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An atlas of skin diseases in the tropics
406
ReWFWS. AN
ATLAS
OF
SK1N
DISEASES
1N
THE
TROPICS.*
This atlas contains a series of photographs and microphotographs of skin diseases met with in Nigeria. It comprises in all 253 figures on 100 plates, preceded by a description of the conditions depicted, with comments on treatment, and notes on certain experiments done in connection with prickly heat and tropical ulcer. The text is tersely written and adequate for its purpose, and the photographs are of interest in showing the clearness with which certain cutaneous growths and forms of dermatitis stand out in relief on dark native skins. The photographs may be divided into two groups, namely, those which depict skin affections common to all latitudes, such as syphilis, psoriasis, ringworm, etc.; and those showing tropical conditions unknown in temperate climates, such as mycetoma, creeping eruption, invasion of the skin by chiggers and guinea worm, yaws, and gangosa. Certain of the microphotographs are of special merit, such as that of acne showing bottle bacilli in a hair follicle-though it were better that the name bottle bacilli " for that yeast-like fungus were forgotten and that of pityrosporon of Malassez substituted--that of a helminth larva in its burrow in the epidermis in creeping eruption, and the microphotographs of hairs invaded by ringworm fungi. Of interest at the moment are the photographs of the chronic ringed variety of leprosy, and the microphotographs showing the tuberculoid structure and the presence of wellmarked giant cells. These lesions would seem to have an analogy with, and bear the same relation to leprosy, as sarcoids do to tuberculosis, and in neither of them is it usual to find bacilli. The photographs have been well selected, and excellently reproduced, and the atlas should be of great assistance to all who are interested in skin disease in the tropics. J. M. H. MACLEOD. "
AN EMPIRE
PROBLEM.]-
" An Empire Problem " is written by a man who has an intimate knowledge of his subject. It is a description of the home of the native and the primitive conditions under which he lives and the writer shows how these could be improved with mutual benefit to both the individual and industry as a whole. At present the native falls a victim to many diseases, more especially those conveyed by biting insects, from which he might escape were he living under more hygienic conditions. * By E. C. SMITH. London : John Bale, Sons & Danielsson, Ltd., 1932. Price, 21s. -~By D . B . BLACKLOCK,M.D., The University Press of Liverpool, Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd., London, 1932. Price 3s. 6d.
ReWFWS. AN
ATLAS
OF
SK1N
DISEASES
1N
THE
TROPICS.*
This atlas contains a series of photographs and microphotographs of skin diseases met with in Nigeria. It comprises in all 253 figures on 100 plates, preceded by a description of the conditions depicted, with comments on treatment, and notes on certain experiments done in connection with prickly heat and tropical ulcer. The text is tersely written and adequate for its purpose, and the photographs are of interest in showing the clearness with which certain cutaneous growths and forms of dermatitis stand out in relief on dark native skins. The photographs may be divided into two groups, namely, those which depict skin affections common to all latitudes, such as syphilis, psoriasis, ringworm, etc.; and those showing tropical conditions unknown in temperate climates, such as mycetoma, creeping eruption, invasion of the skin by chiggers and guinea worm, yaws, and gangosa. Certain of the microphotographs are of special merit, such as that of acne showing bottle bacilli in a hair follicle-though it were better that the name bottle bacilli " for that yeast-like fungus were forgotten and that of pityrosporon of Malassez substituted--that of a helminth larva in its burrow in the epidermis in creeping eruption, and the microphotographs of hairs invaded by ringworm fungi. Of interest at the moment are the photographs of the chronic ringed variety of leprosy, and the microphotographs showing the tuberculoid structure and the presence of wellmarked giant cells. These lesions would seem to have an analogy with, and bear the same relation to leprosy, as sarcoids do to tuberculosis, and in neither of them is it usual to find bacilli. The photographs have been well selected, and excellently reproduced, and the atlas should be of great assistance to all who are interested in skin disease in the tropics. J. M. H. MACLEOD. "
AN EMPIRE
PROBLEM.]-
" An Empire Problem " is written by a man who has an intimate knowledge of his subject. It is a description of the home of the native and the primitive conditions under which he lives and the writer shows how these could be improved with mutual benefit to both the individual and industry as a whole. At present the native falls a victim to many diseases, more especially those conveyed by biting insects, from which he might escape were he living under more hygienic conditions. * By E. C. SMITH. London : John Bale, Sons & Danielsson, Ltd., 1932. Price, 21s. -~By D . B . BLACKLOCK,M.D., The University Press of Liverpool, Hodder and Stoughton, Ltd., London, 1932. Price 3s. 6d.