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Bacteriological Technique
6~
PUBLIC HEALTH.
The Literature of Preventive BACTERIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUE. A Laboratory Guide for Medical, Dental, and Technical Students. By J. W . H . 'EYRE, M.D., M.S., F.R.S. EDIN., Professor of Bacteriology, University of L o n d o n ; Director, Bacteriological ~Department, G u y ' s Hospital, London, etc. London : Bailli~re, Tindall & Cox, 1930. pp. 619, illustrated. Price 2Is. net. One of the most striking statements in this, the third edition of Dr. Eyre's book, is that the second edition appeared originally so long ago as 1913. It is true that this edition was reprinted in 1915, but having regard to the developments that have taken place in relation to bacteriology and to the numbers of laboratory workers to whom " Eyre's Technique " l'ras always been as a bible, it might have been supposed that the demand for a new edition would have been thunderous. A s a fact, of course, intense as the faith in and' affection for the book amongst laboratory workers undoubtedly is, the number of laboratories is, after all, not tremendously large and the field to be covered not particularly wide. It has always appeared to be the impression that the book was one for the knowing ones, for those whose workaday world was the laboratory and who had frequent need to refer to it, rather than such as were merely doing courses and were satisfied with a text-book on or a manual of 1bacteriology. This was a pity since one of the things about the book was that it gave an atmosphere of reality to the subject; revealed, as discourses on bacteriology do not, how very much of the practical there is in the science. It is pleasant to/in~t in this new edition that a definite attempt is made to bring it forward as a book for use, for example, by those studying for the Diploma in Public Health as well as those who are working specifically at bacteriology in~ order to take the more recently established Diploma in Bacteriology. The revision for the edition has been very full and' complete. Descriptions of the many new methods a n d media that have been introduced~ since the W a r a n d the increase in the number of working bacteriologists that prog r e s s has rendered necessary, have been included. Discrimination has been used in this connection, a n d P ~ f e s s o r Eyre's claim that he has been' concerned particularly to incorporate
Nov.,~.~,
Medicine.
only such as " appear likely to stand the crucial tests of time and application, with the old and tried methods handed down to us by the pioneers in bacteriological research " is justified. Needless to say, the work has been: well and carefully done, and complete reliance may be placed upon the book as a guide in' the laboratory. One of the pleasantest things to record about the volume is that, though somewhat Stouter than. its predecessors, it retains the friendly look with which s~ many of its users credited it. SAVE THE MOTHERS. By ',E. SYLVIA PANKHURST. London : Alfred A. Knopf, 1980. pp. 216. Price 6s. net. One of the views expressed frequently and strongly by those who have spoken and written most on the subject of maternal mortality is that help in dealing with the problem would assuredly follow if wide publicity were given and propaganda work done. In connection with such work this book should be extremely useful. It is well and attractively written in the popuhir style, and contains a vast amount of useful information with regard to the situation in relation to maternal mortality and maternity services in various countries. Its main appeal is for a universal free maternity service, and with all the great skill she undoubtedly possesses, Miss Pankh-urst urges and supports that appeal.
THE AGE OF THE CHARTISTS. By J. L. HAg, MOND and BARBARA HAMMOND. London : Longmans, Green & Co., Ltd., i980. pp. 885. Price 12s. 6d. net. The authors of this book describe it as a study in discontent, and in it they set themselves to discuss t h e causes: of the discontent that was so manifest a m o n g s t the people in the first half of t h e nineteenttx century and subsided after 185ff. The description given, admirably, interestingly and with knowledge, is of the conditions of the then newer towns in regard to such matters as health, edttcation, amenities and religion, the effect of the agitation over the Corn Laws and the Ten H o u r s Bit|, and the character and consequences of the Chartist movement. The Municipal Reform Act and the new Poor Law are treated
PUBLIC HEALTH.
The Literature of Preventive BACTERIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUE. A Laboratory Guide for Medical, Dental, and Technical Students. By J. W . H . 'EYRE, M.D., M.S., F.R.S. EDIN., Professor of Bacteriology, University of L o n d o n ; Director, Bacteriological ~Department, G u y ' s Hospital, London, etc. London : Bailli~re, Tindall & Cox, 1930. pp. 619, illustrated. Price 2Is. net. One of the most striking statements in this, the third edition of Dr. Eyre's book, is that the second edition appeared originally so long ago as 1913. It is true that this edition was reprinted in 1915, but having regard to the developments that have taken place in relation to bacteriology and to the numbers of laboratory workers to whom " Eyre's Technique " l'ras always been as a bible, it might have been supposed that the demand for a new edition would have been thunderous. A s a fact, of course, intense as the faith in and' affection for the book amongst laboratory workers undoubtedly is, the number of laboratories is, after all, not tremendously large and the field to be covered not particularly wide. It has always appeared to be the impression that the book was one for the knowing ones, for those whose workaday world was the laboratory and who had frequent need to refer to it, rather than such as were merely doing courses and were satisfied with a text-book on or a manual of 1bacteriology. This was a pity since one of the things about the book was that it gave an atmosphere of reality to the subject; revealed, as discourses on bacteriology do not, how very much of the practical there is in the science. It is pleasant to/in~t in this new edition that a definite attempt is made to bring it forward as a book for use, for example, by those studying for the Diploma in Public Health as well as those who are working specifically at bacteriology in~ order to take the more recently established Diploma in Bacteriology. The revision for the edition has been very full and' complete. Descriptions of the many new methods a n d media that have been introduced~ since the W a r a n d the increase in the number of working bacteriologists that prog r e s s has rendered necessary, have been included. Discrimination has been used in this connection, a n d P ~ f e s s o r Eyre's claim that he has been' concerned particularly to incorporate
Nov.,~.~,
Medicine.
only such as " appear likely to stand the crucial tests of time and application, with the old and tried methods handed down to us by the pioneers in bacteriological research " is justified. Needless to say, the work has been: well and carefully done, and complete reliance may be placed upon the book as a guide in' the laboratory. One of the pleasantest things to record about the volume is that, though somewhat Stouter than. its predecessors, it retains the friendly look with which s~ many of its users credited it. SAVE THE MOTHERS. By ',E. SYLVIA PANKHURST. London : Alfred A. Knopf, 1980. pp. 216. Price 6s. net. One of the views expressed frequently and strongly by those who have spoken and written most on the subject of maternal mortality is that help in dealing with the problem would assuredly follow if wide publicity were given and propaganda work done. In connection with such work this book should be extremely useful. It is well and attractively written in the popuhir style, and contains a vast amount of useful information with regard to the situation in relation to maternal mortality and maternity services in various countries. Its main appeal is for a universal free maternity service, and with all the great skill she undoubtedly possesses, Miss Pankh-urst urges and supports that appeal.
THE AGE OF THE CHARTISTS. By J. L. HAg, MOND and BARBARA HAMMOND. London : Longmans, Green & Co., Ltd., i980. pp. 885. Price 12s. 6d. net. The authors of this book describe it as a study in discontent, and in it they set themselves to discuss t h e causes: of the discontent that was so manifest a m o n g s t the people in the first half of t h e nineteenttx century and subsided after 185ff. The description given, admirably, interestingly and with knowledge, is of the conditions of the then newer towns in regard to such matters as health, edttcation, amenities and religion, the effect of the agitation over the Corn Laws and the Ten H o u r s Bit|, and the character and consequences of the Chartist movement. The Municipal Reform Act and the new Poor Law are treated