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Medical textbook review. third edition
BIOCHEMICAL EDUCATION
October 1979 vol 7 no 4
An Introduction to Microscopy by Means of Light, Electrons, X-rays, or Ultrasound
of a black blob - - those by Bhagavan, Campbell and Kilby, Harper, Lehninger, Metzler, Montgomery et al, and Stryer.
by T G R o c h o w a n d E G R o c h o w . p p 367. P l e n u m P r e s s : New Y o r k a n d L o n d o n . 1978. £ 1 8 . 5 8 As its name implies, this book sets out to review virtually all methods of microscopy in a single volume of moderate size. It is not surprising that it is only partially successful. The best parts are those in which the authors have had a good deal of practical experience. These include the chapters on Reflected light, Polarized light. Fibres and Crystals, ie mainly in the field of materials science, to which the authors have made many contributions. The treatment is very uneven; the discussion of Koehler illumination (p 27), for example, is very inadequate. Phase contrast and interference are described rather than discussed, while fluorescence is only mentioned in passing. Surprisingly, only brief reference is made to the use of polarizers with reflected light and special devices for achieving this. such as the Foster prism, are not mentioned. Unfortunately the book is marred by many slips and errors which should certainly be corrected in future editions. T h u s the wavelength of green light is variously given as 5 0 8 n m (p 31) or 440~m [sic] on p 183. Compensating eyepieces are basically used to correct residual chromatic errors of magnification, not field curvature (p 35). The description of antiglare devices (p 36) is inadequate and misleading and the old misconception about having to use an achromatic condenser with an apochromatic objective is repeated. The S6narmont compensator is wrongly described (p 102) and in constructive interference the amplitude is doubled but the intensity is quadrupled. Finally there is the remarkable statement that the Leitz interference microscope was developed by Mach and Zehnder! Such things are signs of hasty preparation and poor revision, which is a pity because the book does contain a good deal of useful information and the approach is unusual and interesting. The need to consider such things as resolution, contrast, illumination, aberrations, magnification, depth of field, as well as the nature, manipulation, behaviour and preparation of the specimen is very well stressed. Each chapter has a fairly extensive bibliography, though many references are frequently repeated; it is remarkable however, that although there are over 350 references, fewer than ten of these are to articles in the Journal of Microscopy (formerly Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society), perhaps the leading authority on the subject. R Barer Department of H u m a n Biology and Anatomy The University Sheffield 10, England
Medical Textbook Review. Third edition Reviews by V i c t o r D a n i e l s a n d Steven W h i t e . p p 121. 1979. C a n b e o b t a i n e d f r o m C a m b r i d g e M e d i c a l B o o k s , 26 T e n i s o n A v e n u e , C a m b r i d g e , E n g l a n d CB1 2 D Y . P a p e r b a c k £1 ( c h e q u e s p a y a b l e to ' M e d i c a l T e x t b o o k R e v i e w ' ) .
The 1977 edition of this useful booklet was reviewed in Biochemical Education, 1978, 6, 9 8 - 9 where a description of its purpose and nature will be found. In brief, the Review contains mini-reviews of about 1000 'good' textbooks which have been selected for their value to medical students and junior hospital doctors. The new edition has a similar format to the last but has been up-dated, expanded and new sections added on Dentistry, Tropical Medicine and General Practice. Books which the reviewers particularly liked are marked with a black 'blob'. The Biochemistry section in the new edition lists twenty-one textbooks, five more than in the previous edition. With the kind permission of Drs Daniels and White, we reproduced the original sixteen mini-reviews in Biochemical Education to illustrate the style of the Medical Textbook Review. These reviews have been retained in the new edition and so for completeness, we now reproduce below the five additional minireviews. Seven of the biochemistry texts have received the accolade
101
Modern Concept3 in Biochemistry. Second edition by R C B o h i n s k i . p p 614. A l l y n a n d B a c o n . 1976. £ 8 . 9 5 A well produced fairly middle of the road textbook of biochemistry. Should be helpful to those who find biochemistry provokes a headache. Very well illustrated and clearly written.
Essentials of Cell Biology. Second edition by R D D y s o n . p p 432. Allyn a n d B a c o n Inc. 1978. £ 6 . 9 5 An introductory but yet concise text of cellular structure and function. Superbly illustrated with many fine electron micrographs. A good starting point.
