Human Blood and Serum Groups

"Reports" are full fledged scientific papers, often accompanied by a transscript of the discussion that came after their presentation. However, these are followed by "Communications" that range in length from three sentences to nearly six pages in content (and on page 17 is a note that one paper was not received at all). To compound the problem, the shorter "Communications" are printed on only one side of a page. Reports are presented in either English or French, and are gathered into four sections (Problems of Synthesis and Methodology, Autoradiography and Electron Microscopy, Specific Receptors, and Biochemical and Pharmacological Mechanisms). The great bulk of the papers deal with the use of weak beta ray emitters 14C and 3H. There is but one reference to an organometal, and little mention of gamma ray emitters (1311, 71Ge and 75Se each obtain single mention). The dust jacket of the volume states that the "rapid progress made over the last ten or fifteen years has slowed down" and that attention focused on methods and apparatus. For this limited range, the book may serve the purpose of acting as a guidepost along the broadening use of radioisotopes in tracing the distribution and metabolism of pharmaceuticals. RICHARD P. SPENCER