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A Bibliography of Visual Literature
BOOK NOTICES
BOOK NOTICES OPHTHALMIA
NEONATORUM.
T H E PROBLEM AFTER THIRTY YEARS OF STATUTORY NOTIFICATION
AND SIXTY
Monograph No. 1 of the Institute of Ophthalmology. By Arnold Sorsby. Paper covers, 65 pages. 10 figures, 15 tables, index. London, published by Hamish Hamilton Ltd., 1945. Price not given. Sir Allen Daley, Medical Officer of Health, County of London, in his foreword to this excellent monograph, compliments the author for "bringing up to date all the available knowledge, statistical and clinical," concerning the subject. His statement that "the monograph will be invaluable to ophthalmic surgeons, obstetricians, midwives and public health workers" is indeed not open to question. The author has succeeded in condensing within a relatively few pages a subject that is difficult to handle from a statistical viewpoint. Likewise, it is not easy to discuss succinctly the modern aspects of the prevention, prophylaxis, and treatment of ophthalmia neonatorum within a limited space. Those who are familiar with Sorsby's writings recognize his ability to compress much important information without losing continuity, and this monograph is no exception. YEARS OF CREDE PROPHYLAXIS.
One will find within its pages evidence that while the complications of ophthalmia neonatorum are being rapidly eradicated, the incidence of the disease itself, at least in Great Britain, is no less frequent today than it was possibly 40 years ago. The common organisms, as well as the gonococcus, causing the disease rapidly respond to modern chemo- and, more recently, penicillin therapy, often within a matter of a few hours in the latter event. The widespread beliefs that ophthalmia neonatorum is practically synonymous
749
with gonococcal ophthalmia and that reliance therefore can be placed on the disinfection of the newborn baby's conjunctival sac are, according to Sorsby, responsible for the fact that ophthalmia neonatorum is not less frequent now than before the newer agents of treatment were discovered. These fallacies should be uprooted. The disease in the mother during pregnancy has been neglected by obstetricians, and Crede's method of prophylaxis, valuable as it is, has been forced in the past, at any rate, to carry more of a burden than it is capable of doing. There remains much to be learned and much to do before this blinding disease is completely eradicated. If the monograph succeeds in causing us to stop and look and evaluate, it will have done its good work; and medical smugness over the value of the Crede method is due for a fall. It is hoped that monograph No. 1 is but the beginning of a long line of similarly excellent and noteworthy monographs that we have a right to expect from the newly founded British Institute of Ophthalmology. All ophthalmologists will wish it success and hasten to extend their sincere congratulations to the Institute for its bright future. Derrick Vail.
A
BIBLIOGRAPHY O F VISUAL LITERATURE, 1939-1944. Compiled by John F . Fulton, Phebe M. Hoff, and Henrietta T. Perkins. Clothbound, 117 pages. Springfield, Illinois, Charles C Thomas, 1945. Price $3.00. This work is a wartime project produced under the aegis of the Committee on Aviation Medicine, Division of Medical Sciences, National Research Council, acting for the Committee on Medical Re-
750
BOOK NOTICES
search of the OSRD. It is also listed as Publication No. 11, Historical Library of the Yale Medical Library, the work having been done under a contract between OSRD and Yale University. Articles and books are listed to the number of 3,537 in the standard form by author, with title of paper (or book), name of journal (abbrev.), year, volume number, and page numbers. The classification comprises nine principal group divisions as follows: Anatomy and Ophthalmology, Physiology and Psychology, Visual Examination and Testing (including Methods and Instruments), Correction of Ocular Defects in Military Personnel, Training for Military Specialties (including Optimal Conditions and Procedures, Job Analyses), Ocular Trauma (in Military Services), Goggles and Ocular Protection, Illumination, Visibility. In each of these divisions there are from two to twenty subdivisions, and under many of these are secondary and other subdivisions. The above classification is admittedly arbitrary, but is primarily based on presumed military usefulness. It was devised with the collaboration of a number of eminent high-ranking American and British staff officers, among whom the aviation branches are well represented, and whose names and connections are stated in the Preface. This bibliography was compiled essentially for military purposes, and accordingly makes no claim to completeness. The effort has been concentrated on the biologic phases, with special emphasis on the literature of psychology, and to the exclusion of aerial photography, optical engineering, and optometry, and, to a large extent, of general ophthalmology and ocular pathology. Notwithstanding all this, there is much material listed in several of the divisions which will be of decided interest and value to the civilian ophthalmologist. The authors are to be
commended for the excellence of their work. William F. Moncreiff. JOURNAL O F T H E HISTORY O F MEDICINE A N D ALLIED SCIENCES. January, 1946, Volume Number 1. George Rosen, editor. Published quarterly by Henry Schuman, New York. Subscription rates, $7.50 a year in the United States, Canada, and Latin America; $8.50 in other countries. If the first number of the Journal of the History of Medicine is any indication, the future success of this venture is assured. It is beautifully printed on paper of excellent quality, illustrated profusely with portraits and facsimiles that capture the spirit of former times, and is a credit to the printer's art. The body of the Journal thus has great charm. Its contents, however, are what count, and the editor has succeeded in getting together for this, his first issue, 10 outstanding articles of interest to all physicians regardless of their specialties. Subsequent issues are promised that will continue the high quality and variety. In his introduction the editor points out that he does not want to cultivate medical history as a mere search for antiquities, as a kind of hunt for curios, but rather as a vital, integral part of medicine. He states that he "will not stress the technical aspects of medical history, but will endeavor, while maintaining the highest literary and scholarly standards, to present studies that can be of interest to as large a section of the medical profession as possible." Those who are interested in the culture of Medicine, and there is every reason to believe that these are not few in number, both here and abroad, will welcome this new Journal and wish it success. Derrick Vail.