A Clinical Companion to Biochemical Studies by V S c h w a r z . p p 114. W H F r e e m a n . 1978. £ 3 . 3 0 A book for those who seek relevance of pre-clinical subjects with a large n u m b e r of case histories, showing the relationship between biochemistry and clinical medicine (albeit in some cases a very slim one). Covers a wide area of biochemistry and fills a useful gap.
Concepts in Biochemistry. Second edition by W K S t e p h e n s o n . p p 152. J o h n W i l e y . 1978. £ 5 . 2 0 A self-instructional text that is fairly elementary but does teach first principles. A confidence giver.
Introduction to Biochemistry. Second edition by J W Suttie. p p 434. H o l t S a u n d e r s . 1977. £ 7 . 5 0 A well organized book with a fairly light approach - - good for low flyers and as an alternative for the heavier tomes.
'European Journal of Science Education' The first issue of this new quarterly journal appeared this year, dated J a n u a r y - M a r c h 1979, and has as its stated aim 'to provide an effective m e a n s of communication between all those involved or interested in science education at all levels: teachers, administrators and researchers'. Each issue will contain general articles, reports on innovation and developments, research reports, and a news and information section, as well as reviews of books and teaching materials. The language of the journal is English but major articles have summaries in English, French and German. The first issue contains a statement of the aims and structure of the journal. Titles of articles, taken at random from this issue, will give an indication of what may be expected in future issues, eg 'Trends in research in chemical education' by A Kornhauser. 'Teaching thermodynamics to physics students using the Keller plan' by J Casanova et al, 'Concept formation in biology: the concept of growth' by G Schaefer, 'A research approach to science education at Goteborg' by L Lybeck. The journal will clearly be of major interest to educationists. Biochemistry is poorly represented in this first issue: (this is a statement not a criticism!). Subscription information may be obtained from the publisher, Taylor & Francis Ltd, 10-14 Macldin Street, London WC2B 5NF, and manuscripts may be submitted to Professor R Kampa. Department of Education, University of Keele, Staffordshire. UK ST5 5BG, or through any m e m b e r of the Board of Editors. E J Wood
October 1979 vol 7 no 4
An Introduction to Microscopy by Means of Light, Electrons, X-rays, or Ultrasound
of a black blob - - those by Bhagavan, Campbell and Kilby, Harper, Lehninger, Metzler, Montgomery et al, and Stryer.
by T G R o c h o w a n d E G R o c h o w . p p 367. P l e n u m P r e s s : New Y o r k a n d L o n d o n . 1978. £ 1 8 . 5 8 As its name implies, this book sets out to review virtually all methods of microscopy in a single volume of moderate size. It is not surprising that it is only partially successful. The best parts are those in which the authors have had a good deal of practical experience. These include the chapters on Reflected light, Polarized light. Fibres and Crystals, ie mainly in the field of materials science, to which the authors have made many contributions. The treatment is very uneven; the discussion of Koehler illumination (p 27), for example, is very inadequate. Phase contrast and interference are described rather than discussed, while fluorescence is only mentioned in passing. Surprisingly, only brief reference is made to the use of polarizers with reflected light and special devices for achieving this. such as the Foster prism, are not mentioned. Unfortunately the book is marred by many slips and errors which should certainly be corrected in future editions. T h u s the wavelength of green light is variously given as 5 0 8 n m (p 31) or 440~m [sic] on p 183. Compensating eyepieces are basically used to correct residual chromatic errors of magnification, not field curvature (p 35). The description of antiglare devices (p 36) is inadequate and misleading and the old misconception about having to use an achromatic condenser with an apochromatic objective is repeated. The S6narmont compensator is wrongly described (p 102) and in constructive interference the amplitude is doubled but the intensity is quadrupled. Finally there is the remarkable statement that the Leitz interference microscope was developed by Mach and Zehnder! Such things are signs of hasty preparation and poor revision, which is a pity because the book does contain a good deal of useful information and the approach is unusual and interesting. The need to consider such things as resolution, contrast, illumination, aberrations, magnification, depth of field, as well as the nature, manipulation, behaviour and preparation of the specimen is very well stressed. Each chapter has a fairly extensive bibliography, though many references are frequently repeated; it is remarkable however, that although there are over 350 references, fewer than ten of these are to articles in the Journal of Microscopy (formerly Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society), perhaps the leading authority on the subject. R Barer Department of H u m a n Biology and Anatomy The University Sheffield 10, England
Medical Textbook Review. Third edition Reviews by V i c t o r D a n i e l s a n d Steven W h i t e . p p 121. 1979. C a n b e o b t a i n e d f r o m C a m b r i d g e M e d i c a l B o o k s , 26 T e n i s o n A v e n u e , C a m b r i d g e , E n g l a n d CB1 2 D Y . P a p e r b a c k £1 ( c h e q u e s p a y a b l e to ' M e d i c a l T e x t b o o k R e v i e w ' ) .
