A laboratory curiosity at first, lithium is now a part of our society. Unknown to most people, it is being used in many practical applications, such as ceramics, greases, electronics, medicine, and hopefully in the future, will be used in a fusion that would solve world’s energy problems. While lithium has been the subject of many specific publications, no comprehensive book covering all aspects of lithium has been published so far. This book discusses the original discovery of lithium, its development from a mineral of curiosity to an expanding industry, its geological occurrences, and its various applications, culminating in its present use in the ever-expanding electromotive industry. The author’s wonderful and exciting experiences of his long lithium career shared in the book will satisfy the readers’ curiosity about this expanding industry.

The remarkable untold story of a miracle drug, the forgotten pioneer who discovered it, and the fight to bring lithium to the masses. The DNA double helix, penicillin, the X-ray, insulin—these are routinely cited as some of the most important medical discoveries of the twentieth century. And yet, the 1949 discovery of lithium as a cure for bipolar disorder is perhaps one of the most important—yet largely unsung—breakthroughs of the modern era. In Lithium, Walter Brown, a practicing psychiatrist and professor at Brown, reveals two unlikely success stories: that of John Cade, the physician whose discovery would come to save an untold number of lives and launch a pharmacological revolution, and that of a miraculous metal rescued from decades of stigmatization. From insulin comas and lobotomy to incarceration to exile, Brown chronicles the troubling history of the diagnosis and (often ineffective) treatment of bipolar disorder through the centuries, before the publication of a groundbreaking research paper in 1949. Cade’s “Lithium Salts in the Treatment of Psychotic Excitement” described, for the first time, lithium’s astonishing efficacy at both treating and preventing the recurrence of manic-depressive episodes, and would eventually transform the lives of patients, pharmaceutical researchers, and practicing physicians worldwide. And yet, as Brown shows, it would be decades before lithium would overcome widespread stigmatization as a dangerous substance, and the resistance from the pharmaceutical industry, which had little incentive to promote a naturally occurring drug that could not be patented. With a vivid portrait of the story’s unlikely hero, John Cade, Brown also describes a devoted naturalist who, unlike many modern medical researchers, did not benefit from prestigious research training or big funding sources (Cade’s “laboratory” was the unused pantry of an isolated mental hospital). As Brown shows, however, these humble conditions were the secret to his historic success: Cade was free to follow his own restless curiosity, rather than answer to an external funding source. As Lithium makes tragically clear, medical research—at least in America—has transformed in such a way that serendipitous discoveries like Cade’s are unlikely to occur ever again. Recently described by the New York Times as the “Cinderella” of psychiatric drugs, lithium has saved countless of lives and billions of dollars in healthcare costs. In this revelatory biography of a drug and the man who fought for its discovery, Brown crafts a captivating picture of modern medical history—revealing just how close we came to passing over this extraordinary cure.

Science of Synthesis: Houben-Weyl Methods of Molecular Transformations is the entirely new edition of the acclaimed reference series, Houben-Weyl, the standard synthetic chemistry resource since 1909. This new edition is published in English and will comprise 48 volumes published between the years 2000 and 2008. Science of Synthesis is a quality reference work developed by a highly esteemed editorial board to provide a comprehensive and critical selection of reliable organic and organometallic synthetic methods. This unique resource is designed to be the first point of reference when searching for a synthesis strategy. Contains the expertise of presently 400 leading chemists worldwide Critically evaluates the preparative applicability and significance of the synthetic methods Discusses relevant background information and provides detailed experimental procedures For full information on the Science of Synthesis series, visit the Science of Synthesis Homepage.

This book provides a clear and comprehensive guide to the clinical prescription of lithium that draws upon evidence-based knowledge of its mechanisms of action. The book is divided into two parts, on the science of lithium and the practice of lithium therapy. The former covers aspects such as the properties of the lithium ion, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, impact on neurotransmission, and gene expression modulation. The section on practice includes discussion of variability in response to lithium, use of lithium in the treatment of bipolar disorders, its value in suicide prevention, administration during pregnancy and in the pediatric age group, and side effects. Lithium is arguably the only true mood stabilizer, and its multifaceted effects across many clinical domains have given rise to a resurgence of interest in recent years, fuelled by both researchers and clinicians. Nevertheless, its use remains constrained by exaggerated concerns about potential side-effects. In reality, lithium is a simple molecule that is relatively straightforward to administer and monitor and has potentially profound benefits at a fraction of the cost of contemporary agents. This book dispels the many myths and concerns that surround its use and will be of interest for clinicians and researchers worldwide, and those that are recipients of lithium therapy.

This book traces the history of lithium therapy back to the 1800s. It contests the notion that the Australian man John Cade, who pioneered lithium therapy in Australia in the 1940s, was the first man to use the therapy. Tracing the history of lithium therapy, and evaluating Cade's research and potential breadth of reading and resources, the author comes to the conclusion that Cade was aware of previous writings on the topic but never acknowledged it. Cade has therefore become known as the 'pioneer' of this therapy, incorrectly.

Since 1967, the most prominent events of a General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union have been published in a separate volume. The Highlights of Astronomy (Volume 10) reports the major scientific presentations made at the XXII General Assembly, August 15-27, 1994, The Hague, the Netherlands. The present volume contains the texts of the three invited Discourses and of the papers presented during the 14 Joint Discussions, a summary of two Joint Discussions, the papers presented during a Special Session and the summary of a second one, and the papers presented during two Working Group Meetings.