A Dictionary of Life Sciences by Elizabeth A. MartinReview by: John O. CorlissTransactions of the American Microscopical Society, Vol. 97, No. 2 (Apr., 1978), pp. 285-286Published by: Wiley on behalf of American Microscopical SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3225641 .

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BOOK REVIEWS 285 BOOK REVIEWS 285 BOOK REVIEWS 285

of the most widely used techniques, including functional studies for the isolation, fractionation and characterization of lymphocytes, with discussions of their ap- plications in research on cellular immunology." The book does this reasonably well in most instances. As with any collection of individual papers, the quality and readability varies from paper to paper. In general, the techniques are well described and referenced and could easily be followed by someone not familiar with the areas of lymphocyte fractionation and cell surface markers. The dis- cussions of functional implications in disease states, though, are rather scant and are really of little use in most cases.

There are 17 papers, which are divided into the following areas: (I) Isolation and Preservation (2 papers); (II) Fractionation (4 papers); and (III) Character- ization by Surface Markers and Functional Tests (11 papers).

In general, the book will be very useful to investigators working in the area of lymphocyte characterization, because of the well-detailed procedures pre- sented. Its main advantage will lie in the easy availability of the large numbers of characterization procedures that it offers. On the negative side, the cost of such a small book seems somewhat out of line. As such, this book would seem to be more suited to a library than to a private bookshelf.-Louis C. GASBARRE, De- partment of Zoology, University of Maryland, College Park.

Assay of Drugs and Other Trace Compounds in Biological Fluids. Methodological Developments in Biochemistry, Vol. 5, edited by Eric Reid. North-Holland Am- sterdam, 1976, 253 pp., illus., $65.

This fifth volume in a presumably continuing series contains a collection of articles discussing various techniques for identifying and quantifying trace com- pounds. Each chapter details and critically examines the methods for assaying a drug or hormone and, more importantly, outlines the criteria for validating the particular assay. The authors include several specific examples and discuss general strategy, sample preparation, and instrumentation.

Although the contributors describe the quantification of a relatively small number of compounds, the examples are well chosen and most of the recent de- velopments and techniques are discussed. While some of the contributors over- emphasize problems peculiar to the assay of a particular compound, most of the articles are relevant and useful. In fact, the value of the book lies in its attention to detail and to specific problems. This small volume is recommended as both an instructional aid for the novice and also as a desk guide in the clinical or pharmaceutical laboratory.-WILLIAM J. HIGGINS, University of Maryland, Col- lege Park.

VII. Reference Works and Collections

A Dictionary of Life Sciences, edited by Elizabeth A. Martin. Pica Press, New York, 1977, 374 pp., illus., $16.50.

This concise and quite precise dictionary of some 3,000 cross-referenced en- tries will be helpful, in a general way, to biological scientists as well as to lay persons. It is a little sparse on illustrations; and its selectivity (though obviously inevitable, considering the hundreds of thousands of terms used in the life sciences overall today) will disappoint workers in particular areas (e.g., this reviewer could not help but note both the absence of most protozoological words and the not infrequent inaccuracy or incompleteness of those included!). Although Ms. Martin received a degree in Zoology from Oxford, there seemed (to me) to be a slight preponderance of botanical over zoological terminology-or, perhaps

of the most widely used techniques, including functional studies for the isolation, fractionation and characterization of lymphocytes, with discussions of their ap- plications in research on cellular immunology." The book does this reasonably well in most instances. As with any collection of individual papers, the quality and readability varies from paper to paper. In general, the techniques are well described and referenced and could easily be followed by someone not familiar with the areas of lymphocyte fractionation and cell surface markers. The dis- cussions of functional implications in disease states, though, are rather scant and are really of little use in most cases.

There are 17 papers, which are divided into the following areas: (I) Isolation and Preservation (2 papers); (II) Fractionation (4 papers); and (III) Character- ization by Surface Markers and Functional Tests (11 papers).

In general, the book will be very useful to investigators working in the area of lymphocyte characterization, because of the well-detailed procedures pre- sented. Its main advantage will lie in the easy availability of the large numbers of characterization procedures that it offers. On the negative side, the cost of such a small book seems somewhat out of line. As such, this book would seem to be more suited to a library than to a private bookshelf.-Louis C. GASBARRE, De- partment of Zoology, University of Maryland, College Park.

Assay of Drugs and Other Trace Compounds in Biological Fluids. Methodological Developments in Biochemistry, Vol. 5, edited by Eric Reid. North-Holland Am- sterdam, 1976, 253 pp., illus., $65.

This fifth volume in a presumably continuing series contains a collection of articles discussing various techniques for identifying and quantifying trace com- pounds. Each chapter details and critically examines the methods for assaying a drug or hormone and, more importantly, outlines the criteria for validating the particular assay. The authors include several specific examples and discuss general strategy, sample preparation, and instrumentation.

