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A clinician's view of neuromuscular diseases
203 the activity in this area. Clearly, however, m o i . comparative studies are required to optimise the stimulus and recording techniques. It is increasingly apparent that many pathologies produce non-specific VEP changes and as well as the study of different techniques there is a need to compare the effects of lesions at all levels of the central nervous system on the potentials produced by a particular methodology. It must be as important for the ophthalmologist detecting early cataracts in elderly patients by evoked potential methods to be aware of the effect of anatomical variation or hemisphere lesions as it is for the neurophysiologist or clinician in a busy diagnostic clinic to appreciate how retinal ischaemia or undetected amblyopia may prolong the latency of the major components. Although this publication is limited to the visual system in man, the wide-ranging material presents a considerable challenge to the continued attention and comprehension of all but a few fortunate readers. While it may not be of value to every clinician it nevertheless provides a useful com-, pilation of specialised source material backed up by an extensive bibliography and will be an important reference work for those who record evoked potentials by whatever method, but particularly so for those engaged in research in this fast-developing field. Lance Blumhardt
Stroke (Advances in Neurology, Vol. 16), by R. A. Thompson and J. R. Green (Eds.) xiii + 237 pages, 82 illustrations, 35 tables, Raven Press, New York, 1977, US $24.00 This multi-author book sets out to survey the most important aspects of stroke research, diagnosis and treatment. The chapters cover the epidemiology of cerebral infarction, the contribution of atherosclerosis and "hypercoagulability" to arterial occlusion, carotid endarterectomy, microvascular bypass surgery, the management of transient ischaemic attacks and stroke, computerized tomography in the diagnosis of intracranial haemorrhage and the management of intracranial aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations. Some of the chapters are too short to be useful either to research workers or clinicians and in many parts of the book there is a lack of criticism which could engender a false sense of security in those unfamiliar with the subject. Only Whisnant adequately examines the evidence both for and against carotid artery surgery and anti-coagulants and there is a particularly balanced review of the role of platelets and the haemostatic system in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischaemia by Barnett. Many controversial areas are barely mentioned or are completely avoided and these include the treatment of cerebral infarction with brain-shrinking agents, surgery for supratentorial haematoma, speech therapy for aphasia, and the meaning of "significant" carotid artery stenosis. The book will, therefore, have little appeal to those actively concerned in stroke research. It will, however, be of some value to clinicians treating stroke patients since management guidelines are presented by authors who are experienced and active in their respective fields. C. P. Warlow
A Clinician's View of Neuromuscular Diseases, by M. H. Brooke, x q- 225 pages, 112 illustrations, The Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, Md., 1977, US$18.95. This is a welcome addition to the limited range of available texts dealing with neuromuscular disease. It is a small volume in which the emphasis is on muscular disorders. One of my principal criticisms of the book is that the author may perhaps have been too ambitious in trying also to cover in variable detail the disorders of the anterior horn cell and it's process. While it is necessary to contrast symptoms and signs of neuromuscular disease, some of the space might perhaps have been more profitably used in expanding the more valuable corpus concerning muscle. The great attraction of the book is the clear evidence that it has come from a clinician who has succeeded in writing about the features and management of neuromuscular disease in the refreshing mannel which points clearly to an origin in personal experience. Areas of rapidly growing knowledge have received the additional attention that they deserve and the welcome bonus is the helpful bibliography. There is a useful section devoted to functional evaluation and the text is complimented by suitable illustration. C. J. F. Davis
Stroke (Advances in Neurology, Vol. 16), by R. A. Thompson and J. R. Green (Eds.) xiii + 237 pages, 82 illustrations, 35 tables, Raven Press, New York, 1977, US $24.00 This multi-author book sets out to survey the most important aspects of stroke research, diagnosis and treatment. The chapters cover the epidemiology of cerebral infarction, the contribution of atherosclerosis and "hypercoagulability" to arterial occlusion, carotid endarterectomy, microvascular bypass surgery, the management of transient ischaemic attacks and stroke, computerized tomography in the diagnosis of intracranial haemorrhage and the management of intracranial aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations. Some of the chapters are too short to be useful either to research workers or clinicians and in many parts of the book there is a lack of criticism which could engender a false sense of security in those unfamiliar with the subject. Only Whisnant adequately examines the evidence both for and against carotid artery surgery and anti-coagulants and there is a particularly balanced review of the role of platelets and the haemostatic system in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischaemia by Barnett. Many controversial areas are barely mentioned or are completely avoided and these include the treatment of cerebral infarction with brain-shrinking agents, surgery for supratentorial haematoma, speech therapy for aphasia, and the meaning of "significant" carotid artery stenosis. The book will, therefore, have little appeal to those actively concerned in stroke research. It will, however, be of some value to clinicians treating stroke patients since management guidelines are presented by authors who are experienced and active in their respective fields. C. P. Warlow
A Clinician's View of Neuromuscular Diseases, by M. H. Brooke, x q- 225 pages, 112 illustrations, The Williams and Wilkins Company, Baltimore, Md., 1977, US$18.95. This is a welcome addition to the limited range of available texts dealing with neuromuscular disease. It is a small volume in which the emphasis is on muscular disorders. One of my principal criticisms of the book is that the author may perhaps have been too ambitious in trying also to cover in variable detail the disorders of the anterior horn cell and it's process. While it is necessary to contrast symptoms and signs of neuromuscular disease, some of the space might perhaps have been more profitably used in expanding the more valuable corpus concerning muscle. The great attraction of the book is the clear evidence that it has come from a clinician who has succeeded in writing about the features and management of neuromuscular disease in the refreshing mannel which points clearly to an origin in personal experience. Areas of rapidly growing knowledge have received the additional attention that they deserve and the welcome bonus is the helpful bibliography. There is a useful section devoted to functional evaluation and the text is complimented by suitable illustration. C. J. F. Davis