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Rarely, these days, in educational circles concerned with medicine, are people publishing “how to” books. I was very pleased, therefore, to be given the opportunity of reviewing a book which promised not only to tell “how to” but also “why you should”. Was I disappointed? Read on! In the preface the author expresses a desire to educate the developing clinical chemist in the principles behind the automation which is in common use in modern clinical laboratories. He has based the book on the teaching practices within the first degree and Masters courses as taught at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (Australia) and has clearly aimed it at the novitiate level of chemist rather than those with reasonable experience. As far as is practicable, each chapter is divided into the theoretical background to instrumentation or technique and has followed the theory with practical exercises. The theoretical parts are very tight and without wasted words. I suspect that this treatment will work very well for the undergraduate who is able to support the book with additional and concurrent taught courses or broader reading. More experienced chemists will find the book excellent for dipping into either to remind themselves of long forgotten detail which they suddenly have to regurgitate, or for revision for examinations (physicists might be able to use it to bluff their way in chemistry!). The practical sections bring out many of the tried and tested exercises that were used even in my days as an undergraduate (about 35 years ago). Like jokes, the old ones are the best ones! But, to be fair, there are many exercises of more recent vintage which would stand alone very well in direct practice. There is one drawback in the book. Unfortunately, given today’s emphasis on safe practice, there is not even a nodding reference to the dangers of materials recommended for the practical exercises. Despite the authors’ intention of using these texts/exercises to educate the chemist of lesser experience, they are very keen on using materials like benzene and toluene without giving warnings about carcinogenicity or toxicity. Is it really necessary to use these materials? Are there safer alternatives that could be used? If they must be used, can exposure be reduced? Are there mechanical devices that could isolate them? What about personal protective equipment? How is the detritus of the exercises disposed of? Are there local regulations (e.g. COSHH in the UK) which may govern behaviour, labelling, disposal etc in these experiments? This lack of safety consciousness not only breaches legislation in many countries including all of the EEC, but may foster a cavalier approach to health and safety in new chemists. As long as the methods recommended in the book stay in the book then they are legal and safe. If anyone wants to actually use them on the bench the supervisor must carry out and record a “suitable and sufficient” risk assessment which is then used to design a written “safe system” of work including hazard warning labels and use of mechanical protective devices. Was I disappointed in the book? Yes, because of the drawback described above. Would I recommend it for purchase? Not in its present form. Laboratory practitioners and educators cannot allow dangerous procedures into the public domain, especially for use by the inexperienced. If the authors/publisher revise the book to include suitable warnings with due respect to health, safety and environmental legislation then it will be a very fine book indeed. Perhaps the author would like to bring out a new, revised edition very soon indeed?

Clinical Biochemistry: Techniques and Instrumentation – a Practical Course. Edited by John S. Varcoe