The 1977 edition of this useful booklet was reviewed in Biochemical Education, 1978, 6, 9 8 - 9 where a description of its purpose and nature will be found. In brief, the Review contains mini-reviews of about 1000 'good' textbooks which have been selected for their value to medical students and junior hospital doctors. The new edition has a similar format to the last but has been up-dated, expanded and new sections added on Dentistry, Tropical Medicine and General Practice. Books which the reviewers particularly liked are marked with a black 'blob'. The Biochemistry section in the new edition lists twenty-one textbooks, five more than in the previous edition. With the kind permission of Drs Daniels and White, we reproduced the original sixteen mini-reviews in Biochemical Education to illustrate the style of the Medical Textbook Review. These reviews have been retained in the new edition and so for completeness, we now reproduce below the five additional minireviews. Seven of the biochemistry texts have received the accolade
101
Modern Concept3 in Biochemistry. Second edition by R C B o h i n s k i . p p 614. A l l y n a n d B a c o n . 1976. £ 8 . 9 5 A well produced fairly middle of the road textbook of biochemistry. Should be helpful to those who find biochemistry provokes a headache. Very well illustrated and clearly written.
Essentials of Cell Biology. Second edition by R D D y s o n . p p 432. Allyn a n d B a c o n Inc. 1978. £ 6 . 9 5 An introductory but yet concise text of cellular structure and function. Superbly illustrated with many fine electron micrographs. A good starting point.
A Clinical Companion to Biochemical Studies by V S c h w a r z . p p 114. W H F r e e m a n . 1978. £ 3 . 3 0 A book for those who seek relevance of pre-clinical subjects with a large n u m b e r of case histories, showing the relationship between biochemistry and clinical medicine (albeit in some cases a very slim one). Covers a wide area of biochemistry and fills a useful gap.
Concepts in Biochemistry. Second edition by W K S t e p h e n s o n . p p 152. J o h n W i l e y . 1978. £ 5 . 2 0 A self-instructional text that is fairly elementary but does teach first principles. A confidence giver.
Introduction to Biochemistry. Second edition by J W Suttie. p p 434. H o l t S a u n d e r s . 1977. £ 7 . 5 0 A well organized book with a fairly light approach - - good for low flyers and as an alternative for the heavier tomes.
'European Journal of Science Education' The first issue of this new quarterly journal appeared this year, dated J a n u a r y - M a r c h 1979, and has as its stated aim 'to provide an effective m e a n s of communication between all those involved or interested in science education at all levels: teachers, administrators and researchers'. Each issue will contain general articles, reports on innovation and developments, research reports, and a news and information section, as well as reviews of books and teaching materials. The language of the journal is English but major articles have summaries in English, French and German. The first issue contains a statement of the aims and structure of the journal. Titles of articles, taken at random from this issue, will give an indication of what may be expected in future issues, eg 'Trends in research in chemical education' by A Kornhauser. 'Teaching thermodynamics to physics students using the Keller plan' by J Casanova et al, 'Concept formation in biology: the concept of growth' by G Schaefer, 'A research approach to science education at Goteborg' by L Lybeck. The journal will clearly be of major interest to educationists. Biochemistry is poorly represented in this first issue: (this is a statement not a criticism!). Subscription information may be obtained from the publisher, Taylor & Francis Ltd, 10-14 Macldin Street, London WC2B 5NF, and manuscripts may be submitted to Professor R Kampa. Department of Education, University of Keele, Staffordshire. UK ST5 5BG, or through any m e m b e r of the Board of Editors. E J Wood