CURRENT LITERATURE 
BOOK REVIEWS 
Yeasts 
A few years ago a group of French savants arranged for a new Encyclo- 
pédie Scientifique. Under the direction of TouLousE, some of the most dis- 
tinguished scientists are attempting to prepare a series of complete and readable 
monographs covering the whole range of science. The plan calls for about a 
thousand volumes, classified under forty main sections of knowledge. 
If GUILLIERMOND’s' volume on yeasts is a fair sample, this encyclopedia 
will be indispensable to every school of science. This volume includes an 
ample bibliography, index, and analytic table of contents. The introduction 
defines the yeasts, morphologically and physiologically, and places them as “‘a 
family of the Ascomycetes, known by the name of Saccharomycetes.” A 
brief historical résumé concludes that three names will always be connected 
with the study of yeasts, PAstreuR, HANSEN, and BUCHNER. 
The first chapter deals with the morphology of vegetation and reproduc- 
tion. The second one, on cytology, discusses the nucleus, metachromatic 
bodies, and other particles, both in vegetation and reproduction. The meta- 
chromatic bodies are stated to be composed probably of a compound of nucleic 
acid. They are identical with A. MEYER’s volutin grains. Two chapters on 
physiology are rich in material. The subjects of the following chapters are 
phylogeny, methods of study and culture, identification of species, variation 
of species, and classification. The second part is a systematic description of 
the known genera and species. Constant reference throughout all the chapters 
to the little known Schizomyces and Zygosaccharomyces adds much to the 
interest of the work. Every page of this admirable volume is full of clear, 
terse statements of observation, and carefully balanced discussion. It is 
rare for as keen an investigator to have such a lucid and logical style. 
The translation of GUILLIERMOND by TANNER? is really a new edition. In 
bringing the work up to date, GUILLIERMOND has been responsible for the 
morphology, phylogeny, and classification, and TANNER for the physiology. 
Most of the text, however, is carried over without change. Unfortunately, 
the translation has been poorly done. Almost every page of the English 
? GuILLIERMOND, A. T., Les Levures. II. pp. 565. Paris: Octave Doin et fils, 
1912. 
* GurtireRMmonD, A. T., The y in coll 
oration with the original fetes | Aang Fr. “W. TANNER. pp. pono ” New York: oes 
Wiley and Sons. 1920. 
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