The general outline of this book is similar to the previous editions. The author first describes brain metabolism in situ, followed by a chapter on the chemical composition of the brain. Next is a chapter on the biochemistry of brain slices. The remainder and principal part of the book discusses the biochemistry of cell-free systems. This pattern of organization gradually leads the reader into the intricacies of neurochemical metabolism. The chapters on cell-free systems cover carbohydrates, amino acids and proteins, lipids, vitamins, membranes, development, chemical transmission, the effect of drugs on the nervous system, and neuroendocrines.
The book covers the entire field of neurochemistry and represents a prodigious task for a single author. However, Dr. McIlwain, a foremost authority in the field, succeeds admirably. Because of the breadth of material presented in this relatively small book, most topics are not considered in great depth. But here the author helps the