BOOK NOTICES OPHTHALMIA
NEONATORUM.
T H E PROBLEM AFTER THIRTY YEARS OF STATUTORY NOTIFICATION
AND SIXTY
Monograph No. 1 of the Institute of Ophthalmology. By Arnold Sorsby. Paper covers, 65 pages. 10 figures, 15 tables, index. London, published by Hamish Hamilton Ltd., 1945. Price not given. Sir Allen Daley, Medical Officer of Health, County of London, in his foreword to this excellent monograph, compliments the author for "bringing up to date all the available knowledge, statistical and clinical," concerning the subject. His statement that "the monograph will be invaluable to ophthalmic surgeons, obstetricians, midwives and public health workers" is indeed not open to question. The author has succeeded in condensing within a relatively few pages a subject that is difficult to handle from a statistical viewpoint. Likewise, it is not easy to discuss succinctly the modern aspects of the prevention, prophylaxis, and treatment of ophthalmia neonatorum within a limited space. Those who are familiar with Sorsby's writings recognize his ability to compress much important information without losing continuity, and this monograph is no exception. YEARS OF CREDE PROPHYLAXIS.
One will find within its pages evidence that while the complications of ophthalmia neonatorum are being rapidly eradicated, the incidence of the disease itself, at least in Great Britain, is no less frequent today than it was possibly 40 years ago. The common organisms, as well as the gonococcus, causing the disease rapidly respond to modern chemo- and, more recently, penicillin therapy, often within a matter of a few hours in the latter event. The widespread beliefs that ophthalmia neonatorum is practically synonymous
749
with gonococcal ophthalmia and that reliance therefore can be placed on the disinfection of the newborn baby's conjunctival sac are, according to Sorsby, responsible for the fact that ophthalmia neonatorum is not less frequent now than before the newer agents of treatment were discovered. These fallacies should be uprooted. The disease in the mother during pregnancy has been neglected by obstetricians, and Crede's method of prophylaxis, valuable as it is, has been forced in the past, at any rate, to carry more of a burden than it is capable of doing. There remains much to be learned and much to do before this blinding disease is completely eradicated. If the monograph succeeds in causing us to stop and look and evaluate, it will have done its good work; and medical smugness over the value of the Crede method is due for a fall. It is hoped that monograph No. 1 is but the beginning of a long line of similarly excellent and noteworthy monographs that we have a right to expect from the newly founded British Institute of Ophthalmology. All ophthalmologists will wish it success and hasten to extend their sincere congratulations to the Institute for its bright future. Derrick Vail.
A
BIBLIOGRAPHY O F VISUAL LITERATURE, 1939-1944. Compiled by John F . Fulton, Phebe M. Hoff, and Henrietta T. Perkins. Clothbound, 117 pages. Springfield, Illinois, Charles C Thomas, 1945. Price $3.00. This work is a wartime project produced under the aegis of the Committee on Aviation Medicine, Division of Medical Sciences, National Research Council, acting for the Committee on Medical Re-
750
BOOK NOTICES
search of the OSRD. It is also listed as Publication No. 11, Historical Library of the Yale Medical Library, the work having been done under a contract between OSRD and Yale University. Articles and books are listed to the number of 3,537 in the standard form by author, with title of paper (or book), name of journal (abbrev.), year, volume number, and page numbers. The classification comprises nine principal group divisions as follows: Anatomy and Ophthalmology, Physiology and Psychology, Visual Examination and Testing (including Methods and Instruments), Correction of Ocular Defects in Military Personnel, Training for Military Specialties (including Optimal Conditions and Procedures, Job Analyses), Ocular Trauma (in Military Services), Goggles and Ocular Protection, Illumination, Visibility. In each of these divisions there are from two to twenty subdivisions, and under many of these are secondary and other subdivisions. The above classification is admittedly arbitrary, but is primarily based on presumed military usefulness. It was devised with the collaboration of a number of eminent high-ranking American and British staff officers, among whom the aviation branches are well represented, and whose names and connections are stated in the Preface. This bibliography was compiled essentially for military purposes, and accordingly makes no claim to completeness. The effort has been concentrated on the biologic phases, with special emphasis on the literature of psychology, and to the exclusion of aerial photography, optical engineering, and optometry, and, to a large extent, of general ophthalmology and ocular pathology. Notwithstanding all this, there is much material listed in several of the divisions which will be of decided interest and value to the civilian ophthalmologist. The authors are to be
commended for the excellence of their work. William F. Moncreiff. JOURNAL O F T H E HISTORY O F MEDICINE A N D ALLIED SCIENCES. January, 1946, Volume Number 1. George Rosen, editor. Published quarterly by Henry Schuman, New York. Subscription rates, $7.50 a year in the United States, Canada, and Latin America; $8.50 in other countries. If the first number of the Journal of the History of Medicine is any indication, the future success of this venture is assured. It is beautifully printed on paper of excellent quality, illustrated profusely with portraits and facsimiles that capture the spirit of former times, and is a credit to the printer's art. The body of the Journal thus has great charm. Its contents, however, are what count, and the editor has succeeded in getting together for this, his first issue, 10 outstanding articles of interest to all physicians regardless of their specialties. Subsequent issues are promised that will continue the high quality and variety. In his introduction the editor points out that he does not want to cultivate medical history as a mere search for antiquities, as a kind of hunt for curios, but rather as a vital, integral part of medicine. He states that he "will not stress the technical aspects of medical history, but will endeavor, while maintaining the highest literary and scholarly standards, to present studies that can be of interest to as large a section of the medical profession as possible." Those who are interested in the culture of Medicine, and there is every reason to believe that these are not few in number, both here and abroad, will welcome this new Journal and wish it success. Derrick Vail.