Book reviews

Since the first edition of this book appeared, great advances have been made in the methods and uses of tissue culture, necessitating much revision, recasting, and addition of new matter in this edition. While the original volume was largely based on the methods employed by Alexis Carrel at the Rockefeller Institute in New York, this edition includes procedures now in use in many other laboratories. The first chapter gives a concise and interesting review of the development of the subject and of its use in experimental embryology, also in the study of tumours and viruses and general cellular reactions. Thereafter follow chapters on the laboratory requirements, the diluting fluids, the preparation of nutrient media of all sorts. Chapter VIII is by Dr Joseph F. Morgan, and embraces an account of the development of synthetic media. Further chapters follow on special techniques, including the newer methods of perforated cellophane cultures and roller-tube techniques. A chapter is given to measurements of growth in cultures, and lastly simple histological techniques are described, with a final short chapter on photomicrography and microcinematography.