Although the contributors describe the quantification of a relatively small number of compounds, the examples are well chosen and most of the recent de- velopments and techniques are discussed. While some of the contributors over- emphasize problems peculiar to the assay of a particular compound, most of the articles are relevant and useful. In fact, the value of the book lies in its attention to detail and to specific problems. This small volume is recommended as both an instructional aid for the novice and also as a desk guide in the clinical or pharmaceutical laboratory.-WILLIAM J. HIGGINS, University of Maryland, Col- lege Park.

VII. Reference Works and Collections

A Dictionary of Life Sciences, edited by Elizabeth A. Martin. Pica Press, New York, 1977, 374 pp., illus., $16.50.

This concise and quite precise dictionary of some 3,000 cross-referenced en- tries will be helpful, in a general way, to biological scientists as well as to lay persons. It is a little sparse on illustrations; and its selectivity (though obviously inevitable, considering the hundreds of thousands of terms used in the life sciences overall today) will disappoint workers in particular areas (e.g., this reviewer could not help but note both the absence of most protozoological words and the not infrequent inaccuracy or incompleteness of those included!). Although Ms. Martin received a degree in Zoology from Oxford, there seemed (to me) to be a slight preponderance of botanical over zoological terminology-or, perhaps

of the most widely used techniques, including functional studies for the isolation, fractionation and characterization of lymphocytes, with discussions of their ap- plications in research on cellular immunology." The book does this reasonably well in most instances. As with any collection of individual papers, the quality and readability varies from paper to paper. In general, the techniques are well described and referenced and could easily be followed by someone not familiar with the areas of lymphocyte fractionation and cell surface markers. The dis- cussions of functional implications in disease states, though, are rather scant and are really of little use in most cases.

There are 17 papers, which are divided into the following areas: (I) Isolation and Preservation (2 papers); (II) Fractionation (4 papers); and (III) Character- ization by Surface Markers and Functional Tests (11 papers).

In general, the book will be very useful to investigators working in the area of lymphocyte characterization, because of the well-detailed procedures pre- sented. Its main advantage will lie in the easy availability of the large numbers of characterization procedures that it offers. On the negative side, the cost of such a small book seems somewhat out of line. As such, this book would seem to be more suited to a library than to a private bookshelf.-Louis C. GASBARRE, De- partment of Zoology, University of Maryland, College Park.

Assay of Drugs and Other Trace Compounds in Biological Fluids. Methodological Developments in Biochemistry, Vol. 5, edited by Eric Reid. North-Holland Am- sterdam, 1976, 253 pp., illus., $65.

This fifth volume in a presumably continuing series contains a collection of articles discussing various techniques for identifying and quantifying trace com- pounds. Each chapter details and critically examines the methods for assaying a drug or hormone and, more importantly, outlines the criteria for validating the particular assay. The authors include several specific examples and discuss general strategy, sample preparation, and instrumentation.

Although the contributors describe the quantification of a relatively small number of compounds, the examples are well chosen and most of the recent de- velopments and techniques are discussed. While some of the contributors over- emphasize problems peculiar to the assay of a particular compound, most of the articles are relevant and useful. In fact, the value of the book lies in its attention to detail and to specific problems. This small volume is recommended as both an instructional aid for the novice and also as a desk guide in the clinical or pharmaceutical laboratory.-WILLIAM J. HIGGINS, University of Maryland, Col- lege Park.

VII. Reference Works and Collections

A Dictionary of Life Sciences, edited by Elizabeth A. Martin. Pica Press, New York, 1977, 374 pp., illus., $16.50.

This concise and quite precise dictionary of some 3,000 cross-referenced en- tries will be helpful, in a general way, to biological scientists as well as to lay persons. It is a little sparse on illustrations; and its selectivity (though obviously inevitable, considering the hundreds of thousands of terms used in the life sciences overall today) will disappoint workers in particular areas (e.g., this reviewer could not help but note both the absence of most protozoological words and the not infrequent inaccuracy or incompleteness of those included!). Although Ms. Martin received a degree in Zoology from Oxford, there seemed (to me) to be a slight preponderance of botanical over zoological terminology-or, perhaps

This content downloaded from 195.34.79.228 on Wed, 25 Jun 2014 09:34:24 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

286 TRANS. AMER. MICROS. SOC., VOL. 97, NO. 2, APRIL 1978 286 TRANS. AMER. MICROS. SOC., VOL. 97, NO. 2, APRIL 1978

more significantly, the choice of a botanical definition of a given word over its zoological meaning, when both are in usage by the respective specialists.

The work, however, is excellently organized; and many of the definitions- ranging in length from often 20 or so words to several hundred (in at least one case accompanied by a most helpful fold-out table)-appear to be very much up to date and authoritative. The price is a little steep for students, but the editor should not be held accountable for that.-JoHN O. CORLISS, University of Mary- land, College Park.

