April 29, 1921] 



SCIENCE 



417 



about, are discussed. II. The Colloidal State. 

 It is appropriate that the book should begin 

 with this topic, since it is essential for an 

 understanding of the chemistry of cell proto- 

 plasm; but this is the least comprehensive 

 and complete of any of the chapters. The 

 two fundamental types of colloidal solutions, 

 suspensoids and emulsoids, are treated and 

 their characteristic properties illustrated. IH. 

 Enzyme Action. The underlying principles of 

 enzyme action are briefly discussed and the 

 behavior of different enzymes illustrated by 

 those contained in yeast. The discussion of 

 other enzymes follows in connection with 

 those chapters dealing with the respective 

 substrates. TV. Carbon Assimilation. It is 

 emphasized that chlorophyll is i)erhaps the 

 most important factor in plant metabolism. 

 V. Carbohydrates and their Hydrolyzing 

 Enzymes. Of all the subjects in plant chem- 

 istry which deserve careful treatment it is 

 that of carbohydrates, and to it the author 

 has devoted m6re space than to any other. 

 There is a careful consideration of the proper- 

 ties and characteristics of the various carbo- 

 hydrates, their synthesis and relationships in 

 the plant. The monosaccharides, disacchar- 

 ides and trisaccharides are most thoroughly 

 treated, the latter under the following topics: 

 pentosans, starches, dextrins, inulin, mannans, 

 galactans, gums, mucilages, pectie substances 

 and celluloses. VI. The Fats and Lipases. 

 VII. Aromatic Compounds and Oxidizing 

 Enzymes. The more widely distributed aro- 

 matic plant products are grouped : the phenols 

 and their derivatives; the aromatic alcohols 

 and acids including the tannins; the flavone, 

 flavonol and xanthone pigments; and the 

 anthocyanin pigments. The greater portion 

 of the chapter is devoted to the plant pig- 

 ments and oxidizing enzymes. VTII. Proteins 

 and Proteases. The properties and chemical 

 reactions by means of which the proteins can 

 be detected are studied, and experiments 

 follow which illustrate the method of extrac- 

 tion of the proteins from characteristic grains 

 and seeds. IX. Glucosides and Glucoside- 

 splitting Enzymes. Besides the glucosides of 

 the pigments previously discussed the cyano- 



phoric glucosides receive chief attention. X. 

 The Plant Bases. 



In the preface the author states that the 

 book presents an aspect of plant biochemistry 

 which up to the present time has received very 

 little consideration in teaching. This is not 

 entirely true in America, for at the Univer- 

 sity of Minnesota there have been offered for 

 several years courses in phytochemistry and 

 biochemical laboratory methods with partic- 

 ular reference to plant products. It is rather 

 a coincidence that the subject matter of our 

 courses should be similar, beginning with the 

 colloidal state of matter and following with 

 the classes of compounds found in plants. 

 These courses through lectures and laboratory 

 have presented to the student the same view- 

 point for which this book was designed. Mrs. 

 Onslow is to be commended for her pioneer 

 work in the publication of a text on this im- 

 portant subject. From the mechanical stand- 

 point the book is up to the usual standard of 

 the publications of the Cambridge University 

 Press. It is to be regi-etted, however, that in 

 all probability the price will prevent it being 

 used in many cases where it could profitably 

 be employed. 



Clarence Austin Morrow 



Division op Agkicdltural Biochemistry, 

 TJniversitt of Minnesota 



Anthropometry. By Ales Hrdlicka. Wistar 

 Institute of Anatomy and Biology, Phila- 

 delphia. Pp. 163. 



Anthropologists and all other workers who 

 have occasion to make use of anthropometry 

 have long been handicapped by the lack of 

 any adequate and up-to-date manual of an- 

 thropometry. ISow, at length, they have at 

 their disposal a compact and comprehensive 

 treatise on the subject written by one of the 

 most experienced and competent investigators 

 in the field. Dr. Ales Hrdlicka, curator of 

 the Division of Physical Anthropology, U. S. 

 National Museum. As a laboratory manual 

 in physical anthropology and as a handbook 

 for the use of field investigators of physical 

 characters in man, this book should prove in- 

 valuable. 



