minor structural errors, however, and little mechanistic detail is presented.

Chapter 2 is a review of the chemistry of hydrogen peroxide researched by K. Pan- diarajan. I found this chapter difficult to follow in places and the structures are quite poor, with several errors. Apart from these comments the chapter contains a useful list of reactions, although there is some repeti- tion. There is little sound mechanistic detail in this chapter.

Reactions of polyphosphoric acid are dis- cussed in Chapter 3 by D. A. Rowlands. This is a well written account with clear diagrams; however, some of the mechan- isms illustrated in this chapter are confusing and in error. Overall the book has not been very well edited and contains some serious errors. On the positive side, it will serve as a useful reference text to organic chemists.

P. J. Parsons

Biochemistry of Plant Cell Walls. Edited by C. T. Brett and J. R. Hillman. Pp. 312. Cambridge University Press. 1985. f 79.50 ($34.501.

This book comprises twelve of the contribu- tions of the Society for Experimental Biolo- gy symposium on the biochemistry of the plant cell wall, held in Glasgow in July 1984. The editors intend the volume ‘to relate the complex molecular structure of the wall to some of its functions’ and ‘to explore the mechanism by which the cell synthesises and controls the molecular orgnisation of the wall’. Thus chapter titles range from ‘De- velopments in the isolation and analysis of cell walls from edible plants’, through ‘Con- trol of cell wall formation during growth’, to ‘Biosynthesis of 1.4~/I-D-glucan in cell free preparations from mung beans’. The topics selected for inclusion give a fresh outlook to the subject and include novel areas such as immunological approach to the cell wall. Each chapter has been written by one or more specialists and contains review mate- rial in addition to more recent experimental work. In the main the contributors have adhered to this format which serves to familiarise the reader rapidly with each topic, before directing attention to the mod- ern developments in the field. I found the chapters on non-cellulosic polysaccharides and on analytical techniques particularly useful, bringing together and critically ex- amining techniques and data which are dispersed in the literature. The book is well written and should prove valuable to those who have an interest in the higher plant cell wall.

C. J. Smith

The Cell Division Cycle in Plants. Edited by J. A. Bryant and D. Francis. Pp. 259. Cambridge Univesity Press. 1985. f 78.50 ($32.50).

This volume of the Society for Experimental Biology Seminar Series consists of reviews on a wide range of experimental approaches to cell division in plants. There are a series of chapters giving a description of the na-

ture and control of DNA replication, and the organisation of the chromatin and the mitotic apparatus. In other sections the subject of the control of the cell cycle is developed and discussed in examples of plant systems ranging from the subcellular through to the organ level. The treatment is further expanded by a chapter on DNA endoreduplication and another on chloro- plast DNA replication. The book is well organised. resulting in a well-introduced, balanced coverage of the subjects. It is based on a series of papers given at a symposium held in 1984. and the writers have written fully yet with minimal overlap.

I would recommend this book for use by anyone from advanced undergraduate stan- dard through to those working in related research fields. who wishes to read a concise consideration of aspects of the plant cell division cycle, described by a series of au- thors who bring together the expertise of molecular and cell biologists. biochemists, and plant physiologists.

J. A. Pryke

The Physiological Ecology of Seaweeds. By C. S. Lobban, P. J. Harrison and Mary J. Duncan. Pp. 242. Cambridge University Press. 1985. f30.00 ($44.00).

This is the third recent student text dealing with aspects of algal physiology. As the title implies, it is not a pure physiology text. It is, however, the first one to make a success of dealing with the approach to algae at several levels of organisation. Seaweeds, i.e. multicellular marine algae, are considered at biochemical, cellular, whole plant, and com- munity levels and the findings are integrated to explain plant response to the environ- ment. Chapters deal with the environmental factors of light, temperature, salinity, water motion, and nutrients. Other chapters cover carbon metabolism, pollution, communities, and mariculture. Noteworthy features are the consideration of the environmental phy- sics of light and its measurement, the role of heterotrophy in seaweeds, the mode of action and of tolerance to pollutants, and the comprehensive evaluation of biotic and physical causes of distribution. The weakest point is the chapter on mariculture, presum- ably included for completeness, but too short and biased towards one genus, Por- phyra. Besides 212 pages of text there are 24 pages of useful, mainly recent, refer- ences.

This book is excellent for advanced undergraduates and post-graduates but since algal physiological ecology is only a small part of many courses few students will be able to purchase it unless a cheaper edition is produced.

