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Current operative urology
Kedia and Markland. This book is well produced, well edited, and uniform considering the original material came from diverse authors. While admittedly highly specialized in scope, it contains much of value to residents and practitioners, and this reviewer recommends its inclusion in departmental and private libraries. (A.Z.)
tions cloud the authors’ advice. Witness page 187: “The previous pretransplant routine of bilateral nephrectomy in the recipient is indefensible.” Some may quarrel with the dogmatism of the previous statement, but the message is clear. Students of this text, which can be read in an evening or two, will be given a reasonable grasp of the management problems raised by the uremic patient. (E.A.F.)
Current Operative Urology, E. D. Whitehead, Ed. Hagerstown, Harper & Row, 1975, 1218 pages, $70. The approach is novel. Whitehead asked each author to select an article from the recent literature which in his opinion is particularly significant in the area under consideration. Each chapter consists of that article reproduced in its entirety with a detailed commentary. Whereas this may seem cumbersome it has resulted in a surprisingly successful book for it selects and celebrates what is of lasting value in the vast accumulation called “the literature.” This is tantamount to personalized instruction by the commentator; in certain instances the article and commentary are by the same author which is not objectionable. The result is that anyone wishing to review a topic can count on authoritative material in concentrated form. In addition each commentator also has provided an annotated bibliography further enhancing the value of this somewhat massive book. The list of authors is impressive, and this reviewer is flattered to be counted among them. Some might consider the book title misleading since it is neither a textbook nor an atlas of surgery, yet it remains germane to urologic surgery throughout. A serious deficiency, considering the hefty price of the tome, is the lack of an index. There is no doubt that the articles and commentaries are best read in a leisurely fashion, but there are times when rapid access to the contents is desirable. Except for this it is (A.Z.) a pleasure to see a new idea well realized.
Method of Urology, by A. W. Wyker and J. Y. Gillenwater Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins Co., 1975, $15.95. Doctor Wyker’s book is somewhat reminiscent of Fletcher Colby’s individualistic “Essential Urology” published quite a while back. The book presently under consideration reflects the authors’ personal view of the field of urology and what should be important to the intended audience of medical students and residents. As a result this work is somewhat less encyclopedic than D. R. Smith’s “General Urology” with which it is certain to be compared. Wyker’s book is a delight to read, and the material is unusually well organized often in l-2-3 fashion. Most illustrations are exceptionally good. The emphasis is on the factual material one must know to understand urologic thought. The book is strongest in those chapters which constitute the background for surgical conditions and seems weakest in dealing with infections, venereal disease, and sexual problems in the male. There is good reason to state that this book may prove to be the best available text for medical-student teaching provided it is used in conjunction with clinics and demonstrations of clinical material. It is a rare program director who is given more than a few hours to teach this important subject. Most Curriculum Committee members seem unaware of the existence of urology unless personally afflicted with a ureteral calculus or even prostatic enlargement. The availability of this text might help change all that. (A.Z.)
Acute Renal Control of Male Fertility, J. Sciarra, C. Markland and J. J. Speidel, Eds. Hagerstown, Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc., 316 pages, 1975, $12. This book is a record of the proceedings of a workshop sponsored by the Program for Applied Research It is a “must” for anyone on Fertility Regulation. interested in the field because ofthe extensive coverage given all aspects of male fertility control. There are important discussions of male reproductive physiology, vas surgery, nonsurgical sterilization, and an interesting view of future research. Not all chapters are review in type, some cover research. One chapter which stands out is on the effect of sympathectomy and drugs on ejaculation, by
UROLOGY
/ JANUARY
1976
/
\‘OLUhfE
VII,
NUhlRER
Failure,
by C. T. Flynn,
Ed.
MTP Lancaster, England, 1974, 164 pages, $12.50. (Distributed by Herman Pub. Co., Boston, Massachusetts). This book is the transcript of a symposium sponsored by the Medical Services of the Royal Air Force and held in the United Kingdom. The book covers all aspects of acute renal failure in eight chapters, as well as transcripts of the discussions which occurred at the end of each session. There are also very good reference lists at the end of most chapters. The approach is educational without being overly simple. This book is not for the expert. Two chapters covering the pathogenesis of acute renal failure and renal failure after renal transplantation are outstanding. This book is well put together and should be of interest to a urologist who wishes to review the subject. (A.Z.)
