The Quantitative Analysis of Drugs

vestigation continues into the causes and prevention of prematurity, the care of prematures requires constant reappraisal. The second edition of Ethel Dunham's manual on premature infants is both an excellent reference source and guide for the care of these patients. The first section of the book is concerned with such general considerations as the incidence, causes, and prevention of prematurity and with the prognosis and developmental progress of infants who are prematurely born; the second section deals with clinical problems such as the care and feeding of prematures and the disease states to which they may be subject; the concluding part of the manual deals adequately with the important public health aspects of prematurity. Helpful ancillary data have been included in the appendix. This monograph is a solid piece of work and may be highly recommended. Rather than having the superficial, sketchy, and dogmatic character of many handbooks, the material presented here is concise, well chosen, and carefully documented. The inclusion of extensive and pertinent bibliography will facilitate further reading. This is the second edition of a book published before the last war under the title, Druigs and Galenicals. The intention of the author to keep pace with the considerable expansion of the field of medicinal chemicals has been well met. It is indeed a comprehensive survey of drugs including galenicals, synthetic drugs, metallic elements, and essential oils, as well as complex mixtures of drugs. These substances are listed conveniently in alphabetical order, with separate categories for essential oils and for oils, fats, and waxes. The convenience of this system breaks down, however, when one finds aureomycin, dihyprostreptomycin, and neomycin listed under penicillin , rather than all being listed logically under the general heading of antibiotics. Two factors seem to have entered into the selection of the textual material. The author admits to leaning heavily upon the accepted methodology of the U. S. and British Pharmacopoeia, although he makes clear that the book is intended to supplement the official compendia by emphasizing quantitative aspects of analysis. Certainly the author's own analytical experience as Chief Analyst of the Boots Pure Drug Company of Great Britain has played no small r6le in the selection and organization of material and adds to the value of the book. The format, which includes the indentation of all methods giving experimental details, facilitates rapid consultation and should be appreciated. A book of this kind must of …