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The Development of the Infant and Young Child: Normal and Abnormal
PubL llhh. Lcmd.(}~70)3J, 305-3t2
Book Reviews Geriatrics and the General Practitioner Team. By M. K. THomr,so,~. London, 1969: Bailli~re, Tindall and Cassell. pp. 127: 20s. T}~s r~ooKis thll of sound common sense about doctoring for older lxt3ple. It should be in the library of every public health department for the use of ~h~. ~edic~! and nursing staff er~gaged in the medical at~d social work for ~Ider people. It could w~tt~ profit be reacl by z]| workers collcerned with the elderly. Dr. Thona)-~%onh ~ made a 9rofound study of this fietd; he wishes students~and practitioners were taught ~a~re abgu~t h. It is a pleasure to read a book written in a style which avoi~fs, the ~:lilte6 language of the scier~tifc paper. One can sense the deep sympathy and underslar~dhtg the author has tc~vcardsolder people and it is a joy to see how often he urges preventions. He deals ,,,Aria some conditions~confusion, depression, diabetes, hypothermia, strokes--in a descriptive mam~er and with a wealth of understap.ding, especially of the influences of the home at~d the people in it on the progress or otherwise of the el6erly patient. He urges doctors to think about attachment schemes; he deals with the training and functions of the medical, nursing, health visiting and ancillary workers in the health departments ot" the local- authorities, He gives a list of some sixty organisations and charities who can be helpful. I recomraend this book wholeheartedly'. MaeLachlan's Hw?dbook of Diagnosis and Treatment of Venereal .Diseases, 5th ed. By A. S. Ga~MBLe. Edinbttrgll, 1969: E. & S. Liv,ingstone. pp. 213: 50s. Rt~CEUTL~', "Venereal Diseases" by King & NicoI (Second Edition) was reviewed in these columns. Now we have the Fifth Edition of MacLachlan's Handbook. Whereas King & Nico] was directed at the medical profession MacLachlan*s Handbook is addressed Zo doctors, students and nurses, and in a sense stands midway between a full-blown textbook and the small pocket editions of the "Aids" series. The new edition has many virtues and a great deal is covered in the 213 pagea of this easily handled book. The author has expanded the work and at the same time has not increase6 ~he s}ze of the volume, in addition to substantial sections on syphilis, gonorrhoea a n d venereal d~scharges, there is also an interesting section on ~onvenereal d}sorders, psychiatric aspects of venereal disease and also epidemio]ogy. The }ast section contains brief accounts of clinical and laboratory procedures atld antibiotics in venereal disease are discussed in some detail in this section. Each part of the book has a sdected bibliography. Tb,e book is profusely i!lnstrated. The first three parts o f the book contain :~61 ilh.tstrations }n 190 pages. Although the illustrations aresmall they are of good definh)on and some are coioured. MacLachlan's Handbook maintains its standard and should prove a usefu~ introduction to the subject of venereal diseases to all who are interested in the subject. The Development of the hbfant and Young ChiM: Normal and .4bnormal, 4th ed. By R. S. ILLtHGWOI~T}~.Edinburgh, I970: E. & S. Livingstone. 42S. MAmc wtLLwelcome the appearance of the fourth edition of PrOfessor Illingworth's deservedly popular book. Each successive edition differs from previous ones, and this
306
BOOK REVIEWS
particular one contains much new information and many new photographs as well as some rearrangement of the text. These modifications have been achieved by the omission of some of the material in previot:s editions. Consequently the wise reader will not simply replace previous editions already on his bookshelves with this one,but will retain them all, and he will be rewarded by finding items of interest in each of them. This edition is characteristically lllingworth; full of facts presented briskly and slanted along the lines of Gesell developmental philosophy. Some may wish for more on practical techniques, others may look for a wider discussion and integration with other developmental studies such as those of Piaget, and the ethologists, but all readers will gain much from the extensive review of the literature and the opportunity to appreciate lllingworth's methods. This book will be most appreciated by medical child specialists, but will be read with interest by psychologists, teachers and others. As the years pass l am sure we will increasingly appreciate the valuable contribution of lllingworth's writings. It is curious and anomalous that when all parents are seeking better quality of survival for their children, so few paediatricJans have felt able to concentrate upon the study of child development because of the many demands of all the other advances in scientific medicine. Child specialists working in clinics and schools have looked to paediatricians for a lead in this work, and they have found great support in lllingworth. As one looks to the future, however, it is clear that many developmental paediatricians w~[l be needed, and one hopes that the inspiration of these writings reaches some receptive souls amongst those practising community paediatrics.