The Merck Index, Ninth Edition, edited by M. Windholz et al., Merck and Com- pany, Rahway, New Jersey, ca. 2,000 pp., $18.

This basic source for information about some 10,000 chemicals, drugs, and biologicals has again been brought up to date. Over half of the descriptions are revised and about a thousand new items are added. A cross-index of over 50,000 synonyms gives chemical, trivial, generic, and trademark names. A for- mula index and Chemical Abstracts registry numbers are included. Thumb in- dexing appears for the first time. In addition to the usual information as to molecular weights, formulae, solubilities, etc., many items include syntheses, literature references, patent owners, uses, etc.

For years this book has been the first source to consult for information on chemicals and drugs. Usually, it answers the question or tells the reader where to go for greater detail. Merck and Company deserve thanks for providing this new updated reference at so modest a price.-OscAR W. RICHARDS, Pacific Uni- versity, Forest Grove, Oregon.

Finley Memorial Issue: Parts 1 and 2, appearing as July and October (year 1976) numbers of the Transactions of the American Microscopical Society, 95(3, 4), 465 pp., illus., $10 per set.

As more of an "announcement" or "reminder" than a review, this relatively recent special publication is briefly being recalled to the reader's attention here because (a) the set is still available (from the Society), but yet (b) a continuing number of inquiries indicate that such a fact is not widely known.

Honoring the memory of the late Professor Harold Finley of Howard Univer- sity, the one-time President of the American Microscopical Society and long- time distinguished researcher on the peritrich ciliates, are more than 50 research papers by microscopists from all over the world. The emphasis of the majority of these works, not surprisingly, is on the ecology, comparative cytology and physiology, or systematics of ciliated protozoa, with the experimental organism often belonging to the peritrich (or a closely neighboring) order.

It would be inappropriate to single out any of the contributions for special mention here. But several of the papers have already been widely cited subse- quent to their appearance in this journal, and students, teachers, and researchers alike may find it convenient to have the set-really at a "bargain" price-easily available on their own bookshelf.-JOHN O. CORLISS, University of Maryland, College Park.

more significantly, the choice of a botanical definition of a given word over its zoological meaning, when both are in usage by the respective specialists.

The work, however, is excellently organized; and many of the definitions- ranging in length from often 20 or so words to several hundred (in at least one case accompanied by a most helpful fold-out table)-appear to be very much up to date and authoritative. The price is a little steep for students, but the editor should not be held accountable for that.-JoHN O. CORLISS, University of Mary- land, College Park.

The Merck Index, Ninth Edition, edited by M. Windholz et al., Merck and Com- pany, Rahway, New Jersey, ca. 2,000 pp., $18.

This basic source for information about some 10,000 chemicals, drugs, and biologicals has again been brought up to date. Over half of the descriptions are revised and about a thousand new items are added. A cross-index of over 50,000 synonyms gives chemical, trivial, generic, and trademark names. A for- mula index and Chemical Abstracts registry numbers are included. Thumb in- dexing appears for the first time. In addition to the usual information as to molecular weights, formulae, solubilities, etc., many items include syntheses, literature references, patent owners, uses, etc.

For years this book has been the first source to consult for information on chemicals and drugs. Usually, it answers the question or tells the reader where to go for greater detail. Merck and Company deserve thanks for providing this new updated reference at so modest a price.-OscAR W. RICHARDS, Pacific Uni- versity, Forest Grove, Oregon.

Finley Memorial Issue: Parts 1 and 2, appearing as July and October (year 1976) numbers of the Transactions of the American Microscopical Society, 95(3, 4), 465 pp., illus., $10 per set.

As more of an "announcement" or "reminder" than a review, this relatively recent special publication is briefly being recalled to the reader's attention here because (a) the set is still available (from the Society), but yet (b) a continuing number of inquiries indicate that such a fact is not widely known.

Honoring the memory of the late Professor Harold Finley of Howard Univer- sity, the one-time President of the American Microscopical Society and long- time distinguished researcher on the peritrich ciliates, are more than 50 research papers by microscopists from all over the world. The emphasis of the majority of these works, not surprisingly, is on the ecology, comparative cytology and physiology, or systematics of ciliated protozoa, with the experimental organism often belonging to the peritrich (or a closely neighboring) order.

It would be inappropriate to single out any of the contributions for special mention here. But several of the papers have already been widely cited subse- quent to their appearance in this journal, and students, teachers, and researchers alike may find it convenient to have the set-really at a "bargain" price-easily available on their own bookshelf.-JOHN O. CORLISS, University of Maryland, College Park.

This content downloaded from 195.34.79.228 on Wed, 25 Jun 2014 09:34:24 AMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions