Perspectives in Biology and Medicine

students at theJohns Hopkins Medical School, but it was not finished until after his retirement from the Chair ofMedicine at Stanford University. Thedesignand formatofthevolumeenhancethereader'spleasure, andthe supplementary reading lists and good Index make it a valuable reference work. C. Pttilltp Miller University ofChicago BiologicalAspectsofCancer. ByJulian Huxley. New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1958. Pp. 156. $3.75. This readable and instructive book emphasizes mainly the fact that cancer is not a biological entity but a term used for many distinct diseases. The author considers these diseases biological phenomena and characterizes the relationship ofcancer to a number of fields ofpresent-day biology, which include comparative tumorigenesis, genetics, virology , and development and metabolism (epigenetics). One special value ofthe book lies in the description ofthe neoplastic growths which occur in animals and plants as well as in humans. Many aspects ofthe similarities and differences ofthese tumors are discussed. The author states in the Preface that he became intrigued by the subject while preparing a series oflectures for the Sloan-Kettering Institute. He was invited in order to provide a "fresh and outside approach," even though he admitted to "lacking any detailed knowledge" in this field. The book reflects such an origin. It contains large numbers of facts and hypotheses which provide an interesting and probably quite complete survey ofcurrent ideas on cancer and the problems ofuncontrolled growth processes. However, this assemblage offacts and hypotheses is more that ofa reporter than ofa critic and innovator . It is difficult at best for any biologist to develop critical opinions regarding all the theories concerned with neoplastic growth, but it appears to this reviewer that the author 's lack ofpersonal participation in cancer research puts him at a disadvantage with respect to his sources. The same reservation must also hold for the way the facts were chosen, and one might therefore question whether this particular selection is a valid representation ofthe facts. Perhaps this book cannot tell too much to the cancer specialist, but it will certainly serve as a suitable introduction to the problems ofcarcinogenesis for many biologists who do not work directly on the cancer problem. H. S. Anker University ofChicago Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science. By Werner Heisenberg. New York: Harper & Bros., 1958. Pp. xv-f-206. $4.00. This Volume XIX of "World Perspectives," planned and edited by Ruth Nanda Anshen, begins with a seven-page description ofthe purposes of the series, written by Miss Anshen in flowery style. One cannot help wondering whether Mr. Heisenberg saw it before the book was issued. The book proper opens with a twenty-seven-page Intro246 Book Reviews Perspectives in Biology and Medicine · Winter 1939 duction by Professor F. S. C. Northrop of Yale to orient the reader and assess the significance for philosophy ofthe conceptual revolution brought about by the discoveries and theories ofmoderi) physics, particularly the significance ofHeisenberg's own contributions . Professor Northrop is, in general, very sympathetic with Heisenberg's point ofview but by no means slavishly accepts everything. I suspect that the reader familiar with Professor Northrop's previous philosophical writings will gain more from the introductory chapter than the reader without such a background. The body ofthe book comprises the Giffbrd Lectures given at the University of St. Andrews during the winter term 1955-56. Appropriate to the popular character ofthe audience of the GifFord Lectures, the exposition is throughout completely non-mathematical ; there is not a single equation in the entire book. The first four chapters lay the physical background, one on the history ofquantum theory going back to Planck's invention ofthe quantum ofaction, h, to resolve the dilemmas in radiation theory brought to light by Rayleigh andJeans. The major part ofthis chapter is occupied, inevitably in any history ofquantum theory, with an account of the evolution of the ideas of Niels Bohr, and leads up to a chapter on the "Copenhagen" interpretation ofquantum theory— that is, the interpretation ofBohrand his school. Heisenberg identifies himselfcompletely with the Copenhagen interpretation, as is natural in view ofthe magnitude ofhis own contributions to it. This interpretation he describes as internally consistent and as having "finally led to a complete and, as many physicists believe, satisfactory clarification ofthe situation." Because quantum theory demands...