Bücher der Reihe Biomembranes

Holtz- man, Gronowicz, Mercurio, and Masur are also on a consciousness- raising mission in summarizing for us a number of integrated functions of membranes using the toad bladder as an experimental system.

Not many years ago, problems of membranes and transport attracted the attention of but a few dozen enthusiasts, mainly physiolo gists who recognize~ the significance of membranes for the stabilization of the general steady state of organisms.

Included are chapters on intermolecular hydrogen bonding between membrane lipids, thermal analysis of membranes, appli cation of fluorescence and NMR spectrometry to the study of membrane fluidity, and the effect of drugs and other compounds on membrane stability and fluidity.

The most valuable service Dr. Gel'man and her colleagues have performed for the many investigators of bacterial membrane systems in producing their first excellent monograph on "The Respiratory Apparatus of Bacteria" in 1966 has been continued and expanded in the preparation of this volume.

As I walked to the Institute that morning, too many cars were passing by, too many people were hurrying onto the Institute's grounds. When I turned the corner, a few people already had gathered on the lawn in front of the Jacob Ziskind building. People were standing on the lawn, gingerly trying to avoid stepping on a flower.

It might be asked if there is a need for yet another large review on Intestinal Absorption, and the answer is that this is still a rapidly expanding field of interest both from the medical and scientific points of view.