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Deprived children. A social and clinical study
250
THE JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
Dr. Herlry J. Romano, 132 Genesec St., Auburn, 1~. Y. Dr. R o b e r t Schwartz, 281 W a b a n Ave., W a b a n 68, Mass. Dr. B e n j a m i n I~. Silverman, Nfedical A r t s Bldg., P r i n c e t o n Hospital, P r i n c e t o n , N.J. Dr. E d n a H. Sobel, C h i l d r e n ' s Cancer Research Foundation, 36 B i n n e y St., Boston 15, Mass. Dr. Pascal Daniel Spine, 31 W. T h i r d St., Greensburg, Pa. Dr. Gertrude S. Stern, 910 West E n d Ave., Apt. l l D , :New York, N. Y. Dr. :Morton Paul Svigals, 670 E. Lincoln Ave., M o u n t Vernon, N. Y. Dr. George H e n r y Taft, 768 P a r k Ave., Cranston 10, R. I. Dr. B e r n a r d Venin, 2801 Boulevard, J e r s e y City, N. J. Dr. Geraldine Beeher Wein, 3219 Oceanside Rd., Oeeanside, N. Y. Dr. A l b e r t Joseph Weiss, 4115 W. Rogers Ave., Baltimore 15, Md. Dr. William David Winter, Jr., 122 Edgewood Rd., Westwood, Mass. Dr. J o h n B e r n a r d Zaontz, 954 P e n i n s u l a r Blvd., Woodmere, L. I., N. Y. The following oral e x a m i n a t i o n s h a v e been scheduled: New Orleans, La., M a r c h 4, 5, and 6, 1955. Detroit, Mich., April 1, 2, and 3, 1955. Dr. Jerome S. H a r r i s has been n a m e d c h a i r m a n of the pediatrics d e p a r t m e n t a t Duke U n i v e r s i t y MedicM School and Duke H o s p i t a l Dr. Harris, professor of pediatrics and associate professor of biochemistry, succeeds Dean W. C. Davison, who is J a m e s
B. Duke professor of pediatrics and has been chairman of the d e p a r t m e n t since 1927. Dr. H a r r y Medovy, formerly associate professor of pediatrics, has been appointed professor and c h a i r m a n of the d e p a r t m e n t of pediatrics in The U n i v e r s i t y of Manitoba, effective Sept. 1, 1954. Dr. :Y[edovy succeeds Dr. Bruce Chown on his retiremont. The Western Society for Pediatric Research met at the U.C.L.A. School of Medicine, Nov. 20, 1954. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: P r e s i d e n t : Robert Aldrich Vice P r e s i d e n t : J a m e s Boston Secretary-Treasurer: Robert A l w a y l~rof. E d w a r d Davison, director of the School of General Studies, H u n t e r College, announces t h a t a n a d u l t education course, " T h e 0erebral-Palsied C h i l d , " will be offered in the Spring Semester. Conducted b y Prof. Dorothy Doob, c o n s u l t a n t and specialist in the field of cerebral palsy~ the course will be of p r a c t i c a l value to p a r e n t s and classroom teachers as well as to those who are b e g i n n i n g to specialize in the field of cerebral palsy. A distinguished specialist will p a r t i c i p a t e in each of the meetings. The inclusive cost of the course is $20. R e g i s t r a t i o n takes place at the College, 695 P a r k Avenue, from 6 to 9 P.~. on Feb. 1, 3, 4, and 7, 1955. The first of the fifteen weekly meetings will be held on Thursday, February 10, from 8:20 to 10:00 P.~.
B o o k Reviews Deprived Children. A Social and Clinical Study. Hilda Lewis, lVLD., M.R.C.P., London, 1954, Oxford U n i v e r s i t y Press, 163 pages. Price 9s. 6d. A report of the work a n d experiences w i t h 500 deprived children a d m i t t e d to the Mersham Reception Centre, 1947 to 1950. The Centre was supported by the Nuffieid F o u n d a t i o n , and the a u t h o r served as psyc h i a t r i s t to the Centre. The m a t e r i a l is chiefly of i n t e r e s t to the sociologist, and to
those interested in child guidance. The problems and b a c k g r o u n d s which led to the admission and the complicated problems of placement of the children a f t e r a t h o r o u g h s t u d y was made a t the Centre are fully discussed. A follow-up of 240 children two or more years a f t e r leaving the Centre showed t h a t a f t e r study of the i n d i v i d u a l child to determine the best available p l a c e m e n t - - r e t u r n to parents, foster homes, special schools, etc.--63 per cent o f t h e children h a d im-
BOOK
proved, 29 per cent had not changed, and 8 per cent were worse. I n 1948 the British Children% Act provided for the establishment of reception centers by county authorities, and iu 1950 the 1Ylersham Centre was taken over b y the K e n t County Council. The report is an excellent discussion of the many problems involved in helping the deprived child.
