Book Review Vitamins and Antivitamins by A. Pongratz. Protoplasmotologia Handbook of Protoplasm Research edited by L. V. Heibrunn and F

The volatile phytoncides (preferably called phytons, and
generally known in the U.S.A. as “higher plant antibiotics”),
which the higher plants produce for protection have, in
addition to their protistocidal, bactericidal, and fungicidal
properties, a growth promoting effect (callus and sprout
formation). H . Scltildknecht and G . Rauclz succeeded in
identifying the active material, isolated from Robinia pseurlrr-
curia, as pure Az-hexenal. Likewise, they were able to trace
the antibiotic effect of oak, alder, lupine, black currant,
whortleberry, cranberry, and privet to A2-hexenal. Since in
all investigated cases the antibiotic effect is due to the A2hexenal content, the theory that each leafy plant has its own
specific antibiotic agent could not be proved. / 2. Naturforsch. 166, 422 (1961. 1 -Ho.
[Rd 1/18 TE]
Physikalische Grundlagen der Chemie-Ingenieur-Technik.(The
Physical Basis of Chemical Engineering.) By P. Grassmann;
Vol. 1 of the series Grundlagen der Chemischen Technik
(Principles of Chemical Technology). H. R. Sauerlaender
& Co., Aarau/Frankfurt (Main) 1961. 1st Ed., 944 pp.,
403 fig., bound, D M 80.-. (ra. $ 20.-).
necessary for the solution of special problems. This monograph is very well suited for self-study, as well as for advanced
students and those engaged in the process industries; however it assumes a prior knowledge of introductory physics.
Approximately 170 problems scattered throughout the text,
with solutions given in a special appendix, facilitate selfinstruction. The book is recommended to anyone connected
with the chemical process industries. The printing is good,
as is the presentation of the illustrative material. However,
not every interested student will be able to afford the book,
and it should therefore be made available in instutional
libraries.
K. ffedden
[BB 0055316 I E ]
This long-needed textbook summarizes the physical principles underlying the chemical process industries.
Using many examples and original comments, the author
gives a masterful presentation of the physical laws and their
quantitative applications. This book not only enables the
student to become familiar with equations but, above all,
provides him with a more profound insight into their functional relationship. The fundamental principles presented in
the text will serve as a basis for mechanical and process
engineers, chemists, physical chemists and physicists in the
guidance of their technological work.
The first three chapters deal with physical thermodynamics
and kinetic phenomena. In the chapter “Mass and Energy
Balances”, the author endeavors to give a clear definition of
the quantities and units of measure entering into the formulation of energy balances. “The Concept and Application of
Entropy” first increases the reader’s understanding of the
second law of thermodynamics, and then further clarifies the
concept of entropy with examples of application. Two
examples of thermodynamic analysis, namely, evaporation
of salt solutions and liquefaction of air, are particularly
interesting. The “Probability Theory and Kinetic Theory
of Gases” brings out, among other things, the general
significance of statistics and the mathematics of probability
in process technology. Problems in construction, of interest
to the equipment designer, are found in chapter 4-“Strength
of Materials”. The important field of materials with large
surfaces per unit weight and of finely divided substances is
treated in another chapter. More than half of the book deals
with flow and transfer phenomena. The principles and
applications of flow theory are presented in two sections,
which are followed by a section treating “Dimensional
Analysis and the Theory of Models”. Chapter 9 deals with
the analogous momentum, heat and mass transfer phenomena which are related to irreversible thermodynamics. Multiphase flow phenomena, which are of great importance in
many fields, are dealt with in chapter 10. Another section is
concerned with rheological materials. In the “Summary”, the
author endeavors, using a few examples, to present a generalized view point with the object of increasing the coherence of the large variety of material presented.
The many references cited (the author index alone contains
about 1200 entries) aid in locating the original literature
Vitamins and Antivitamins, by A . Pongratz. Protoplasmatologia, Handbook of Protoplasm Research, edited by L. V.
Heilbrunn and F. Weber. Vol. 11, B2bP: Published by
Springer, Vienna (Austria) 1960. First edition. V, 98 pages.
Paperbound DM 35.- (about $ 9.-).
This book is a carelessly compiled collection of abstracts from
the older vitamin literature up to about 1954, with only a few
references to more recent publications, even though the book
was not published until 1960. There is, however, a complete
coverage of the author’s papers, even where they are of no
great significance for the topic Although the title of the book
includes the word “antivitamins”, terms like competitive and
non-competitive inhibition are never mentioned. F. Moewus’
data o n the biological effects of isorhamnetin and its diglycoside are listed, although they have been disproved several
years ago. There are some major errors to be found in the
book; e . g . vitamin BIZi s described as a nucleic acid molecule;
thioctic acid is suppbsed to carboxylate a-keto acids by
oxidation; in P-vitamins, the 6-hydroxyl is alleged to form
ethers with different sugars. T o characterize the style, I quote:
“Chemical investigation of the structure was aided considerably by the typical form of the &-deficiency sickness in
rats (86-RattenmangeIkrankheit)”, or “The reported results
concerning the structure and physiological effects of the BIZ
vitamins are based o n an unparalled system of logic”. After
suffering through misprints, obsolete and illogical phrases,
errors of fact, biased opinions, monstrosities in word and
sentence construction, and much bad German, the reader
comes to the following statement on the last page: “This
magnificent wealth of ideas, brought about by the cooperation
ofmanydisciplines, can be viewed with pride by all mankind”.
In the opinion of this reviewer, such a statement certainly
cannot be applied to the present book.
R . Tschesche
[NB 827/7IE]
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6 1962 by Verlag Chemie, GmbH. - Printed in Germany by Druckerei Winter, Heidelberg.
All rights reserved. N o part of this journal may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, e . g . by photoprint, microfilm, or any other means, without
written permission from the publishers.
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Chief Editor: W . Foerst ’ Editors: F. Boschke and H . Griinewald.
Publishers: Verlag Chemie GmbH. (President Eduard Kreurhage), Pappelallee 3 , Weinheim/Bergstr., Germany, and Academic Press Inc. (President
Walter J . Johnson), 1 I 1 Fifth Avenue, New York 3, N.Y., USA, and Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, London, W. I, England.
Correspondence concerning advertisements should by addressed to Verlag Chemie, GmbH. (Advertising Manager W . Tbiel), Pappelallee 3, Weinheim/
Bergstr., Germany, Telephone Weinheim 3635, Telex 04-65 5 16, Cable-Address Chemieverlag Weinheimbergstr.
168
Angew. Chem. internat. Edit. 1 Vol. 1 (1962) 1 No: 3