Aero-space medicine

BOOK NOTES HEATHLAND ECOLOGY, by C. P. Friedlander. 87 pages, illustrations, plates, 7¼X4~ in. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1961. Price, $1.75. General principles of ecology are presented as they are revealed by a study of heathland. The interdependence of plants and animals and their dependence and effect on the soil are discussed. The author has chosen the heathland as the basis of his text, since it is a comparatively easy place to begin the study of ecology. An introductory chapter gives the characteristics of heathland; the three remaining chapters deal with soil analysis, botany and zoology of the heathland. A section for teachers gives suggestions for class practical work, and includes a "diary" of the heathland month by month. The book is an attractive addition to the Scholarship Series in Biology. SOURCE BOOK OF THE NEW PLASTICS, Vol. 2, edited by Herbert Simonds. 310 pages, illustrations, 6 X 9 in. New York, Reinhold Publishing Corp., 1961. Price, $8.95. A continuation of the editor's 1959 Vol. 1, this source book covers new materials and processes through most of 1960. Properties, price, production, application and selection are given for all new important plastics. The discussion on technological progress includes stereospecific catalysts, block and graft polymers, fluorocarbon nomenclature, Montecatini developments and urethane foam progress. In addition to new materials, improvements are listed for 39 established plastics materials. This authentic progress report will serve the plastics industry well. AERo-SPACE MEDICINE, edited b y Harry G. Armstrong. 633 pages, illustrations, 6¼ X 10 in. Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins Company, 1961. Price, $18.00. (Exclusive agents in U. S.) With the tremendous spurt in aviation and space, it is obviously impossible for one to

write a book about all the facets of this science. Thus a book with the all-encompassing title of Aero-Space Medicine must of necessity be written by a group of men, all specialists in their own fields. Accordingly, 21 contributors have been brought together under the direction of Maj. Gen. Harry G. Armstrong to put together a definitive work on the medical problems of both aviation and space. Gen. Armstrong indicates t h a t a knowledge of aero-space medicine must be acquired by three different groups. The first is the student and practitioner of aero-space medicine. It is the editor's hope t h a t this volume will contain the basic information on the subject so t h a t the student may use this as a textbook. It is indicated t h a t the flight surgeon will also find this a handy and useful reference. The second group contains those practitioners whose work demands a knowledge of aerospace medicine. Because of the information explosion in the past few years, no longer are there up-to-date books which can serve these doctors. The third group who will find this book of value are the engineers charged with the design, construction and operation of vehicles--either in air or space. To this last group the requirements for properly designed equipment are spelled out. Aero-Space Medicine, while appealing to a small segment of the professional groups, is still a welcome addition to our bookshelves. With the tremendous emphasis on space, we finally have collected in a single volume the basic material to help those whose work takes them into this new field. ESSENTIALS OF DIELECTROMAGNETIC ENGINEERING, by H. M. Schlicke. 242 pages, diagrams, 5¼ X 9 in. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1961. Price, $9.50. The equivalent circuits and models introduced in this text will appeal to engineering students and educators. Dr. Schlicke wrote this in the language and concepts of the electronics engineer and intended it as an introductory text of graduate level. The reader 5o