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Das reizleitungssystem des säugetierherzens
366
recommended although, perhaps, as more of a reference heavy going when chapters are attempted “at one sitting”. Dept. of Paediatrics Cardiothoracic Institute Brompton Hospital London SW3 6HP. U.K.
Das Reizleitungssystem S. Tawara Gustav
Fischer,
Jena,
book than a textbook. It is a bit At f85. it is well worth the money.
Robert
H. Anderson
*
des Slugetierhenens 1906;
193 pp.;
Readers of the Journal can be forgiven if they wonder why we are publishing a review of a monograph which first appeared in 1906. But what a monograph! Arguments continue to rage concerning priorities for the anatomic description of the atrioventricular conduction system. The name of His is indelibly associated with the penetrating bundle, while the claims of Kent concerning multiple connexions across the atrioventricular insulating plane have long been debated. Even with the aid of hindsight. their accounts are difficult to follow. At the turn of the nineteenth century, the situation was even more confused. In his autobiography, the justly renowned Scats anatomist, Sir Arthur Keith, tells how, having studied the description of His, he tried unsuccessfully to locate the purported connecting bundle. Such was his frustration that he penned a letter to the Lancet, denying knowledge of the existence of the conduction system. Then he received a copy of the monograph of Tawara. As he described so vividly, guided by the descriptions of Tawara, Keith was able again and again to confirm the existence of the atrioventricular conduction system. As Keith stated “with the discovery of the system of Tawara, heart research entered a new epoch”. I have long coveted a copy of this monograph. I first studied it when an undergraduate at the University of Manchester. Deterred by 193 pages of, for me, indecipherable German, I failed to note the beatifully coloured lithographs folded in the end of the book which illustrate Tawara’s stupendous discoveries. Then, in 1973, together with Michiel Janse at the University of Amsterdam (Giel being more than fluent in four languages, including German), we studied the careful descriptions and marvelled at the accuracy of the illustrations. Since then, I have tried, but failed, to obtain my own copy. Imagine my surprise, then, when, a short time ago, a pristine facsimile of the book arrived in my mail. A committee of Japanese, headed by the cardiovascular surgeon, Professor Kozo Suma. has now organized a reprinting of the monograph. He kindly sent me a copy, knowing of my interest in the topic. He tells me he still has some copies left, and anyone wishing to obtain one can do so, at his or her own mailing expense, if they write to him at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tokyo Women’s Medical College, 2nd Hospital, 2-l-10 Nishi-Ogu, Arakawa-ku. Tokyo 116, Japan. Anybody taking this recommended step will not be disappointed. Dept. of Paediatrics Cardiothoracic Institute Brompton Hospital London SW3 6HP. U.K.
* European Editor, International
Robert
Journal of Cardiolop
H. Anderson
*
recommended although, perhaps, as more of a reference heavy going when chapters are attempted “at one sitting”. Dept. of Paediatrics Cardiothoracic Institute Brompton Hospital London SW3 6HP. U.K.
Das Reizleitungssystem S. Tawara Gustav
Fischer,
Jena,
book than a textbook. It is a bit At f85. it is well worth the money.
Robert
H. Anderson
*
des Slugetierhenens 1906;
193 pp.;
Readers of the Journal can be forgiven if they wonder why we are publishing a review of a monograph which first appeared in 1906. But what a monograph! Arguments continue to rage concerning priorities for the anatomic description of the atrioventricular conduction system. The name of His is indelibly associated with the penetrating bundle, while the claims of Kent concerning multiple connexions across the atrioventricular insulating plane have long been debated. Even with the aid of hindsight. their accounts are difficult to follow. At the turn of the nineteenth century, the situation was even more confused. In his autobiography, the justly renowned Scats anatomist, Sir Arthur Keith, tells how, having studied the description of His, he tried unsuccessfully to locate the purported connecting bundle. Such was his frustration that he penned a letter to the Lancet, denying knowledge of the existence of the conduction system. Then he received a copy of the monograph of Tawara. As he described so vividly, guided by the descriptions of Tawara, Keith was able again and again to confirm the existence of the atrioventricular conduction system. As Keith stated “with the discovery of the system of Tawara, heart research entered a new epoch”. I have long coveted a copy of this monograph. I first studied it when an undergraduate at the University of Manchester. Deterred by 193 pages of, for me, indecipherable German, I failed to note the beatifully coloured lithographs folded in the end of the book which illustrate Tawara’s stupendous discoveries. Then, in 1973, together with Michiel Janse at the University of Amsterdam (Giel being more than fluent in four languages, including German), we studied the careful descriptions and marvelled at the accuracy of the illustrations. Since then, I have tried, but failed, to obtain my own copy. Imagine my surprise, then, when, a short time ago, a pristine facsimile of the book arrived in my mail. A committee of Japanese, headed by the cardiovascular surgeon, Professor Kozo Suma. has now organized a reprinting of the monograph. He kindly sent me a copy, knowing of my interest in the topic. He tells me he still has some copies left, and anyone wishing to obtain one can do so, at his or her own mailing expense, if they write to him at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Tokyo Women’s Medical College, 2nd Hospital, 2-l-10 Nishi-Ogu, Arakawa-ku. Tokyo 116, Japan. Anybody taking this recommended step will not be disappointed. Dept. of Paediatrics Cardiothoracic Institute Brompton Hospital London SW3 6HP. U.K.
* European Editor, International
Robert
Journal of Cardiolop
H. Anderson
*