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An Introduction to the Principles of Disease
BOOK REVIEWS
205
the last few years ranging across the full scope of all the branches of pathology? Since the text depends on one recent scientific paper for each question the answers will be often open to dispute. In the section devoted to anatomical pathology snippets of highly specialized facts from almost every possible specialization in the field are included. All too frequently these facts are again the rare or bizarre. It is the sort of knowledge which a highly specialized person in each field might carry but which most will look up as the cases arise. At this level of super specialist performance, a book of this type is quite the wrong concept. Any person able to answer the questions would already be reading the recent literature and choosing from it the material relevant to his work which is more appropriate than the selections in this text. In summary, I cannot think of a suitable audience for this book. K. J. Donald An Introduction to the Principles of Disease, JOHNB. WALTER. 1977.
W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, London, Toronto. 739 pp., illustrated. A$20.76. This book is largely a variation on a good theme for the author is John B. Walter of General Pathology by Walter & Israel. Variations often have merit of their own and this book is no exception. It is designed ‘to initiate the student into clinical medicine via the study of pathology’ and the students for whom it has been written are ‘nurses, midwives, physical therapists, pharmacists and medical technologists’. The book is clearly written and I believe medical students could also read much of it with benefit. The first 27 chapters are, I think, better than the later 17. This is perhaps not surprising as the first section is largely devoted to general pathology and has obviously been well tested whereas the second section appears to be a new venture and could more readily be improved. For example, some of the macroscopic photographs are poor prints of badly cut specimens (Figs 32.3 & 35.7). The text is lucid and ranges widely, but I was rather disappointed to see that no mention was made of toxoplasmosis. The diagrams are simple and useful. The photomicrographs tend to have a sepia background which is displeasing to me, but the majority are nevertheless clear. Unusual and helpful features for the student are the setting out of what the student should have learnt from each chapter, review questions at the end of each chapter and a good set of references. I enjoyed reading it and believe it fulfils the function for which it was designed. Harold Attwood The Virus: A History o f t h e Concept, SALLYSMITHHUGHES. 1977. Neale Watson Academic Publications and Science History Publications, New York. 140 pp., 7 illustrations. US6.95. This monograph is an ambitious attempt to relate the different stages in the technical development of virology with the prevailing philosophical tepets. The author makes a welcome effort to integrate work of plant pathologists and bacteriophage geneticists with
205
the last few years ranging across the full scope of all the branches of pathology? Since the text depends on one recent scientific paper for each question the answers will be often open to dispute. In the section devoted to anatomical pathology snippets of highly specialized facts from almost every possible specialization in the field are included. All too frequently these facts are again the rare or bizarre. It is the sort of knowledge which a highly specialized person in each field might carry but which most will look up as the cases arise. At this level of super specialist performance, a book of this type is quite the wrong concept. Any person able to answer the questions would already be reading the recent literature and choosing from it the material relevant to his work which is more appropriate than the selections in this text. In summary, I cannot think of a suitable audience for this book. K. J. Donald An Introduction to the Principles of Disease, JOHNB. WALTER. 1977.
W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, London, Toronto. 739 pp., illustrated. A$20.76. This book is largely a variation on a good theme for the author is John B. Walter of General Pathology by Walter & Israel. Variations often have merit of their own and this book is no exception. It is designed ‘to initiate the student into clinical medicine via the study of pathology’ and the students for whom it has been written are ‘nurses, midwives, physical therapists, pharmacists and medical technologists’. The book is clearly written and I believe medical students could also read much of it with benefit. The first 27 chapters are, I think, better than the later 17. This is perhaps not surprising as the first section is largely devoted to general pathology and has obviously been well tested whereas the second section appears to be a new venture and could more readily be improved. For example, some of the macroscopic photographs are poor prints of badly cut specimens (Figs 32.3 & 35.7). The text is lucid and ranges widely, but I was rather disappointed to see that no mention was made of toxoplasmosis. The diagrams are simple and useful. The photomicrographs tend to have a sepia background which is displeasing to me, but the majority are nevertheless clear. Unusual and helpful features for the student are the setting out of what the student should have learnt from each chapter, review questions at the end of each chapter and a good set of references. I enjoyed reading it and believe it fulfils the function for which it was designed. Harold Attwood The Virus: A History o f t h e Concept, SALLYSMITHHUGHES. 1977. Neale Watson Academic Publications and Science History Publications, New York. 140 pp., 7 illustrations. US6.95. This monograph is an ambitious attempt to relate the different stages in the technical development of virology with the prevailing philosophical tepets. The author makes a welcome effort to integrate work of plant pathologists and bacteriophage geneticists with