M. Wilkinson

Antarctica. Edited by W. N. Bonner and D. W. H. Walton. Pp. 381. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 1985. f 74.95 ($23.95).

This excellent book is part of the ‘Key Environments’ series, produced in col-

laboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Re- sources (IUCN), and aimed at summarising our knowledge of crucial world ecosystems which are currently under threat. The book consists of consise but authoritative reviews by a distinguished array of Antarctic scien- tists. It begins with the physical geography, describing climate, geological evolution, and soils (but omitting oceanography). Terrest- rial habitats are then described, with chap- ters on vegetation, invertebrates, and life in lakes and ponds. The remaining two-thirds of the book is devoted to the tremendous- ly productive marine environment of the Southern Ocean, with excellent reviews of plankton, benthos, fish, cephalopods, seals, whales, oceanic birds, and penguins. The sub-Antarctic islands are described, where the accidental or deliberate introduction of mammals has produced disastrous effects. The book concludes with overviews of the Antarctic ecosystem as a whole, and of conservation and exploitation. Immediate threats come from overexploitation of fin- fish, and from a growth in krill harvesting which may further threaten the balance of a marine ecosystem already upset by the tra- gic destruction of the whales. This is a superb survey of the Antarctic living en- vironment, and should be required reading for anyone interested in Antarctica.

Peter Wadhams

The Jodrell Bank Telescopes. By Bernard Love/l. Pp. 292. Oxford University Press. 1985. f 15.00.

Following earlier books by Sir Bernard Lovell tracing the development of the radiotelescopes at Jodrell Bank (‘The Story of Jodrell Bank’, OUP, 1968, covering the construction of the 250 ft Mark I; ‘Out of the Zenith’, OUP, 1973, describing the construction of the Mark II and Mark III telescopes), the present volume brings the story up to date with details of, and cir- cumstances surrounding, the ill-fated Mark IV. Mark V, and Mark VA telescopes, which were never built, and the interfer- ometric MERLIN system, which was. It provides also an overview of the whole post-war period of instrumental radioastro- nomy at Manchester and Cambridge, deal- ing particularly with the interplay of the personalities involved in the scientific and planning decisions.

The dream of building a lOOO-ft dish was never realised. Much of the difficulty in getting funding for large steerable radiotele- scopes in Britain after 1960 stemmed from the earlier overspend on the 250-ft dish, which resulted in an embarassing scrutiny by the parliamentary Public Accounts Commit- tee and which was not helped by the subse- quent discovery of serious structural prob- lems with Mark I (converted later to be- come Mark IA). The story is largely one of frustrations and delays, but with some suc- cesses interspersed. The narrative is re- counted with attention to detail on matters

55

such as decisions, dates, project funds etc. and is backed up by the inclusion of corres- pondence where appropriate, plus three Appendices and 40 pages of notes and references giving detailed background mate- rial chapter by chapter. Thus it makes highly informative as well as enjoyable reading.

C. M. Humphries

Science and the Enlightenment. By Thomas L. Hankins. Pp. 216. Cambridge University Press. 1985. Hard cover f20.00, Paperback f6.95.

For the French it was the age of enlighten- ment, for the Germans the age of philoso- phy and literature, for the English the age of prose. reason, and the stuffy Hanove- rians No wonder that the story of 18th century science has been relatively neg- lected by Anglophone historians. As Profes- sor Hankins. best known for his large-scale study of D’Alembert, declares, this is argu- ably the first ‘general study’ of 18th century science since A. Wolf’s monumental History of Science, Technology and Philosophy (1939). Hankins’ aim is to bring the subject up-to-date in lesser compass, omitting tech- nology (Watt’s name does not occur in the index) and philosophy (his Priestley is strict- ly a scientist). In this he has admirably succeeded.

The first and last chapters, on the Enlight- enment and the philosophes, are French orientated. The intervening chapters on the individual sciences are broader in outlook. This is an excellent introduction, with an equally useful bibliography, for anyone who wants a contemporary view of 18th century science in factual terms. Like other books in the Cambridge History of Science Series it is intended as a textbook; scientific readers should find its style familiar and sympathe- tic, and the author’s opinions trustworthy.

M. B. Hall

The Tincal Trail: a History of Borax. By N. J. Travis and E. J. Cocks. Pp. xvi + 310. Harrap, London. 1984. f 70.95.

