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Environmental Health procedures. 4th edn
Book
Reviews
325
on management of individual patients. It is also extremely useful as a teaching aid when attempting to classify logically infectious processes relating to organs or anatomical structures for students of medicine and infection. I suspect that other volumes may be as exquisite as this one; if they are, then every department involved in infection should have the complete set. This excellence of the American tradition of infectious disease medicine does not come cheap, however: the whole Atlas will cost E95O. Despite this, it will be worth every penny in time saved preparing lectures and looking for accurate, concise and illustrated summaries of specific conditions relating to every aspect of infectious disease. Buy it.
V. Gant
Department
of Microbiology and Infection, UMDS St Thomas’ Campus, St Thomas’ Hospital, 5th Floov, North Wilzg, London SE1 7EH, UK
Environmental Health Procedures. 4th edn. Bassett W. H. London: Chapman and Hall. August 1995. E39.00 (hardback). 492~~. ISBN O-412-56190-5. The first version of this book appeared in 1983 and was an attempt to provide basic information about environmental health procedures in a simple, straightforward form. This fourth version is a successful continuation of the same theme. It is written by the Director of Housing and Environmental Health of Exeter who is extremely experienced in his field. Although useful and informative to health professionals in general, the book is primarily aimed at Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) to whom this is an essential reference work. The range of topics is as extensive as the work brief of an EHO and breaks down what can be extremely complex legislation into accurate, well defined, easily readable and relevant bites. There is an extensive use of flowcharts to demonstrate the sequence of the legal procedures that need to take place. Topics such as building standards, pollution control, noise control, statutory nuisances, food safety, clean air standards, infectious disease control, water quality, litter, housing repair, bedsits, drainage, food safety and a variety of licensing conditions are all covered comprehensively. There are also sections on health and safety at work, evaporative cooling towers (with legionella control in mind) together with some of the less mainstream activities such as stray dog control, abandoned vehicles, scrap metal dealers, and cinema licences to name but a few. This book is a very comprehensive work indeed. As an EHO I have
326
Book Reviews
found it to be worth its weight in gold. However, much of the material will be of limited interest for infection control personnel. Nevertheless, a number of factors outside a hospital may impact on the health or welfare of patients inside. These include noise, air quality problems (even the hospital’s own incineration or heating plant), and food and water quality. This book would be useful for assessing what could be done to alleviate problems and might be used to persuade a reluctant EHO to take action on a problem. The section on the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 is very clear and spells out what legal powers are available for the control of specific diseases. These powers tend to be jointly exercised by Consultants in Communicable Disease Control where they have been appointed by local authorities as ‘proper officers’ for this Act. The controls deal essentially with public health and relate to the prevention of further spread of disease. To conclude, this is an extremely well researched, well written reference book that is simply brimming with information. It will be useful to public health professionals in varying degrees according to their specialities or range of duties. R. Slaughter
Environmental Health Manager, London Borough of Lambeth, 15-19 New Park Road, London S W2 4DU, UK
Reviews
325
on management of individual patients. It is also extremely useful as a teaching aid when attempting to classify logically infectious processes relating to organs or anatomical structures for students of medicine and infection. I suspect that other volumes may be as exquisite as this one; if they are, then every department involved in infection should have the complete set. This excellence of the American tradition of infectious disease medicine does not come cheap, however: the whole Atlas will cost E95O. Despite this, it will be worth every penny in time saved preparing lectures and looking for accurate, concise and illustrated summaries of specific conditions relating to every aspect of infectious disease. Buy it.
V. Gant
Department
of Microbiology and Infection, UMDS St Thomas’ Campus, St Thomas’ Hospital, 5th Floov, North Wilzg, London SE1 7EH, UK
Environmental Health Procedures. 4th edn. Bassett W. H. London: Chapman and Hall. August 1995. E39.00 (hardback). 492~~. ISBN O-412-56190-5. The first version of this book appeared in 1983 and was an attempt to provide basic information about environmental health procedures in a simple, straightforward form. This fourth version is a successful continuation of the same theme. It is written by the Director of Housing and Environmental Health of Exeter who is extremely experienced in his field. Although useful and informative to health professionals in general, the book is primarily aimed at Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) to whom this is an essential reference work. The range of topics is as extensive as the work brief of an EHO and breaks down what can be extremely complex legislation into accurate, well defined, easily readable and relevant bites. There is an extensive use of flowcharts to demonstrate the sequence of the legal procedures that need to take place. Topics such as building standards, pollution control, noise control, statutory nuisances, food safety, clean air standards, infectious disease control, water quality, litter, housing repair, bedsits, drainage, food safety and a variety of licensing conditions are all covered comprehensively. There are also sections on health and safety at work, evaporative cooling towers (with legionella control in mind) together with some of the less mainstream activities such as stray dog control, abandoned vehicles, scrap metal dealers, and cinema licences to name but a few. This book is a very comprehensive work indeed. As an EHO I have
326
Book Reviews
found it to be worth its weight in gold. However, much of the material will be of limited interest for infection control personnel. Nevertheless, a number of factors outside a hospital may impact on the health or welfare of patients inside. These include noise, air quality problems (even the hospital’s own incineration or heating plant), and food and water quality. This book would be useful for assessing what could be done to alleviate problems and might be used to persuade a reluctant EHO to take action on a problem. The section on the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 is very clear and spells out what legal powers are available for the control of specific diseases. These powers tend to be jointly exercised by Consultants in Communicable Disease Control where they have been appointed by local authorities as ‘proper officers’ for this Act. The controls deal essentially with public health and relate to the prevention of further spread of disease. To conclude, this is an extremely well researched, well written reference book that is simply brimming with information. It will be useful to public health professionals in varying degrees according to their specialities or range of duties. R. Slaughter
Environmental Health Manager, London Borough of Lambeth, 15-19 New Park Road, London S W2 4DU, UK