an aid to the rising generation ol 

 mariners. Considered from this viewpoint we 

 have no hesitation in saying that it will be found 

 interesting and useful. Weather is closely con- 

 nected with barometric pressure, air and sea tem- 

 perature, state of sky, &c. ; but the predominant 

 factor is pressure. Several chapters are devoted 

 to these subjects and to the construction and use 

 of synoptic and synchronous weather charts ; the 

 advantage to sailors of charts of monthly average 

 barometric values is referred to specially. The 

 author makes it quite clear that he holds decided 

 opinions on several subjects, some of which differ 

 from generally accepted views, e.g. in the chapter 

 dealing with cloud forms and siems he considers 

 it difficult to accept as a working hypothesis the 

 supposed connection between clouds and dust 

 particles, at least many leagues from land. He 

 also urges simplification in cloud nomenclature, 

 "for under the present involved divisions clouds 

 are doubtless as often described erroneously as 

 they are correctly." The supposed influence of 

 the moon on weather is justly ridiculed, and the 

 work is brought up to date by useful details of the 

 advantages derived from radio-telegraphy. 



