Book excerpt: Cephalosporins and Penicillins: Chemistry and Biology describes the studies made on cephalosporin in relation to the scientific and medicinal benefits that can be derived from cephalosporin C. This collection discusses how cephalosporin C is produced through modern isolation methods. One paper discusses its structure through chemical means, its degradation products, its derivative and other metabolic products such as penicillin N and cephalosporin P. Another paper explains the preparation method for 7-aminocephalosporanic acid and 6-aminopenicillanic acid through biological or chemical means. Another paper explains the alteration of the dihydrothiazine ring of the cephalosporins as the functionalities of these rings are chemically difficult to obtain. One paper also explains the rearrangements of cephalosporins and penicillins; cephalosporin can be synthesized from penicillin through an intermediacy of penicillin sulfoxide. Other papers discuss the pharmacology and toxicology of cephalosporins, as well as the practical tests and methods of assay that can be used in most cephalosporins, and in some cases, in penicillins. This book can prove useful for pharmacologists, microchemists, research workers, and technologists dealing with toxicology.