1
119
tions cloud the authors’ advice. Witness page 187: “The previous pretransplant routine of bilateral nephrectomy in the recipient is indefensible.” Some may quarrel with the dogmatism of the previous statement, but the message is clear. Students of this text, which can be read in an evening or two, will be given a reasonable grasp of the management problems raised by the uremic patient. (E.A.F.)
Current Operative Urology, E. D. Whitehead, Ed. Hagerstown, Harper & Row, 1975, 1218 pages, $70. The approach is novel. Whitehead asked each author to select an article from the recent literature which in his opinion is particularly significant in the area under consideration. Each chapter consists of that article reproduced in its entirety with a detailed commentary. Whereas this may seem cumbersome it has resulted in a surprisingly successful book for it selects and celebrates what is of lasting value in the vast accumulation called “the literature.” This is tantamount to personalized instruction by the commentator; in certain instances the article and commentary are by the same author which is not objectionable. The result is that anyone wishing to review a topic can count on authoritative material in concentrated form. In addition each commentator also has provided an annotated bibliography further enhancing the value of this somewhat massive book. The list of authors is impressive, and this reviewer is flattered to be counted among them. Some might consider the book title misleading since it is neither a textbook nor an atlas of surgery, yet it remains germane to urologic surgery throughout. A serious deficiency, considering the hefty price of the tome, is the lack of an index. There is no doubt that the articles and commentaries are best read in a leisurely fashion, but there are times when rapid access to the contents is desirable. Except for this it is (A.Z.) a pleasure to see a new idea well realized.
Method of Urology, by A. W. Wyker and J. Y. Gillenwater Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins Co., 1975, $15.95. Doctor Wyker’s book is somewhat reminiscent of Fletcher Colby’s individualistic “Essential Urology” published quite a while back. The book presently under consideration reflects the authors’ personal view of the field of urology and what should be important to the intended audience of medical students and residents. As a result this work is somewhat less encyclopedic than D. R. Smith’s “General Urology” with which it is certain to be compared. Wyker’s book is a delight to read, and the material is unusually well organized often in l-2-3 fashion. Most illustrations are exceptionally good. The emphasis is on the factual material one must know to understand urologic thought. The book is strongest in those chapters which constitute the background for surgical conditions and seems weakest in dealing with infections, venereal disease, and sexual problems in the male. There is good reason to state that this book may prove to be the best available text for medical-student teaching provided it is used in conjunction with clinics and demonstrations of clinical material. It is a rare program director who is given more than a few hours to teach this important subject. Most Curriculum Committee members seem unaware of the existence of urology unless personally afflicted with a ureteral calculus or even prostatic enlargement. The availability of this text might help change all that. (A.Z.)
Acute Renal Control of Male Fertility, J. Sciarra, C. Markland and J. J. Speidel, Eds. Hagerstown, Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc., 316 pages, 1975, $12. This book is a record of the proceedings of a workshop sponsored by the Program for Applied Research It is a “must” for anyone on Fertility Regulation. interested in the field because ofthe extensive coverage given all aspects of male fertility control. There are important discussions of male reproductive physiology, vas surgery, nonsurgical sterilization, and an interesting view of future research. Not all chapters are review in type, some cover research. One chapter which stands out is on the effect of sympathectomy and drugs on ejaculation, by
UROLOGY
/ JANUARY
1976
/
\‘OLUhfE
VII,
NUhlRER
Failure,
by C. T. Flynn,
Ed.
MTP Lancaster, England, 1974, 164 pages, $12.50. (Distributed by Herman Pub. Co., Boston, Massachusetts). This book is the transcript of a symposium sponsored by the Medical Services of the Royal Air Force and held in the United Kingdom. The book covers all aspects of acute renal failure in eight chapters, as well as transcripts of the discussions which occurred at the end of each session. There are also very good reference lists at the end of most chapters. The approach is educational without being overly simple. This book is not for the expert. Two chapters covering the pathogenesis of acute renal failure and renal failure after renal transplantation are outstanding. This book is well put together and should be of interest to a urologist who wishes to review the subject. (A.Z.)
1
119