Electron Probe Microanalysis

The section on tranquilizers comprises three chapters: (1) Phenothiazine derivatives by P. B. Bradley, (2) Rauwolfia derivatives by J. J. Lewis and (3) Diphenylmethane derivatives by T. R. Sherrod. The first two are, quite justifiably, restricted to detailed accounts of the pharmacology of chlorpromazine and reserpine respectively, which are treated as model compounds representative of their chemically-defined group. This approach is effective for the purposes of the book and both of these chapters are authoritative, comprehensive and eminently readable. In the third chapter, the diphenylmethane derivatives are represented by four members of the group. The pharmacology of each drug is given separately and consequently the treatment is much more superficial than in the two preceding chapters of this section. Little attempt is made either to justify the selection of these particular drugs or to compare and contrast the variations in pharmacological effects that accompany the changes in structure. It might well be debated whether the final section on "Physiological Aspects of Tolerance and Physical Dependence" merits the lengthy treatment it has received in a text on physiological pharmacology. The authors, however, are careful to point out in their introduction that they are "not discussing addiction but only two of the biological factors involved in (it)." Within these terms of reference the chapter is certainly a worthwhile addition to the book. This volume deserves a place on the library shelf of teacher and research worker alike; it does not meet the admittedly high standards set by its editors and yet it cannot be dismissed as a "curate's egg" for those parts of it that are not excellent are at least tolerably good.