BEYOND Τ Η Ε F L Υ LEAF

and additional gain of insight, is ies.̂ obvious. The main features of the system have so far failed to make much headway <ince they were first proposed by De Donder in 1920. T h e present extensive exposition may appeal t o and stimulate r h ose primarily interested in the possible variai ions of the basic thermodynamic formalism, but the more pragmatically minded physical chemists, who constitute the predominant—and the productive— majority, are likely to remain uncon­vinced. NTATFA.NIELTFION

Natural Perfume Materials. A Study of Concretes, Resinoids, Floral Oils, and Pomades . Y. R. Naves and G. Ma-zuyer. Edward Sagarin, t ranslator, xviii -f- 331 pages. Reinhold Publish­ing Corp. , 330 West 42nd St., New York IS, N . Y., Î947. $6.75.

1 HIS book, a translation of "Les par­fums na ture l s , " which appeared in Paris in 1939, meets the need fo ra dependable and αρ-to-date source of information on methods of obtaining the raw mater ia ls of perfumes by processes other than distilla­tion. Recognizing t h a t distillation has been described in many treatises since the earliest times, these authors chose to de­vote their work to t h e other processes— digestion, and extraction both by cold fats

(enfleurage) a n d by volatile solvents. Necessarily disregarding the interruption of seven years of war and incipient recov­ery, it may still be regarded as the latest word on the subject.

Some of the methods developed by the ancient Egypt ians and Arab is ts and t rans­mitted by the la t te r to the Mediterranean peoples of Europe are actually still fol­lowed in the modern perfume industry, in all the considerable l i terature that has accumulated in this field there seems to be no other author i ta t ive work tha t discusses adequately these less familiar methods of production or presents so impartial ly the advantages a n d disadvantages of all methods. Hence, this book by two spe­cialists in and of the industry—Yves R. Naves, a chemist and a professor at the University of Geneva, and the late Gabriel Mazuyei' , a skilled ar t isan, long with the house of Antoine Chiris a t Grasse, France—is most welcome.

T h e book is in four parts , comprising, respectively, the historical background of natural perfumes ; modern manufacturing processes ; the composition and analysis of products obtained by the three methods under consideration; and monographs on natural perfumes. Each presentat ion is excellent of its kind. D a t a in the mono­graphs—over a hundred , on both floral oils and resinoids—are from the au thors ' own

^ >

F L A M E P R O O F I N G T E X T I L E F A B R I C S

Flameproofing Textile Fabrics

Prepared by a Staff of Specialises under the

Editorship of ROBERT W. LITTLE,

Major Q.M.C., under Research Project

Q.M.C. #27 of the National Research Council

National Academy of Sciences

Office of the Quartermaster General,

MJlitary Planning Division, Research and

Development Branch

American Chemical Society Monograph No. 104

Here is the long-awaited survey of the flame-proofing of textile fabrics, based on problems en­countered during the war. Divided into three general sections: (1) the fundamental mechanisms of the thermal degradation of cellulose and the chemical or physi­cal phenomena of flameproofing; (2) the methods employed in the processing and evaluation of flameproofed fabrics; and (3) the various applica­tions for ftame-retarding treatments in the field of textile fabrics. This presentation familiarizes the reader with the types of retardants available, the Function of these agents in the prevention of flam­ing and glowing, and the methods by which they are applied and evaluated. In addition to the results of the research project on "The Flameproofing of Army Clothing," this volume includes a great deal of related informa­tion.

430 pages Illustrated $6.75

« O l O - f l M H J E « A * 330 W. 42N0 ST. NEW YORK 18,1. Y. AKo Publishers of Cnerwical Engineering ^atalot. Metal Industries Catalog. Materials A Metnoo_ Progressive Architecture. Advertising Management for American Chemical Society Pub Γι cation*.

records or the verified observations of others.

The t ranslat ion of such a work could be so well done only by someone intimately familiar with the industry; such a one is Edward Sagarin, of Givaudan-Delawanna, who obviously knows what i t is all about and how to write about it. As the missing block which many searchers in th is field have long needed t o square ofï their knowledge, this book would be a valued addit ion to any l ibrary.

The book is well bound, with good paper, pleasing typography, and many well-chosen illustrations, including, as end papers, maps of the flower-producing re­gions of France and I ta ly . Other note­worthy features are t he interspersing of copious references after each subdivision of t h e text ; and the indexes, divided for authors and botanical names as well as for subjects . T h e format would be improved b y moving some of the voluminous "front m a t t e r " to a n appendix; b u t this and a few other trifling faults can easily be cor­rected when the book is reprinted—which ' will undoubtedly be soon and often.

F L O R E N C E E . W A L L

Atomic Energy "Documents under Discussion by the

Atomic Energy Commission of the United Nations, June-September 1947" have been compiled in a 58-page booklet. Sum­mary of principal subjects t o be incorpo­ra ted in specific proposals for international control, functions of the international agency, and proposals of t h e USSR are included. Copies can be obtained from t h e Division of Publication, U. S. De­p a r t m e n t of Sta te , 1778 Pennsylvania Ave., N . W., Washington 25, D. C.

Wax from Sugar Cane The Sugar Research Foundation an­

nounces publication of the third in its Technological Report Series, "Wax and F a t t y By-Products from Sugarcane/ ' b y R. T . Batch, of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Houma, La. It is esti­mated t h a t there is a potent ial of 67 mil­lion lb. a year of wax obtainable from sugar areas supplying t h e Nor th American continent. Copies of t h e report are avail­able on request to the foundation, 52 Wall St. . New York 5, X . Y.

New Books October publications include :

Chemistry and Technology of Waxes. Albin H. Worth. Reinhold Publish­ing Corp. , New York 18, Ν . Υ. $10.

Chemistry of Organic Cyanogen Com­pounds. V. Migrdichian. ACS Mono­graph 105. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York 18, Ν . Υ. $12.

3110 C Η Ε M ! C A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G N E W S