I n no wise will the edition be a disappointment to previously satisfied users. I n brief, the revision adds strength to a well- established method of approach to the qualitative identification of organic compounds. Some disappointment may be found in the failure of the authors to extend the tables of new compounds and to revise the lists of problems. However, i t is the conviction of this reviewer that the text will continue to lead the field. The authors and publishers are to be congratulated on the production of a text which is almost entirely free from typographical and textualerrors.

ROY G. ROSSERT OX,., WEBLEY*N UN~VERRITT

DELAVARE, 0 1 1 7 0

Envin Deutsch, University of Vienna. Franz Deuticke, Vienna. 1955. eRs + 298 pp. 35 figs. 32 tables. 17 X 24.5 cm. DM 42.

THE clotting of blood is of interest to study from the viewpoint of clinical problems and public health where it is involved with thrombosis, the numerous hemorrhagic diseases, blood trans- fusion and blood substitutes, tissue repair processes, philrmneol- ogy, rodent control, etc. Certain investigators have expressed tire view that the clotting phenomena are of far greater and more widespread significance than realized and that this will be brought out in due course with unexpected discoveries. The formation of the clot itself is observed following a aeries of complicsted chemical interactions not fully understood as yet. These rqwescnt il wrwrnut rll:dIvnw 1,) 11s: rnvt.srigaror sl.8, m:q I.oeir! w i t h IIw ft.t.lifty 11:11 111~ my.+mt'* ~ : t n P Y ' ~ I \ lw u n c o \ ~ n ~ ~ l fcdlwina R littlv eflurl. m l v 1,) tin4 t h ~ l 1.t. Iwornt,.< mow :tnJ more enkosred even t'o the end of his years or his endumnce. I n the meantime, he receives ample rewards by seeing a pert of the wonderful order which these phenomena represent.

This monograph, written in German, reflects beautifully the present status of the subject. Although written by a clinician, i t is largely considered from the biochemical point of view. The properties of the clotting fectors are described 80 well that any beginner could quite possibly use the volume exclusively for his orientation. A tremendous quantity of material is considered, The known chemical reactions of these substances are described in coneiderable detail. In addition, those reactions concerned with fibrinolysis are discussed as well as trypsin, trypsin inhibitor, snake venoms, papain, and the clotting fsctors of bacteria. The1.e are 1663 literature references, many of which are fre- quently overlooked in contemporary bibliographies. There is a very helpful list of synonyms, and the charts are excellent from the artistic viewpoint and are of uniform style throughout the monograph. The treatment of the subject is quite oomprehen- sive and thorough hut not noticeably critical. The latter a& titude has been avoided hv s i m ~ l v statine the various viewmints , . : t r d ibrr~ng them ovrrlnl, or iorJlirr wher+vcr rhrt h:,ppm~ to I,? tln CHV, witlmu~ milking inentioc~ of mch W C ~ I ~ ~ C I I I I ~ F . T l l i ~ Iwvr.; tlw rmdw xw:ln. of ibir>g r u t hi6 own, wloivl~ is Ilk IPUV status whether he rtcknowledges it or not.

This reviewer has often wished that textbooks in hioohemistry and physiology might he more adequate in their treatment of the subject of blood coagulation. In certain hooks, there are now indications that a concerted effort is heing made to give more ndequate coverage than formerly. The subject is so difficult that we can reasonably expect to find that a number of attempts to write adequate chapters give the appearance of heing failures. This scholarly monograph might he prtrticulsrly helpful to the writers of textbooks; and as our rapidly developing store of information increases, the work describing the blood clotting mechanisms can be a beautiful part of any textbook of phys- iology, biochemistry, and clinical medicine.

WALTER H. SEEGERS W ~ m e U N ~ V E R ~ ~ P DETROIT. M ~ C X ~ A N

Readers will note that the page designation which m'll he used for indezing these Book Reviews is AY09.