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Basic Drawing for Biology Students
VOL. 69, NO. 2
BOOK REVIEWS
tion concerning ophthalmology. However, questions employed here might do better at the end of a chapter in a text. Perhaps the student should first read the text and then determine how well he remembers what he has just read by utilizing the questions in this book. If the student has limited time, it would seem advisable to read the text or journals dealing with the particular subject rather than this text of questions and an swers. If the individual is isolated with no confreres and no chance to be challenged by his peers, then perhaps this type of text would provide him with a yardstick for self-evaluation concerning his ability to read and to recall. Although most of these ques tions are simply restatements of materials which have appeared in the reference text, one could raise considerable discussion con cerning the correctness of some of these an swers. To summarize, this is not a text which should be on every ophthalmologist's shelf, nor in every student's collection of ophthalmologic literature. However, it could be use ful to those who have ample time and wish to test their memory. Most of the residents in this country would probably do better spending their time studying and taking the examinations which are given on a national scale to achieve comparison with other resi dents at the same level of training. This does represent a great deal of effort on the part of the editor. He has produced a vast number of questions, almost none of which are similar to those given by the na tional residents' yearly examination in the qualifying examinations of the American Board of Ophthalmology. Irving H. Leopold Washington, D.C. National Library of Medicine. 1970. An nual subscription rate : $12.00. The Abridged Index Medicus is a new medical bibliography to be published by the National Library of Medicine beginning
ABRIDGED INDEX MEDICUS.
319
January, 1970. Each issue will contain cita tions of articles in 100 English-language journals, constituting one month's input into the National Library of Medicine's comput er-based Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System ( M E D L A R S ) . The sam ple issue prepared in August, 1969, contains 77 pages in the Subject section and 30 pages in the Author section. The format is that of the familiar Index Medicus. The new monthly bibliography is sold by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, at an annual sub scription rate of $12.00. Frank W. Newell BASIC DRAWING FOR BIOLOGY STUDENTS. By
Emil G. Bethke, Springfield, Illinois, Thomas, 1969. Clothbound, 86 pages, index, 134 illustrations, 32 plates in black and white. Price : $7.00. This concise, well-organized textbook rep resents many years of the author's personal experience in teaching ophthalmology resi dents to draw. This text is not intended to instruct the nonresponsible in techniques of abstract, creative art; it is a unique approach to re presentational drawing, which may, of course, treat subjects with selection and em phasis and which may remain abstract in a responsible sense. The author has divided the subject of bio logic drawing into three major parts: pro portion, shading and perspective. The further subdivisions are presented in a logical manner that is easy for the properly moti vated student to follow and to practice. The presentation might be compared to an ele mentary course in verbal language, giving an insight into composition, grammar, and some vocabulary of a visual language. This is an approach to the teaching of representational drawing which might well be used by art de partments of our colleges and universities. It would be a much better basis for under standing and applying nonverbal, visual
320
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
communication than the unsystematic meth ods now commonly used. Many disciplines in our universities make extensive use of vi sual communication, but few, if any, are teaching the fundamentals in the logical manner of this new book. Many in ophthalmology should find this book very helpful, especially residents in training who must develop their abilities to observe and relate in the areas of retinal de tachment surgery, retinal pathology, anterior segment and gonioscopic examination. I wish to congratulate my old college roommate, esteemed friend, and fellow artist for doing a job which has long needed doing. Lee Allen
CODING
SYSTEM
FOR
DISORDERS
OF
THE