Over the past few years I have read many industrial histories, but - for two good reasons - none more stimulating than this. First, much borax - traded in the distant past as tincal - comes from rhe remoter and wilder parts of the world: from the moun- tains of Tibet and the high Andes, from Death Valley in California. from the plain of Anatolia. Second, the two authors make a powerful combination. Norman Travis has a long experience of the borax industry, culminating in the chairmanship of RTZ Borax Ltd. and he is also a knowledgeable student of the history of chemistry. John

Cocks is a qualified historian and keen archaeologist; he. too. has much relevant industrial experience and was Secretary of the Imperial Smelting Corporation 1955-68.

The early literature of borax, at least up to Mediaeval times, is confused because many writers did not distinguish it from other naturally occurring salts, such as nat- ron. The introductory chapter is a masterly essay on the early history of borax. Howev- er, the greater part of the book is devoted to the history of the modern international borax industry, beginning with the discovery of the mineral in California in 1856. This deals clearly and comprehensively not only with the technical aspects of the industry - such as the important new use of borax between the wars for the manufacture of heat-resisting glass - but the complex, and often devious, financial devices resorted to by some of the pioneers, such as F. M. Smith, to keep themselves in business. The authors’ long experience with company finance enables them to clarify this difficult area remarkably well.

The text is exceedingly well documented, a consequence of the authors having had access to a mass of not easily accessible archival material. There are some excellent illustrations. and a well contrived index. A very enjoyable read at a very reasonable price.

Trevor. I. Williams

George de Hevesy. By Hi/de Levy. Pp. 147. Adam Hilger, Bristol. 1985. f 15.00 @25.00).

George de Hevesy (1885-1966) was a key figure in 20th century physical science. A founder of the isotope dilution technique for chemical analysis he was also co-discoverer of the element hafnium. Development of his tracer method had immense consequences for biological and medical sciences, and Hevesy received the Nobel Prize for chemis- try in 1943. This account of his life and work by a former colleague offers a fascinating insight into the world of this very private man. No critical historical analysis, it never- theless brings unusual glimpses of many of the fellow scientists who crowded his life: Rutherford, Paneth, and Bohr especially. From personal recollections the author has enlightening things to say about Hevesy’s methodology of science, his voluminous sci- entific output, and his attitude to the con- vulsive political upheavals of Europe be- tween the Wars. She has drawn heavily on the large collections of his surviving letters in Berlin,,Copenhagen, and elsewhere. Her book will be essential reading for any wishing to discover how science grew in Europe at this crucially important time.

Colin Russell

A History of the Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry. By Pieter E. Verkade (1891-7979). Edited by F. C. Aldetweireldt, B. J. T. Bos, L. Maat, P. J. Slootmaekers, and B. M. Wepster. Pp. 507. Reidel, Dordrecht. 7985. Of/. 220 (f55.95).

Anyone interested in the history of organic chemical nomenclature will be familiar with the sixteen articles by the late Professor Verkade in the Bulletin de la SociCte chimi- que de France published 1966-79. These have now been translated into English (ex- cluding the portions in German and Italian) and edited by his colleagues as a book. It is a unique record by someone who had a key rBle in developing this subject for nearly fifty years, i.e. in nine of the sixteen chap- ters.

This account is largely restricted to inter- national efforts to standardise organic che- mical nomenclature. It traces the changes from the Paris conference of 1889 (which led to the Geneva rutes of 1892); to the formation of the IUPAC and the Liege rules of 1930; and their revision to give sections A, B, C, and D of the ‘Blue Book’ (the trivial name for IUPAC Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry). Unfortunately Ver- kade’s death prevented any discussion of sections E, F, and H which are in the current (1979) Blue Book.

Due to his involvement from 1927 to 1971 (including 37 years as Chairman of the IUPAC Commission on the Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry) in this work, Ver- kade is able to give a personal account based on his own detailed records, corres- pondence, draft documents, and recollec- tions showing the evolution of much present day organic chemical nomenclature. This unique archive is now deposited with the University of Delft.

The origin of the book from separate articles is reflected in a certain amount of duplication from one chapter to the next. Many of the references are to the relevant pages of previous articles but unfortunately these have not been converted into the corresponding page numbers in the book. A useful name index has been added but regrettably there is no subject index.

As Verkade stresses several times, nomenclature is rarely ideal, but chemists tend to be conservative and dislike change. For anyone who is interested in why changes should be made only with great care, or why a single recommended name is not always desirable, this book should be consulted. It should be read by anyone before considering making new proposals or even documenting existing techniques. It is to be recommended to anyone interested in this subject.

G. P. Moss

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