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Prehistoric tuberculosis in the americas
0041-3879/82/0073--0234 $02.00
Fu#,~tc,'e 63 (1982} 234-235 i' Longr~an Group Ltd.
BOOK
REVIEWS
Tuberculosis in Children by F~J, W. Miller. Churchill Livingstone. Pp. 294. s This book, which is devoted entirely to tuberculosis in children, fills a gap in the standard ~extbook of paediatrics. The author sought advice from paediatricians experienced in this field in various parts of the world. It is written with clarity, is easy to read, and the illustrations, clinical photographs and X-rays are well chosen. The textbook is in two parts, Part I covers basic facts which include epidemiology, tuberculin testing, BCG vaccination and control of tuberculosis. Part II of the book covers the clinical manifestations and there are short chapters of a few pages each err tuberculosis of different strstems. A whole chapter has been devoted to congenital tuberculosis and infection early in infancy and another one to infection in immigrant children in the U.K, Short sections on tuberculous infection in animals and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection are very welcome, There are 5 short appendices which contain useful information about practical procedures like examination of gastric contents for AFB, laryngeal swabs, staining of acid-fast bacilli and examination of the CSF, There are 15 pages of useful references at tile end of the book. There is little to criticize, but there could have been more clinical photographs and X-ray illustrations. Most paediatricians would prefer to use diazepam intravenously in a convulsing child as it is not as effective when given intramuscularly. One wonders how many people reading this book would find the 'Hydrabad mix' useful ; it would be of some interest to know the protein and calorific values of nuts and legumes used in various parts of the world in more detail. I would strongly recommend this book to all paediatricians, whether or not they practise in the tropics, H. R. Patel Prehistoric Tuberculosis in the Americas Ed. Jane E. Buikstra. Scientific Paper No, 5. Pp, 182. Northwestern University Archeologieal Programme. 1981. $14.50. This volume consists of a collection of papers presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists in 1978, a meeting held in conjunction with the Paleopathology Association. The contributors ere mainly pathologists and anthropologists but include a radiologist and a microbiologist. All hold university appointments in either North or South America. The objective which brought together this collection of scientific talent was quite simply to find an answer to the question, 'Was there tuberculosis in the Americas before 1492 ?' The introduction of the disease into the New World has generally been attributed to Columbus and his immediate successors and Hrdlicka, one of the earlier researchers on this subject, is quoted as having concluded that tuberculosis, if it did exist at all, was very rare in pre-Columbian America, The material forming the basis of the current study consists of skeletal remains unearthed from Indian burial grounds in the eastern United States and in Ontario together with mummified bodies from sites in Peru and Chile. These latter provided particularly fruitful finds, Jn several mummies which were x-rayed before dissection a healed and calcified primary
235
~3ook reviews
complex was demonstrated while in two specimens, both carbon-dated at about A.D. 290, dissection showed extensive cavitated pulmonary disease in which, by careful staimng techniques, acid fast bacilli were found in the cavity walls, This evidence was accepted as confirming the existence ef tuberculosis in South America before 1492, but in North America the absence cf mummified material meant that deductions had to be drawn from the bony residua found in Indian Ossuaries. Skeletons were plentiful, ~s were pathological changes and examples of destructive lesions of most bones were unearth.~:J, all of which could have been consistent with the changes of tuberculosis, Had these findings occurred in Europe there would have been little argument about the aetiology but in the United States there are fungus diseases to be considered, particularly blastomycosis, which can produce bony lesions practically indistinguishable from those due to M, tuberczzlosis, Carefully preserving scientific obiectivity, the ma,~ority of the contributors admit their inability to make a firm diagnosis but nonetheless the reader is [eft with the impression that, had they been pushed really hard, their decision would have been in favour of tuberculosis. An interesting volume which sheds yet anott~er g~eem of ~ight on the fascinating History of the d}sease. R. Y. Keats
Fu#,~tc,'e 63 (1982} 234-235 i' Longr~an Group Ltd.
BOOK
REVIEWS
Tuberculosis in Children by F~J, W. Miller. Churchill Livingstone. Pp. 294. s This book, which is devoted entirely to tuberculosis in children, fills a gap in the standard ~extbook of paediatrics. The author sought advice from paediatricians experienced in this field in various parts of the world. It is written with clarity, is easy to read, and the illustrations, clinical photographs and X-rays are well chosen. The textbook is in two parts, Part I covers basic facts which include epidemiology, tuberculin testing, BCG vaccination and control of tuberculosis. Part II of the book covers the clinical manifestations and there are short chapters of a few pages each err tuberculosis of different strstems. A whole chapter has been devoted to congenital tuberculosis and infection early in infancy and another one to infection in immigrant children in the U.K, Short sections on tuberculous infection in animals and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection are very welcome, There are 5 short appendices which contain useful information about practical procedures like examination of gastric contents for AFB, laryngeal swabs, staining of acid-fast bacilli and examination of the CSF, There are 15 pages of useful references at tile end of the book. There is little to criticize, but there could have been more clinical photographs and X-ray illustrations. Most paediatricians would prefer to use diazepam intravenously in a convulsing child as it is not as effective when given intramuscularly. One wonders how many people reading this book would find the 'Hydrabad mix' useful ; it would be of some interest to know the protein and calorific values of nuts and legumes used in various parts of the world in more detail. I would strongly recommend this book to all paediatricians, whether or not they practise in the tropics, H. R. Patel Prehistoric Tuberculosis in the Americas Ed. Jane E. Buikstra. Scientific Paper No, 5. Pp, 182. Northwestern University Archeologieal Programme. 1981. $14.50. This volume consists of a collection of papers presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists in 1978, a meeting held in conjunction with the Paleopathology Association. The contributors ere mainly pathologists and anthropologists but include a radiologist and a microbiologist. All hold university appointments in either North or South America. The objective which brought together this collection of scientific talent was quite simply to find an answer to the question, 'Was there tuberculosis in the Americas before 1492 ?' The introduction of the disease into the New World has generally been attributed to Columbus and his immediate successors and Hrdlicka, one of the earlier researchers on this subject, is quoted as having concluded that tuberculosis, if it did exist at all, was very rare in pre-Columbian America, The material forming the basis of the current study consists of skeletal remains unearthed from Indian burial grounds in the eastern United States and in Ontario together with mummified bodies from sites in Peru and Chile. These latter provided particularly fruitful finds, Jn several mummies which were x-rayed before dissection a healed and calcified primary
235
~3ook reviews
complex was demonstrated while in two specimens, both carbon-dated at about A.D. 290, dissection showed extensive cavitated pulmonary disease in which, by careful staimng techniques, acid fast bacilli were found in the cavity walls, This evidence was accepted as confirming the existence ef tuberculosis in South America before 1492, but in North America the absence cf mummified material meant that deductions had to be drawn from the bony residua found in Indian Ossuaries. Skeletons were plentiful, ~s were pathological changes and examples of destructive lesions of most bones were unearth.~:J, all of which could have been consistent with the changes of tuberculosis, Had these findings occurred in Europe there would have been little argument about the aetiology but in the United States there are fungus diseases to be considered, particularly blastomycosis, which can produce bony lesions practically indistinguishable from those due to M, tuberczzlosis, Carefully preserving scientific obiectivity, the ma,~ority of the contributors admit their inability to make a firm diagnosis but nonetheless the reader is [eft with the impression that, had they been pushed really hard, their decision would have been in favour of tuberculosis. An interesting volume which sheds yet anott~er g~eem of ~ight on the fascinating History of the d}sease. R. Y. Keats