The Dyslexic Child, 2rid ed. of Developmental Dyslexia. By MACOONALOC~u'rcHLEV. London, 1970: Heinemann. pp. !55: 32s. TH~ ADILff'~ to read is especially important as life becomes increasingly coml~lex and academically competitive. Unfortunately many children do not easily acquire this skill and their parents want to know why they have this difficulty and t~eir teachers how to heip them. Reading retardation has many causes, some of which are easily recognized and dealt with, but there remains a group of children who appear to have a specific disorder and they are often labelled dyslexic. In recent years there have been fierce arguments about the nature of dyslexia and a vast collection of literature now exists on this subject. Dr. Macdonald Critchley describes the medical neurological view in this slim volume. The reader is given an extensive survey of the published reports and a lucid presentation of t h e neurological approach. The book is well produced by Heinemann's. Many will know the original edition published in 1964. The present volume is considerably expanded and up to date. Doctors, especially children's specialists, consulted about children with learning difficulties need to be familiar with this book. Only in this way will they be able to discuss with psychologists; teachers and parents the significance of neurological features such as possible brain damage and Mumsiness. They may find, however, that this book does not help them to answer all the queries they will receive, a n d they may wonder how it can be ~that the case for a "neurological dyslexia" should be argued so forcefully whilst other aspects receive little mention~not even a single reference to Frostigl Wilson Jameson "Architect of National Health". By NEvIr_a~E Goot)~,~.~q. Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, 1970: George Allen and Unwin. pp. 210: 42s. NEVILLE GOODMANis to be congratulated on producing this interesting and informative
Book Reviews Geriatrics and the General Practitioner Team. By M. K. THomr,so,~. London, 1969: Bailli~re, Tindall and Cassell. pp. 127: 20s. T}~s r~ooKis thll of sound common sense about doctoring for older lxt3ple. It should be in the library of every public health department for the use of ~h~. ~edic~! and nursing staff er~gaged in the medical at~d social work for ~Ider people. It could w~tt~ profit be reacl by z]| workers collcerned with the elderly. Dr. Thona)-~%onh ~ made a 9rofound study of this fietd; he wishes students~and practitioners were taught ~a~re abgu~t h. It is a pleasure to read a book written in a style which avoi~fs, the ~:lilte6 language of the scier~tifc paper. One can sense the deep sympathy and underslar~dhtg the author has tc~vcardsolder people and it is a joy to see how often he urges preventions. He deals ,,,Aria some conditions~confusion, depression, diabetes, hypothermia, strokes--in a descriptive mam~er and with a wealth of understap.ding, especially of the influences of the home at~d the people in it on the progress or otherwise of the el6erly patient. He urges doctors to think about attachment schemes; he deals with the training and functions of the medical, nursing, health visiting and ancillary workers in the health departments ot" the local- authorities, He gives a list of some sixty organisations and charities who can be helpful. I recomraend this book wholeheartedly'. MaeLachlan's Hw?dbook of Diagnosis and Treatment of Venereal .Diseases, 5th ed. By A. S. Ga~MBLe. Edinbttrgll, 1969: E. & S. Liv,ingstone. pp. 213: 50s. Rt~CEUTL~', "Venereal Diseases" by King & NicoI (Second Edition) was reviewed in these columns. Now we have the Fifth Edition of MacLachlan's Handbook. Whereas King & Nico] was directed at the medical profession MacLachlan*s Handbook is addressed Zo doctors, students and nurses, and in a sense stands midway between a full-blown textbook and the small pocket editions of the "Aids" series. The new edition has many virtues and a great deal is covered in the 213 pagea of this easily handled book. The author has expanded the work and at the same time has not increase6 ~he s}ze of the volume, in addition to substantial sections on syphilis, gonorrhoea a n d venereal d~scharges, there is also an interesting section on ~onvenereal d}sorders, psychiatric aspects of venereal disease and also epidemio]ogy. The }ast section contains brief accounts of clinical and laboratory procedures atld antibiotics in venereal disease are discussed in some detail in this section. Each part of the book has a sdected bibliography. Tb,e book is profusely i!lnstrated. The first three parts o f the book contain :~61 ilh.tstrations }n 190 pages. Although the illustrations aresmall they are of good definh)on and some are coioured. MacLachlan's Handbook maintains its standard and should prove a usefu~ introduction to the subject of venereal diseases to all who are interested in the subject. The Development of the hbfant and Young ChiM: Normal and .4bnormal, 4th ed. By R. S. ILLtHGWOI~T}~.Edinburgh, I970: E. & S. Livingstone. 