556 Scientific Intelligence. 



tion to health and disease. Yeasts, molds and pathogenic pro- 

 tozoa are included with the bacteria proper. The book is an 

 interesting illustration of the shifting viewpoint in the academic 

 treatment of the science of bacteriology. l. b. m. 



6. Das Lebensmittelgewerbe — Ein Handbuch fur Nahrungs- 

 mittelchemiker, etc. ; unter Mitwirkung herausgegeben von Pro- 

 fessor Dr. K. von Buchka. Band I, Lieferung 1. Leipzig, 

 1913 (Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft m. b. H.). — The title 

 page of this new manual relating to the domain of the food 

 industries and food chemistry is indicative of the audience which 

 it intends to reach. A work of two volumes is projected, with 

 the collaboration of ten food chemists and directors of inspection 

 laboratories. The plan outlined includes a consideration of the 

 foodstuffs as they occur in natural products ; of alcoholic bever- 

 ages, spices and other food accessories ; and of the adulterations 

 commonly practiced in connection therewith. Apparently it is 

 intended to emphasize the technology of the food trades. 



In view of the numbers of books dealing with similar topics 

 which have come into prominence as the result of public agitation 

 on foods, one naturally looks for features of novelty in any fresh 

 essay in the field. The first " Lieferung," containing chapters on 

 Human Food and Generalia as an introduction to the series, fails 

 to reveal any unusual view-points. The discussion of human 

 nutrition does not depart from the conventional statements found 

 in German text-books of physiology ; and the chemical portions 

 exhibit a lack of an up-to-date character such as we find in Amer- 

 ican or English texts on biochemistry. Perhaps this is due to 

 the brevity of treatment adopted. The forthcoming more tech- 

 nical parts will doubtless permit a more critical estimate of the 

 usefulness of the new venture. l. b. m. 



1. A Manual of Immunity, for Students and Practitioners; 

 by Elizabeth T. Eraser, M.D. Pp. 199. Glasgow (James 

 Maclehouse and Sons), 1912. — The new science of immunity, 

 which has made such rapid strides in recent years, has acquired 

 an aspect of complexity and a nomenclature of its own, both of 

 which tend to detract from the interest that the busy practitioner 

 of medicine or the casual student of biological science may be 

 expected to exhibit therefor. This volume aims to put the reader 

 in touch with the progress which has been made and to give him 

 some appreciation of what the newer features of immunity in its 

 biological, therapeutic, and diagnostic applications are. The sub- 

 ject is presented in a style that will interest rather than repel 

 those who ought to become familiar with these novelties of 

 science. It is sufficiently detailed to enable physicians to get a 

 helpful conception of the present-day status of sero-diagnosis, 

 vaccine and serum therapy. The historical relations of the topics 

 are introduced in a fitting way. That the volume is not devoid 

 of critique is shown by the author's discussion of Ehrlich's " side- 

 chain " theory ; of which she says, quoting Huxley, that " Science 

 commits suicide the moment it adopts a creed." l. b. m. 



