Differential diagnosis of congenital heart disease

Book Reviews ‘l’he p~~luetracings, in effect, serve to illustrate various possible aberrations from the usual, but they are not often identified with knokvn disorders of the heart. ‘l’his criticism does not pertain where the venous pulses of arrhythmias are illustrated since the electrocardiocardiographic lrad serves to substantiate the diagnosis. .\ few of the jugular pulse records included in this book are so poorly defined as to be of no practical value and are not representative of the definition which can be obtained by modern electronic tc.chnics. Because they show larger C waves than are usually recorded, they do not correspond with observable venous pulses. It appears that some of the venous pulses are distorted by the carotid arterial pulses. ‘This is. perhaps, caused by the rather crude method which the author uses in obtaining his pulse records, which~ was he describes it- -depends on light reflected from a marker taped to the neck. Nevertheless, it is a tribute to this monograph that it fulfills an important need. For the further elucidation of the author’s concepts. 140 references are provided, including the classic descriptions of the venous pulse and methods of recording it. ~l‘he reader is aware always of Dr. Colman’s high respect for earlier workers in this field. The book includes several fine direct quotations from the writings of MacKenzie and leans heavily on the observations of the late Paul Wood in the discussion of congenital heart disease. This monograph should be of value to medical students, interns, residents and internists who are interested in the refinement of physical diagnosis. A.

BENCHIMOL,M.D. AND HARVEY

Differential Diagnosis of Congenital by NIICOLAUS SCHAD, M.D.? RALPH and TEOMAN ONTA, M.D. Grune New York, 1966, pp. 454. $29.75.

TIPPIT. M.D.

Heart Disease KUNXER, M.D. and

Stratton,

This monograph is a translation of the authors’ monograph published in 1963 by Georg Thieme Verlag. Stuttgart, previously reviewed by the same reviewer for this Journal. Three years have passed and the enormous increase of new information, new views of diagnostic aspects and new views on diagnostic technics have not been incorporated. The extensive use of left-sided catheterization and left-sided belective angiography finds hardly any presentation and discussion. This limits the value of the book at the present time. In spite of this omission the monograph presents a fine, lucid and systematic discussion of the differential diagnosis of all congenital cardiac defects, amply discussing the conventional radiologic appearance, their selective right-sided angiocardiographic features well integrated with conventional electrocardiography, auscultatory findings and phonocardiography. Since the illustrations are most numerous and often in the VOLUME

19,MAY

1967

750

form of complete casr presentations, the reproduction of illustrations is truly superb, and the legends and descriptions V(Y): detailed, the monograph represents an excellent addition to the library of cardiologist. pediatric cardiologist and cardiac surg-eon into-rested in congenital heart disease. ‘l-h? om&n from the present translated edition of an adequarc discussion of selective left-sided angiocardiography and ‘or aortography limits its value. Thr discussion is lucid throughout. the text is clear, although clearly discernible to be a translation, with a superb quality of illustrations. ARTHUR

(;RISHMAN, M.D.

Cardiovascular Pathology by Reginald E. B. Hudson, M.D. The William 8r Wilkins Company, Baltimore, Md., 1965, 2 Vol., pp. 2, 123. $60. At a time when mammoth medical books tend to be written by different authors under the leadership of a single editor, this two-volume edition of “Cardiovascular Pathology” is a publishing anomaly: Dr. Hudson is the sole author of this 2:12i-page labor of The book represents the viewpoint of an outlove. standing English pathologist who has worked closely with distinguished clinical colleagues at the National Heart Hospital and the Institute of Cardiology at the University of London. The book is notable not only for its single authorship but also for its contents and composition. The contents are organized into a comprehensive encyclopedic survey in depth of modern knowledge about cardiovascular pathology and the relation of such pathology to the clinical problems of the cardiac patient. The clinician and the pathologist can easily find the latest facts on many aspects of cardiovascular disease by referring to an excellent table of contents listing 43 chapters and to an equally valuable index of 24 pages. Some 13,000 references, including very recent publications. provide an excellent source of modern documentation for associated reading and for bibliographic material on many cardiovascular conditions described in the book. Several features facilitate the flow of information from book to reader and promote better understanding. An easy style of writing--no mean feat with such a subject--distinguishes the text; multiple diagrams and clearly reproduced photographs of gross and microscopic specimens illustrate and clarify the written material. Although designed mainly as an up-to-date reference for pathologists Dr. Hudson’s two-volume work is also of great value to the experienced cardiologist and the cardiac surgeon. 411 can read and study it with enjoyment, profit and stimulation. ‘This work is a welcome addition and medical Baedeker to the vast storehouse of information on cardiovascular pathology. RAYMOND

HARRIS. M.D.