E Y E . Edited by J. Schappert-Kimmijser, A. Colenbrander, and S. Franken, S. Karger. Basel, Switzerland, International Council of Ophthalmology and the Inter national Federation of Ophthalmological Societies, 1968. T h e present trend of scientific develop ment will in time make coding of data inevi table. In ophthalmology, the necessity of a good coding system is becoming increasingly apparent, both for scientific research at na tional and international levels, and for statis tical work in ophthalmologic departments. Several attempts have been made in the past to achieve a serviceable coding system, but no system was completely satisfactory. Ei ther the system was too complicated, com prising too many digits, or it did not offer enough scope for detailed codification of ophthalmologic data. T h e latter disadvantage applies to the codification of eye diseases in the International Classification of Diseases ( I C D ) , published by the World Health Or ganization ( W H O ) , which fails to provide adequate details of eye conditions so that much important information is lost. A good coding system for eye conditions must be set up logically: systematic on the one hand, and on the other hand, it must fol
FEBRUARY, 1970
low as closely as possible the course by which a diagnosis is reached. In addition, it must be easy to use and not take up too many digits. T h e Coding System for Disorders of the Eye, published by the International Council of Ophthalmology in 1968, fulfills these criteria. It is a six-digit system, subdivided into 13 anatomical and four functional groups, to which a separate group of syn dromes has been added. As in an ophthalmo logic diagnosis, the site of the lesion is nearly always known, the type of lesion is usually known, but the cause is often un known ; the subdivisions of the anatomical groups are in this order, i.e., the first two digits refer to the site of the lesion, the third and fourth to the type of lesion and the fifth and sixth to the etiology. The system also offers scope for additions and extensions. It can also, if desired, be in cluded in the I C D of the W H O . The chapter entitled Considerations and Basic Principles, preceding the tables and index, gives more information on this and many other points. If the user studies the tables before begin ning to codify, he will appreciate both the principles of the system and the opportuni ties which it offers. A detailed alphabetical index of eye disorders with their code num bers, suitable for international use, is in tended to make the use of the coding system easier. Jules François
FUNDAMENTALS
OF
OPHTHALMOLOGY:
PROGRAMMED T E X T .
By
Robert D.
A Rei-
necke and Robert J. Herrn. New York, Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1969. Paperbound, 205 pages, three tables, index. Price : $10.00. T h e purpose of this programmed text is to initiate the novice ophthalmic technician and medical student to the basic, but abbreviated, language and instrumentation of ophthalmol ogy as they apply to examination of the eye. Emphasis is placed on the amount of infor-
BOOK REVIEWS
tion concerning ophthalmology. However, questions employed here might do better at the end of a chapter in a text. Perhaps the student should first read the text and then determine how well he remembers what he has just read by utilizing the questions in this book. If the student has limited time, it would seem advisable to read the text or journals dealing with the particular subject rather than this text of questions and an swers. If the individual is isolated with no confreres and no chance to be challenged by his peers, then perhaps this type of text would provide him with a yardstick for self-evaluation concerning his ability to read and to recall. Although most of these ques tions are simply restatements of materials which have appeared in the reference text, one could raise considerable discussion con cerning the correctness of some of these an swers. To summarize, this is not a text which should be on every ophthalmologist's shelf, nor in every student's collection of ophthalmologic literature. However, it could be use ful to those who have ample time and wish to test their memory. Most of the residents in this country would probably do better spending their time studying and taking the examinations which are given on a national scale to achieve comparison with other resi dents at the same level of training. This does represent a great deal of effort on the part of the editor. He has produced a vast number of questions, almost none of which are similar to those given by the na tional residents' yearly examination in the qualifying examinations of the American Board of Ophthalmology. Irving H. Leopold Washington, D.C. National Library of Medicine. 1970. An nual subscription rate : $12.00. The Abridged Index Medicus is a new medical bibliography to be published by the National Library of Medicine beginning
ABRIDGED INDEX MEDICUS.
