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Having a Baby
Volume b9 I\ umber 1
BOOK REVLEWS
6~J7
JOl'RNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYXECOLOGY. This present monograph explains in lengthy awl meticulous detail his theory of the mechanism of labor in the normal patient with a vertex presentation. To study this problem he first thoroughly reviews both the historical and current opinions on the subject, then attempts to duplicate the actual birth of a fetal head experimentally. He has studied fetal passage roentgenologically and cinematographically and has concluded that vertex rotations and flexions are determined by head configuration alone. The author duplicates the pelvis with a lubricated rubber tube and simulates the fetal head with a carefully shaped wooden figure. Then he passes the head through the tube under air or manual pressure and observes the model's transitory movements. This experiment supposedly duplicates the mechanism in vivo. Since the movements vary with cephalic configuration he proves, at least to his own satisfaction, that the mechanisms of normal labor are determined solely by head shape. Dr. Rydberg divides his book into several chapters, covering theory, history, and ex· periments. The clinician, however, may fully grasp the important points of the mono· graph from the summary in the seventh chapter. Practical Obstetrics. By Bruce T. Mayes. 500 pages with 177 illustrations. London, 1954, Angus and Robertson. 87 shillings and sixpence. This is an exciting book! It begins dramatically with a death and the imagination of the reader is held as the author proceeds to describe how the patient died from preeclamptic toxemia. The subject is then discussed with emphasis on prevention and treatment, and thus he establishes a pattern for the various subjects discussed throughout the remainder of the book. The Jirst edition was evolved from a series of bulletins on obstetrical subjects which were written for graduates serving in the armed forces during World War II. The second is an expanded version resulting from the success of the first edition, and from the great value of the original bulletins. The book is primarily intended for the general practitioner, but the specialist will gain much practical and useful information from these graphic pages. The author is obviously a first-class teacher, and the way in which he presents the various subjects gives the reader a clear picture of his teaching methods. The approach is essentially conservative, and the witty aphorisms, sprinkled as if with a pepper pot throughout the whole book, help to drive home salient points. Professor Mayes has chosen those subjects which the busy private practitioner is most likely to encounter, and in addition there are chapters on sterilization, sterility, and infertility. It is felt, however, that without greatly enlarging the book, chapters on transverse presentation and pyelitis could have been introduced with some advantage, and that even appendicitis and tumors of the ovary and uterus might be considered for a later edition. Certain dogmatic statements, such as ''no serious attempt has been made to relieve vulvar varicosities,'' may cause some disagreement. Notwithstanding these minor criticisms; this is an excellent book and its popularity is sure to increase as it becomes more widely known. The illustrations and the general setup make this an attractive purchase for the potential reader of a book on practical obstetrics. Eighty-seven shillings and sixpence (approximately thirteen dollars), seems expensive for a book of this size, but the price may be accounted for by the excellence of the numerous drawings, many of which are in color. Having a Baby. By J. F. Robinson. S. Livingstone. $2.50.
92 pages with 23 illustrations.
London, 1954, E. &
Consisting of some ninety pages, this little book for those who are about to be married is full of information concerning anatomy in relation to childbirth, the menstrual cycle, contraception, sterility, the beginning of pregnancy and antenatal care, exercises during pregnancy, celaxation during pregnancy and laltor, growth and development of a baby, twilight sleep and analgesia in labor, lying-in, and feeding the baby.
It would seem au irume!l~\l task to eorul,·n"'' ali tliis iuto a ,,rnu.ll lmok. The autltot has aecomplished it nlry 'l!H'•'essfully in an ••rt.'.', lm,ither ··•mr: tries.
Primer of Pulmonary Function. By Hurold !.rnyon 'l'rimble arHl .lames I\ieran. Oakland. Calif., Hl54, California Health and 'l'uherculosis Assoeiation.
22 pag('R.