Current Concepts in Digitalis Therapy. Bernard Lown, M.D., and Samuel A. Levinc, M.D., Boston, 1954, Little, Brown & Co., 164 pages. Price $3.50. A monograph discussing the current concepts of digitalis therapy to serve as a guide to the use of digitalis drugs. Both authors are well-known cardiologists, and part of the material was presented at the Second International Congress of Cardiology at ~Vashington, D. C. The clinical use of digitalis, intoxication, the relation of the electrolyte to digitalis, and a tolerance test are among the topics discussed. The authors feel there are no fundamental differences among the digitalis glycosides, and one draws the conclusion they prefer standardized whole-leaf preparations, as a rule. I t is a dear, well-written discussion which thoroughly covers the subject and can be recommended.
Recent A d v a n c e s in Paediatrics. E d i t e d by Douglas Gairdner, D.M., F.R.C.P., London, England, 1954, J. & A. Churchill, L t d , 470 pages. Price $8.75. As pointed out in the editor's preface, the past fifteen years have seen a veritable spate of major discoveries in the field of pediatrics. Information has become available o~ new diseases, new diagnostic technklues, and new methods of treatment. This book, written by a team of eighteen British specialists and edited by a pediatrician who was a pupil of the late Dr. J o h n Spenee and who received part of his training in the United States, summarizes in clear, concise, and readable fashion the most important advances. Each of the twenty chapters is followed by an excellent bibliography drawn primarily from the American and British literature and many of them contain original unpublished material by the author. I t is refreshing and stimulating to read the American viewpoint on such matters as establishment of respiration, care of the newborn infant, sudden death in infancy, and cerebral palsy as sifted and appraised f r o m the other side of the Atlantic.
REVIEWS
251
Nearly one-third of the book is devoted to neonatal pediatrics and to " t h e fruitful working partnership between obstetrician and paediatrician, such as now exists generally in maternity u n l t s . " An acquaintance with the standard information in pediatric texts is assumed and the book is planned for the reader who desires to encompass and bring up to date his knowledge of the " g r o w i n g edge of current paediatries.' ' I t is recommended for both profitable and pleasurable reading by pediatrician and obstetrician, as well as for the general practitioner who wants to catch up on progress in diagnosis and treatment of illness in the early years. I t will be an invaluable reference for obstetricians and pediatricians in hospital nurseries for the newborn and for all those responsible for the teaching of pediatrics. E.D. R o b e r t ' s N u t r i t i o n Work W i t h Children. E t h e l Austin ~V[artin, Chicago, 1954, University of Chicago Press, 527 pages. Price $7.50. A completely rewritten text of Nutrition W o r k W i t h Children, written by Dr. Lydia J. Roberts and published in 1927, w i t h a revision in 1935. I t is much more than a revised edition of the earlier work. While it follows the same general order, so many developments have taken place in the field of nutrition that for practical purposes it is a new book. The author is a former student and associate of Dr. Roberts and is well known for her work in nutrition education, and the t e x t is primarily for the use of s t u d e n t s of nutrition. The early ct~apters are concerned with the basic problems of child nutrition, and the later w i t h the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n and handling of these problems. The book is excellently p r i n t e d with good illustrations and tables, and each chapter is followed by a bibliography. There is a great deal in it of interest to the pediatrician.
Children's Humor. Martha Wolfenstein, Glencoe, Ill., 1954, The Free Press, 224 pages. Price $3.75. I n this "psychological analysis" the author used Freud's theory as the basic conception for i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of children's jokes and humor. I f the reader accepts the Freudian explanation, he will undoubtedly be interested in the author's explanation1 and ideas of children's jokes. I f he does not, he will be extremely bored.
THE JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
Dr. Herlry J. Romano, 132 Genesec St., Auburn, 1~. Y. Dr. R o b e r t Schwartz, 281 W a b a n Ave., W a b a n 68, Mass. Dr. B e n j a m i n I~. Silverman, Nfedical A r t s Bldg., P r i n c e t o n Hospital, P r i n c e t o n , N.J. Dr. E d n a H. Sobel, C h i l d r e n ' s Cancer Research Foundation, 36 B i n n e y St., Boston 15, Mass. Dr. Pascal Daniel Spine, 31 W. T h i r d St., Greensburg, Pa. Dr. Gertrude S. Stern, 910 West E n d Ave., Apt. l l D , :New York, N. Y. Dr. :Morton Paul Svigals, 670 E. Lincoln Ave., M o u n t Vernon, N. Y. Dr. George H e n r y Taft, 768 P a r k Ave., Cranston 10, R. I. Dr. B e r n a r d Venin, 2801 Boulevard, J e r s e y City, N. J. Dr. Geraldine Beeher Wein, 3219 Oceanside Rd., Oeeanside, N. Y. Dr. A l b e r t Joseph Weiss, 4115 W. Rogers Ave., Baltimore 15, Md. Dr. William David Winter, Jr., 122 Edgewood Rd., Westwood, Mass. Dr. J o h n B e r n a r d Zaontz, 954 P e n i n s u l a r Blvd., Woodmere, L. I., N. Y. The following oral e x a m i n a t i o n s h a v e been scheduled: New Orleans, La., M a r c h 4, 5, and 6, 1955. Detroit, Mich., April 1, 2, and 3, 1955. Dr. Jerome S. H a r r i s has been n a m e d c h a i r m a n of the pediatrics d e p a r t m e n t a t Duke U n i v e r s i t y MedicM School and Duke H o s p i t a l Dr. Harris, professor of pediatrics and associate professor of biochemistry, succeeds Dean W. C. Davison, who is J a m e s
B. Duke professor of pediatrics and has been chairman of the d e p a r t m e n t since 1927. Dr. H a r r y Medovy, formerly associate professor of pediatrics, has been appointed professor and c h a i r m a n of the d e p a r t m e n t of pediatrics in The U n i v e r s i t y of Manitoba, effective Sept. 1, 1954. Dr. :Y[edovy succeeds Dr. Bruce Chown on his retiremont. The Western Society for Pediatric Research met at the U.C.L.A. School of Medicine, Nov. 20, 1954. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: P r e s i d e n t : Robert Aldrich Vice P r e s i d e n t : J a m e s Boston Secretary-Treasurer: Robert A l w a y l~rof. E d w a r d Davison, director of the School of General Studies, H u n t e r College, announces t h a t a n a d u l t education course, " T h e 0erebral-Palsied C h i l d , " will be offered in the Spring Semester. Conducted b y Prof. Dorothy Doob, c o n s u l t a n t and specialist in the field of cerebral palsy~ the course will be of p r a c t i c a l value to p a r e n t s and classroom teachers as well as to those who are b e g i n n i n g to specialize in the field of cerebral palsy. A distinguished specialist will p a r t i c i p a t e in each of the meetings. The inclusive cost of the course is $20. R e g i s t r a t i o n takes place at the College, 695 P a r k Avenue, from 6 to 9 P.~. on Feb. 1, 3, 4, and 7, 1955. The first of the fifteen weekly meetings will be held on Thursday, February 10, from 8:20 to 10:00 P.~.
B o o k Reviews Deprived Children. A Social and Clinical Study. Hilda Lewis, lVLD., M.R.C.P., London, 1954, Oxford U n i v e r s i t y Press, 163 pages. Price 9s. 6d. A report of the work a n d experiences w i t h 500 deprived children a d m i t t e d to the Mersham Reception Centre, 1947 to 1950. The Centre was supported by the Nuffieid F o u n d a t i o n , and the a u t h o r served as psyc h i a t r i s t to the Centre. The m a t e r i a l is chiefly of i n t e r e s t to the sociologist, and to
those interested in child guidance. The problems and b a c k g r o u n d s which led to the admission and the complicated problems of placement of the children a f t e r a t h o r o u g h s t u d y was made a t the Centre are fully discussed. A follow-up of 240 children two or more years a f t e r leaving the Centre showed t h a t a f t e r study of the i n d i v i d u a l child to determine the best available p l a c e m e n t - - r e t u r n to parents, foster homes, special schools, etc.--63 per cent o f t h e children h a d im-
BOOK
proved, 29 per cent had not changed, and 8 per cent were worse. I n 1948 the British Children% Act provided for the establishment of reception centers by county authorities, and iu 1950 the 1Ylersham Centre was taken over b y the K e n t County Council. The report is an excellent discussion of the many problems involved in helping the deprived child.
Current Concepts in Digitalis Therapy. Bernard Lown, M.D., and Samuel A. Levinc, M.D., Boston, 1954, Little, Brown & Co., 164 pages. Price $3.50. A monograph discussing the current concepts of digitalis therapy to serve as a guide to the use of digitalis drugs. Both authors are well-known cardiologists, and part of the material was presented at the Second International Congress of Cardiology at ~Vashington, D. C. The clinical use of digitalis, intoxication, the relation of the electrolyte to digitalis, and a tolerance test are among the topics discussed. The authors feel there are no fundamental differences among the digitalis glycosides, and one draws the conclusion they prefer standardized whole-leaf preparations, as a rule. I t is a dear, well-written discussion which thoroughly covers the subject and can be recommended.
Recent A d v a n c e s in Paediatrics. E d i t e d by Douglas Gairdner, D.M., F.R.C.P., London, England, 1954, J. & A. Churchill, L t d , 470 pages. Price $8.75. As pointed out in the editor's preface, the past fifteen years have seen a veritable spate of major discoveries in the field of pediatrics. Information has become available o~ new diseases, new diagnostic technklues, and new methods of treatment. This book, written by a team of eighteen British specialists and edited by a pediatrician who was a pupil of the late Dr. J o h n Spenee and who received part of his training in the United States, summarizes in clear, concise, and readable fashion the most important advances. Each of the twenty chapters is followed by an excellent bibliography drawn primarily from the American and British literature and many of them contain original unpublished material by the author. I t is refreshing and stimulating to read the American viewpoint on such matters as establishment of respiration, care of the newborn infant, sudden death in infancy, and cerebral palsy as sifted and appraised f r o m the other side of the Atlantic.
REVIEWS
251
Nearly one-third of the book is devoted to neonatal pediatrics and to " t h e fruitful working partnership between obstetrician and paediatrician, such as now exists generally in maternity u n l t s . " An acquaintance with the standard information in pediatric texts is assumed and the book is planned for the reader who desires to encompass and bring up to date his knowledge of the " g r o w i n g edge of current paediatries.' ' I t is recommended for both profitable and pleasurable reading by pediatrician and obstetrician, as well as for the general practitioner who wants to catch up on progress in diagnosis and treatment of illness in the early years. I t will be an invaluable reference for obstetricians and pediatricians in hospital nurseries for the newborn and for all those responsible for the teaching of pediatrics. E.D. R o b e r t ' s N u t r i t i o n Work W i t h Children. E t h e l Austin ~V[artin, Chicago, 1954, University of Chicago Press, 527 pages. Price $7.50. A completely rewritten text of Nutrition W o r k W i t h Children, written by Dr. Lydia J. Roberts and published in 1927, w i t h a revision in 1935. I t is much more than a revised edition of the earlier work. While it follows the same general order, so many developments have taken place in the field of nutrition that for practical purposes it is a new book. The author is a former student and associate of Dr. Roberts and is well known for her work in nutrition education, and the t e x t is primarily for the use of s t u d e n t s of nutrition. The early ct~apters are concerned with the basic problems of child nutrition, and the later w i t h the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n and handling of these problems. The book is excellently p r i n t e d with good illustrations and tables, and each chapter is followed by a bibliography. There is a great deal in it of interest to the pediatrician.
Children's Humor. Martha Wolfenstein, Glencoe, Ill., 1954, The Free Press, 224 pages. Price $3.75. I n this "psychological analysis" the author used Freud's theory as the basic conception for i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of children's jokes and humor. I f the reader accepts the Freudian explanation, he will undoubtedly be interested in the author's explanation1 and ideas of children's jokes. I f he does not, he will be extremely bored.