319
January, 1970. Each issue will contain cita tions of articles in 100 English-language journals, constituting one month's input into the National Library of Medicine's comput er-based Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System ( M E D L A R S ) . The sam ple issue prepared in August, 1969, contains 77 pages in the Subject section and 30 pages in the Author section. The format is that of the familiar Index Medicus. The new monthly bibliography is sold by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, at an annual sub scription rate of $12.00. Frank W. Newell BASIC DRAWING FOR BIOLOGY STUDENTS. By
Emil G. Bethke, Springfield, Illinois, Thomas, 1969. Clothbound, 86 pages, index, 134 illustrations, 32 plates in black and white. Price : $7.00. This concise, well-organized textbook rep resents many years of the author's personal experience in teaching ophthalmology resi dents to draw. This text is not intended to instruct the nonresponsible in techniques of abstract, creative art; it is a unique approach to re presentational drawing, which may, of course, treat subjects with selection and em phasis and which may remain abstract in a responsible sense. The author has divided the subject of bio logic drawing into three major parts: pro portion, shading and perspective. The further subdivisions are presented in a logical manner that is easy for the properly moti vated student to follow and to practice. The presentation might be compared to an ele mentary course in verbal language, giving an insight into composition, grammar, and some vocabulary of a visual language. This is an approach to the teaching of representational drawing which might well be used by art de partments of our colleges and universities. It would be a much better basis for under standing and applying nonverbal, visual
320
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
communication than the unsystematic meth ods now commonly used. Many disciplines in our universities make extensive use of vi sual communication, but few, if any, are teaching the fundamentals in the logical manner of this new book. Many in ophthalmology should find this book very helpful, especially residents in training who must develop their abilities to observe and relate in the areas of retinal de tachment surgery, retinal pathology, anterior segment and gonioscopic examination. I wish to congratulate my old college roommate, esteemed friend, and fellow artist for doing a job which has long needed doing. Lee Allen
CODING
SYSTEM
FOR
DISORDERS
OF
THE
E Y E . Edited by J. Schappert-Kimmijser, A. Colenbrander, and S. Franken, S. Karger. Basel, Switzerland, International Council of Ophthalmology and the Inter national Federation of Ophthalmological Societies, 1968. T h e present trend of scientific develop ment will in time make coding of data inevi table. In ophthalmology, the necessity of a good coding system is becoming increasingly apparent, both for scientific research at na tional and international levels, and for statis tical work in ophthalmologic departments. Several attempts have been made in the past to achieve a serviceable coding system, but no system was completely satisfactory. Ei ther the system was too complicated, com prising too many digits, or it did not offer enough scope for detailed codification of ophthalmologic data. T h e latter disadvantage applies to the codification of eye diseases in the International Classification of Diseases ( I C D ) , published by the World Health Or ganization ( W H O ) , which fails to provide adequate details of eye conditions so that much important information is lost. A good coding system for eye conditions must be set up logically: systematic on the one hand, and on the other hand, it must fol
FEBRUARY, 1970
low as closely as possible the course by which a diagnosis is reached. In addition, it must be easy to use and not take up too many digits. T h e Coding System for Disorders of the Eye, published by the International Council of Ophthalmology in 1968, fulfills these criteria. It is a six-digit system, subdivided into 13 anatomical and four functional groups, to which a separate group of syn dromes has been added. As in an ophthalmo logic diagnosis, the site of the lesion is nearly always known, the type of lesion is usually known, but the cause is often un known ; the subdivisions of the anatomical groups are in this order, i.e., the first two digits refer to the site of the lesion, the third and fourth to the type of lesion and the fifth and sixth to the etiology. The system also offers scope for additions and extensions. It can also, if desired, be in cluded in the I C D of the W H O . The chapter entitled Considerations and Basic Principles, preceding the tables and index, gives more information on this and many other points. If the user studies the tables before begin ning to codify, he will appreciate both the principles of the system and the opportuni ties which it offers. A detailed alphabetical index of eye disorders with their code num bers, suitable for international use, is in tended to make the use of the coding system easier. Jules François
FUNDAMENTALS
OF
OPHTHALMOLOGY:
PROGRAMMED T E X T .
By
Robert D.
A Rei-
necke and Robert J. Herrn. New York, Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1969. Paperbound, 205 pages, three tables, index. Price : $10.00. T h e purpose of this programmed text is to initiate the novice ophthalmic technician and medical student to the basic, but abbreviated, language and instrumentation of ophthalmol ogy as they apply to examination of the eye. Emphasis is placed on the amount of infor-