THE BIOCHEMISTRY OF THE AMINO ACIDS.

This excellent monograph deals thoroughly with the whole subject of protein metabolism and includes considerable discussion of metabolism of other foodstuffs. Amino acids, the building stones of the protein molecule, are considered individually and from the standpoints of chemical composition, physical and chemical properties and physiologic action. Qualitative methods for the detection of the individual amino acids and quantitative methods for their determination are given in detail. The metabolism of each of the amino acids under normal and pathologic conditions is considered. This leads to a discussion of such metabolic disturbances as cystinuria, alkaptonuria and parathyroid tetany. The rôle of the amino acids in the production of ammonia for maintenance of body neutrality and for the synthesis of epinephrine, thyroxin, creatine, creatinine and uric acid is fully considered.

The discussion of the composition of protein and of protein digestion, absorption and intermediary metabolism is thorough. Tables giving the digestibility and