Lecture Notes on Respiratory Disease, by R. A. L. Brewis. cations, Oxford, 1975. Pp. 241, f3.75.
Blackwell
Scientific
Publi-
This is an excellent summary of respiratory disease. In his preface the author hopes it will be of value for both medical students and candidates for the M.R.C.P. examination. However, it is better suited to meet the needs of postgraduates than undergraduates. The text is easy to read and a feature is the large number of illustrative diagrams and drawings, which have been done by the author himself and are very good. However, there are no photographs of x-rays and the radiographic drawings are of limited value. The emphasis throughout is on the common respiratory conditions in clinical medicine, and the text is supplemented by a well chosen bibliography at the end. The sections on respiratory physiology and pulmonary function tests are especially well written in non-technical language. One criticism is that the diagram illustrating the segments of the lung on p. 3 shows no anterior segment in either upper lobe, and the middle lobe segments are labelled superior and inferior instead of lateral and medial. There is a printer’s error on p. 96 where the dose of thiacetazone is given as 15 mg daily instead of 150 mg. This book can be strongly written for the non-specialist.
recommended
as a first class review
Respiratory Diseases, by John Crofton and Andrew Scientific Publications, Oxford, 1975. Pp. 776, fl8.50.
Douglas,
of respiratory
2nd
edition.
diseases
Blackwell
It is 6 years since this excellent textbook was first published. The second edition is even better. There are new sections on immunology, pulmonary hypertension and the effects of high altitude; and many changes in the text. The section on tuberculosis occupies almost 100 pages. It is a well balanced account of all aspects of the disease. The basic facts on which control measures can be based are clearly stated and adequately documented. How these measures are put into practice must depend on the stage of economic and social development of the country. Thus different recommendations are required concerning BCG vaccination, case finding and treatment. These are well discussed; so the section on tuberculosis should be valuable to those working in any type of environment.