42S. MAmc wtLLwelcome the appearance of the fourth edition of PrOfessor Illingworth's deservedly popular book. Each successive edition differs from previous ones, and this
306
BOOK REVIEWS
particular one contains much new information and many new photographs as well as some rearrangement of the text. These modifications have been achieved by the omission of some of the material in previot:s editions. Consequently the wise reader will not simply replace previous editions already on his bookshelves with this one,but will retain them all, and he will be rewarded by finding items of interest in each of them. This edition is characteristically lllingworth; full of facts presented briskly and slanted along the lines of Gesell developmental philosophy. Some may wish for more on practical techniques, others may look for a wider discussion and integration with other developmental studies such as those of Piaget, and the ethologists, but all readers will gain much from the extensive review of the literature and the opportunity to appreciate lllingworth's methods. This book will be most appreciated by medical child specialists, but will be read with interest by psychologists, teachers and others. As the years pass l am sure we will increasingly appreciate the valuable contribution of lllingworth's writings. It is curious and anomalous that when all parents are seeking better quality of survival for their children, so few paediatricJans have felt able to concentrate upon the study of child development because of the many demands of all the other advances in scientific medicine. Child specialists working in clinics and schools have looked to paediatricians for a lead in this work, and they have found great support in lllingworth. As one looks to the future, however, it is clear that many developmental paediatricians w~[l be needed, and one hopes that the inspiration of these writings reaches some receptive souls amongst those practising community paediatrics.
The Dyslexic Child, 2rid ed. of Developmental Dyslexia. By MACOONALOC~u'rcHLEV. London, 1970: Heinemann. pp. !55: 32s. TH~ ADILff'~ to read is especially important as life becomes increasingly coml~lex and academically competitive. Unfortunately many children do not easily acquire this skill and their parents want to know why they have this difficulty and t~eir teachers how to heip them. Reading retardation has many causes, some of which are easily recognized and dealt with, but there remains a group of children who appear to have a specific disorder and they are often labelled dyslexic. In recent years there have been fierce arguments about the nature of dyslexia and a vast collection of literature now exists on this subject. Dr. Macdonald Critchley describes the medical neurological view in this slim volume. The reader is given an extensive survey of the published reports and a lucid presentation of t h e neurological approach. The book is well produced by Heinemann's. Many will know the original edition published in 1964. The present volume is considerably expanded and up to date. Doctors, especially children's specialists, consulted about children with learning difficulties need to be familiar with this book. Only in this way will they be able to discuss with psychologists; teachers and parents the significance of neurological features such as possible brain damage and Mumsiness. They may find, however, that this book does not help them to answer all the queries they will receive, a n d they may wonder how it can be ~that the case for a "neurological dyslexia" should be argued so forcefully whilst other aspects receive little mention~not even a single reference to Frostigl Wilson Jameson "Architect of National Health". By NEvIr_a~E Goot)~,~.~q. Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, 1970: George Allen and Unwin. pp. 210: 42s. NEVILLE GOODMANis to be congratulated on producing this interesting and informative