This is an introduction to the subject of pulmonary function, written simply, with readily applicable examples. It discusse~ and explains the various tests of pulmonary function in a practical manner. A very useful table of lung volumes and formulas is reproduced, and a graph of lung volume subdivisions from Pappenheimer iJ. }\•deration Pro('., 1950), Tlcis eollc·dion of data, together with its information on the eost of equipment, will prove to be most useful for the general praetitioner and medirAl ~tmlent and those wishing to bt" briefly acquaintecl with newer methods in this :field. Problellli dello Stroma Endometriale nelle Metropatie "disfunzionali," a Oontegno Emorragico ed an9lllorragico (The Problem of the Stroma of the Endometrimn in Dysfunctional Bleeding, both Hemorrhagic and Nonhemorrha.gic). By F. Destro. 28 pages with 14 illustrations. Fidenza, 1953, 'l'i.pografia '!'ito Mattioli. 'l'he author describes the problem of the "silver wire Teticulum" and of the" stromal mucoid'' of the endometrium in eases of dysfunctional metropathia, both hemorrhagi(• ancl nonhemorrhagic, comparing it with the particular modification of the normal men~trual cycle, and of other pathological conditions of hormonal dysfunction. He finally interprets the genetic mechanism and meaning, in the light of modern knowledge on the constitution and function of the connective tissne,. L'endometriosi (Endometriosis). By]'. Destro, lVI. Goisis, and C. Slirtori. 71 pages with 25 illustrations. Fidenza, Hl53. 1'ipografia Tito Mattioli. 'l'he authors analyze the several aspect~ (pathogenetic, anatamohistologic, clinical, and therapeutic) of endometriosis, illustrating with numerous photomicrographs the most interesting and characteristic histologic picture of the cases they have studied. Among these. u ease of vaginal endometriosis with ll clecidual reaction, one of endometriosis in the rectum, a diffuse peritoneal endometriosis with the infiltration of the stroma of a coexistent carcinoma of the sigmoid deserve special mention. Sulla Necrosi ipofisaria puerperale (Necrosis of the Hypophysis PostPartum). By Filippo J lestro. 23 pages with 8 illustrations. Ficlenza, 1953, 'l'ipografia Tito Mattioli. The author describes a case of hemorrhage eaused by plaeenta previa and aceompanied by necrosis of the hypophysis brought about by autochthonous thrombosis of the vessels, eoncerning mainly the front and rear lobes. The sudden onset of a serious polyuria was the elinical symptom which led to the diagnosis of necrosis of the hypophysis, later eonfirrned by autopsy and histologieal ex· aminations. 1'he fact is stressed that, while the al"enee or disappearance of lactation is a precocious symptom of necrosis of the hypophysis, the presence of polyuria is a precocious symptom of necrosis of the posthypophysis. A discussion follows on the pathogenesis of the necrosis of the hypophysis.
BOOK REVLEWS
6~J7
JOl'RNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYXECOLOGY. This present monograph explains in lengthy awl meticulous detail his theory of the mechanism of labor in the normal patient with a vertex presentation. To study this problem he first thoroughly reviews both the historical and current opinions on the subject, then attempts to duplicate the actual birth of a fetal head experimentally. He has studied fetal passage roentgenologically and cinematographically and has concluded that vertex rotations and flexions are determined by head configuration alone. The author duplicates the pelvis with a lubricated rubber tube and simulates the fetal head with a carefully shaped wooden figure. Then he passes the head through the tube under air or manual pressure and observes the model's transitory movements. This experiment supposedly duplicates the mechanism in vivo. Since the movements vary with cephalic configuration he proves, at least to his own satisfaction, that the mechanisms of normal labor are determined solely by head shape. Dr. Rydberg divides his book into several chapters, covering theory, history, and ex· periments. The clinician, however, may fully grasp the important points of the mono· graph from the summary in the seventh chapter. Practical Obstetrics. By Bruce T. Mayes. 500 pages with 177 illustrations. London, 1954, Angus and Robertson. 87 shillings and sixpence. This is an exciting book! It begins dramatically with a death and the imagination of the reader is held as the author proceeds to describe how the patient died from preeclamptic toxemia. The subject is then discussed with emphasis on prevention and treatment, and thus he establishes a pattern for the various subjects discussed throughout the remainder of the book. The Jirst edition was evolved from a series of bulletins on obstetrical subjects which were written for graduates serving in the armed forces during World War II. The second is an expanded version resulting from the success of the first edition, and from the great value of the original bulletins. The book is primarily intended for the general practitioner, but the specialist will gain much practical and useful information from these graphic pages. The author is obviously a first-class teacher, and the way in which he presents the various subjects gives the reader a clear picture of his teaching methods. The approach is essentially conservative, and the witty aphorisms, sprinkled as if with a pepper pot throughout the whole book, help to drive home salient points. Professor Mayes has chosen those subjects which the busy private practitioner is most likely to encounter, and in addition there are chapters on sterilization, sterility, and infertility. It is felt, however, that without greatly enlarging the book, chapters on transverse presentation and pyelitis could have been introduced with some advantage, and that even appendicitis and tumors of the ovary and uterus might be considered for a later edition. Certain dogmatic statements, such as ''no serious attempt has been made to relieve vulvar varicosities,'' may cause some disagreement. Notwithstanding these minor criticisms; this is an excellent book and its popularity is sure to increase as it becomes more widely known. The illustrations and the general setup make this an attractive purchase for the potential reader of a book on practical obstetrics. Eighty-seven shillings and sixpence (approximately thirteen dollars), seems expensive for a book of this size, but the price may be accounted for by the excellence of the numerous drawings, many of which are in color. Having a Baby. By J. F. Robinson. S. Livingstone. $2.50.
