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Early history of human anatomy
Surg Neurol 1985;24:353
353
Book Reviews
Magnetic Resonance Annual 1985. E d i t e d by H e r b e r t Y. K r e s s e l . 334 pp. $49.50. N e w Y o r k : R a v e n Press, N o v e m b e r 1984. Nuclear magnetic resonance was introduced about five years ago and is proving to be a valuable diagnostic tool. It is not yet well known nor are its potentials fully understood. Books and other publications explaining nuclear magnetic resonance and its uses are needed. This book, which is but the first of a series to be published annually, will not be of great value to neurological surgeons. There are two chapters dealing with neurosurgical conditions, one on the posterior fossa and one on the demonstration of cerebral neoplasms. The remainder of the book deals with technical matters and cardiovascular and genitourinary problems. Every new diagnostic technology develops its own language. That is to be expected, but presentations intended for general education should strive to use that language as clearly and as simply as possible. This book does not do that. Just when the profession was beginning to know the meaning of nuclear magnetic resonance and its acronym "NMR," this book changes the language to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and resonance imaging (RI). To those just beginning to understand this diagnostic procedure, such changes are both annoying and confusing. The same is true of such jargon as "images are noisy" and of the extensive use of acronyms such as TR, TE, T1, and T2. Acronyms cover the pages of this book as though they had been placed on the pages from a pepper shaker. There are some useful bits of information in this book. For instance, ferromagnetic aneurysm clips can be displaced by the magnetic fields used in N M R or MRI. Calcification is not well demonstrated by nuclear magnetic resonance. This technique is useful in demonstrating cerebral and cerebeUar infarction, intracranial hemorrhage, large aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations, intracranial infections, diseases of the white matter such as multiple sclerosis, neural damage from traumatic injury, hydrocephalus, intracranial tumors, degenerative
neurological diseases, congenital and inherited diseases, disorders at the craniovertebral junction, etc. There can be no doubt but that the introduction of nuclear magnetic resonance constitutes a major advance in neurological diagnosis. It is a technique with which all neurological surgeons must become familiar. All major neurological centers should become equipped to perform this type of scanning and many lesser centers should also do so. PAUL C. BUCY, M.D., Editor
Early History of Human Anatomy. T. V. N. Persaud. Springfield, Illinois: C h a r l e s C T h o m a s P u b l i s h e r s , 1984. This delightful 200-page, beautifully illustrated book will appeal to any physician with even a miniscule interest in medical history (and we should all be interested). It is superbly documented and scrupulously researched. The numerous plagiarisms throughout the early history of anatomy are carefully documented. It covers from the beginning of the Prehistoric Period in the various areas where our civilization originated to, appropriately, Vesalius. It is the first book devoted to the early history of anatomy, obviously a labor of love, with a peculiar and singular fascination destined to awaken many pleasant inspirations and memories in anyone with even the remotest interest in anatomy, which is, after all, the basis of our discipline. As an example of the depth of research and effort expended by the author, there are numerous prints of Leonardo da Vinci published with the gracious permission of H e r Majesty the Queen of England, previously available only for private viewing in her collection of documents. D W I G H T P A R K I N S O N , M.D. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
353
Book Reviews
Magnetic Resonance Annual 1985. E d i t e d by H e r b e r t Y. K r e s s e l . 334 pp. $49.50. N e w Y o r k : R a v e n Press, N o v e m b e r 1984. Nuclear magnetic resonance was introduced about five years ago and is proving to be a valuable diagnostic tool. It is not yet well known nor are its potentials fully understood. Books and other publications explaining nuclear magnetic resonance and its uses are needed. This book, which is but the first of a series to be published annually, will not be of great value to neurological surgeons. There are two chapters dealing with neurosurgical conditions, one on the posterior fossa and one on the demonstration of cerebral neoplasms. The remainder of the book deals with technical matters and cardiovascular and genitourinary problems. Every new diagnostic technology develops its own language. That is to be expected, but presentations intended for general education should strive to use that language as clearly and as simply as possible. This book does not do that. Just when the profession was beginning to know the meaning of nuclear magnetic resonance and its acronym "NMR," this book changes the language to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and resonance imaging (RI). To those just beginning to understand this diagnostic procedure, such changes are both annoying and confusing. The same is true of such jargon as "images are noisy" and of the extensive use of acronyms such as TR, TE, T1, and T2. Acronyms cover the pages of this book as though they had been placed on the pages from a pepper shaker. There are some useful bits of information in this book. For instance, ferromagnetic aneurysm clips can be displaced by the magnetic fields used in N M R or MRI. Calcification is not well demonstrated by nuclear magnetic resonance. This technique is useful in demonstrating cerebral and cerebeUar infarction, intracranial hemorrhage, large aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations, intracranial infections, diseases of the white matter such as multiple sclerosis, neural damage from traumatic injury, hydrocephalus, intracranial tumors, degenerative
neurological diseases, congenital and inherited diseases, disorders at the craniovertebral junction, etc. There can be no doubt but that the introduction of nuclear magnetic resonance constitutes a major advance in neurological diagnosis. It is a technique with which all neurological surgeons must become familiar. All major neurological centers should become equipped to perform this type of scanning and many lesser centers should also do so. PAUL C. BUCY, M.D., Editor
Early History of Human Anatomy. T. V. N. Persaud. Springfield, Illinois: C h a r l e s C T h o m a s P u b l i s h e r s , 1984. This delightful 200-page, beautifully illustrated book will appeal to any physician with even a miniscule interest in medical history (and we should all be interested). It is superbly documented and scrupulously researched. The numerous plagiarisms throughout the early history of anatomy are carefully documented. It covers from the beginning of the Prehistoric Period in the various areas where our civilization originated to, appropriately, Vesalius. It is the first book devoted to the early history of anatomy, obviously a labor of love, with a peculiar and singular fascination destined to awaken many pleasant inspirations and memories in anyone with even the remotest interest in anatomy, which is, after all, the basis of our discipline. As an example of the depth of research and effort expended by the author, there are numerous prints of Leonardo da Vinci published with the gracious permission of H e r Majesty the Queen of England, previously available only for private viewing in her collection of documents. D W I G H T P A R K I N S O N , M.D. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada