The Lyophilic Colloids (Their Theory and Practice)

After reading this volume one is left with the distinct impression that it was written by a missionary, one who feels very strongly that nearly all chemists and biologists have an entirely wrong concept of the fundamental nature of the lyophilic colloid. At all events, the whole organization of the book is an argument for the author's point of view, which, although it has undoubtedly been overlooked by most chemists and biologists, certainly represents nothing new to the colloid chemist, as the author would lead one to believe. The thesis which is here promoted is that the lyophilic colloids (those colloids which can be solvated) act in almost every case as solutions of solvent in colloid, not, as is generally presumed, solutions of colloid in solvent. The first three-quarters of the book is devoted to a proof of this contention in the cases of several systems, including those of casein and of soap. There is an orderly marshalling of arguments with many pages of data and curves offered in support of them. A short section is then devoted to the application of this principle to three typically chemical problems. The last section of the book, and that of most importance to those interested in the fields of biology and medicine, is the application of the principle to problems such as the concept of the cell, edema, acidosis, alkalosis, and per-meability. The author, a physiologist himself, offers a point of view and an approach to these problems which certainly should be borne in mind., Whether his contentions are correct or not, the reviewer is not qualified to state. In conclusion, it might be pertinent to quote a passage occurriAg in italics on page 207, "Living matter, including the tissue juices like blood and lymph, is in essence a solution of water in a colloid matrix." ROBERT D. COGHILL.