92 pages with 23 illustrations.
London, 1954, E. &
Consisting of some ninety pages, this little book for those who are about to be married is full of information concerning anatomy in relation to childbirth, the menstrual cycle, contraception, sterility, the beginning of pregnancy and antenatal care, exercises during pregnancy, celaxation during pregnancy and laltor, growth and development of a baby, twilight sleep and analgesia in labor, lying-in, and feeding the baby.
It would seem au irume!l~\l task to eorul,·n"'' ali tliis iuto a ,,rnu.ll lmok. The autltot has aecomplished it nlry 'l!H'•'essfully in an ••rt.'.', lm,i
Primer of Pulmonary Function. By Hurold !.rnyon 'l'rimble arHl .lames I\ieran. Oakland. Calif., Hl54, California Health and 'l'uherculosis Assoeiation.
22 pag('R.
This is an introduction to the subject of pulmonary function, written simply, with readily applicable examples. It discusse~ and explains the various tests of pulmonary function in a practical manner. A very useful table of lung volumes and formulas is reproduced, and a graph of lung volume subdivisions from Pappenheimer iJ. }\•deration Pro('., 1950), Tlcis eollc·dion of data, together with its information on the eost of equipment, will prove to be most useful for the general praetitioner and medirAl ~tmlent and those wishing to bt" briefly acquaintecl with newer methods in this :field. Problellli dello Stroma Endometriale nelle Metropatie "disfunzionali," a Oontegno Emorragico ed an9lllorragico (The Problem of the Stroma of the Endometrimn in Dysfunctional Bleeding, both Hemorrhagic and Nonhemorrha.gic). By F. Destro. 28 pages with 14 illustrations. Fidenza, 1953, 'l'i.pografia '!'ito Mattioli. 'l'he author describes the problem of the "silver wire Teticulum" and of the" stromal mucoid'' of the endometrium in eases of dysfunctional metropathia, both hemorrhagi(• ancl nonhemorrhagic, comparing it with the particular modification of the normal men~trual cycle, and of other pathological conditions of hormonal dysfunction. He finally interprets the genetic mechanism and meaning, in the light of modern knowledge on the constitution and function of the connective tissne,. L'endometriosi (Endometriosis). By]'. Destro, lVI. Goisis, and C. Slirtori. 71 pages with 25 illustrations. Fidenza, Hl53. 1'ipografia Tito Mattioli. 'l'he authors analyze the several aspect~ (pathogenetic, anatamohistologic, clinical, and therapeutic) of endometriosis, illustrating with numerous photomicrographs the most interesting and characteristic histologic picture of the cases they have studied. Among these. u ease of vaginal endometriosis with ll clecidual reaction, one of endometriosis in the rectum, a diffuse peritoneal endometriosis with the infiltration of the stroma of a coexistent carcinoma of the sigmoid deserve special mention. Sulla Necrosi ipofisaria puerperale (Necrosis of the Hypophysis PostPartum). By Filippo J lestro. 23 pages with 8 illustrations. Ficlenza, 1953, 'l'ipografia Tito Mattioli. The author describes a case of hemorrhage eaused by plaeenta previa and aceompanied by necrosis of the hypophysis brought about by autochthonous thrombosis of the vessels, eoncerning mainly the front and rear lobes. The sudden onset of a serious polyuria was the elinical symptom which led to the diagnosis of necrosis of the hypophysis, later eonfirrned by autopsy and histologieal ex· aminations. 1'he fact is stressed that, while the al"enee or disappearance of lactation is a precocious symptom of necrosis of the hypophysis, the presence of polyuria is a precocious symptom of necrosis of the posthypophysis. A discussion follows on the pathogenesis of the necrosis of the hypophysis.