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Heart and vector: Physical basis of electrocardiography
Bookxeviews
ADVANCES IN MICROCIRCULATION, H. Harders, Hamburg, Basel, 158 pp. Price $13.00. The
Vol. 3. Edited by 1970, S. Karger AG,
third volume of Advances in Microcirculation is a good one, devoted to discussions of the influence of intravenously administered fat emulsions, thermography, microcirculation of peripheral nerves, the cochlea, autologous graphs of nucleus pulposus, and responses to smoking in man. Those studying the microcirculation will certainly find this to’ be an interesting book although this reviewer is impressed with the paucity of advances and work in this important field. Because of the need for more interest in the microcirculation physiologists should find this summary of important recent advances particularly useful to them. After all, it is the microcirculation which actually supplies the cells of the body with their circulatory needs.
UCLA FORUM IN MEDICAL SCIENCES. Vol. 13, CARDIOVASCULAR BETA-ADREXERGIC RESPONSES. Edited by Albert A. Kattus, Gordon Ross, and Victor Hall, Berkeley, 1970, University of California Press, 284 pp. Price $20.00. The
proceedings of a symposium held at the University of California School of Medicine in Los Angeles during February, 1968, are described in this publication. The beta-adrenergic responses were discussed primarily from the cardiovascular viewpoint. The participants reviewed the history of agents that stimulated or blocked the p-adrenergic responses as well as Dr. Ahlquist’s original studies which introduced the concept of alphaand beta-adrenergic sympathetic innovation. The actions of propranolol and catecholamines on the heart and blood vessels were discussed. The clinical applications of knowledge related to @-adrenergic responses contributed a fairly significant part of the symposium. As in all such symposia the discussions are most interesting, for it is these which reflect the opinions of the participants and the shortcomings in knowledge. The uses of @-adrenergic blocking agents, particularly propranolol, are discussed a great deal. Practices concerning the use of propranolol up to 1968 were presented by the participants, all of whom studied this interesting drug. This is a good book on an extremely important subject.
GRANT’S CLINICAL ELECTROCARDIOGRAPBLY: THE SPATIAL VECTOR APPROACH, ed. 2. Revised by Julian R. Bechwith, M.D., New York, 1970, A Blakiston Publication, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 22.5 pp. Price $9.95. This second edition electrocardiography
of Grant’s brings
approach to clinical these concepts up to
date. Beckwith has not changed the presentations very much, however. Those who find this simplified approach to spatial vectorcardiography useful will want to own this new volume. This reviewer, however, finds such an approach to the clinical interpretation of electrocardiograms oversimplified. The detailed configuration and changes with disease of all the complexes of the ECG are extremely important in clinical diagnosis. The relatively crude mean values may be useful but they are not adequate for most effective practice of cardiology. Nevertheless, Grant’s approach is satisfactorily presented in this volume for those interested in it.
THE CLINICAL, RECOGNITION OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE. By Joseph K. Perloff, M.D., Philadelphia, 1970, W. B. Saunders Company, 606 pp. Price $25.00. This book on the clinical recognition of congenital heart disease not only is of importance to the cardiologist but will also serve as an educational monograph. Perloff has written this monograph to assist doctors in becoming more efficient in diagnosis and management. His presentation is lucid and supported by many excellent illustrations and bibliographies. The physical examination and laboratory studies are emphasized. Perloff presents the simple bedside approach to diagnosis rather than reliance primarily on cardiac catheterization. It is extremely gratifying to see the doctor return to the bedside where the best medicine must eventually be practiced. The common heart defects are considered and clearly discussed. This is a very good book which should interest all pediatricians and internists as well as cardiologists.
CARDIOVASCULAR CLINICS. Albert N. Brest, M.D., Editor-in-chief. CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE, Daniel F. Downing, Guest Editor, Philadelphia, 1970, F. A. Davis Company, 330 pp. Price $10.00. Brest edits another nice volume of cardiovascular clinics. The many contributors are well known in the field of congenital heart diseases. This volume includes the common congenital cardiac defects. It is written for the practicing physician and is an excellent up-to-date review of the subject which should not only interest pediatricians but all internists and cardiologists as well. The volumes in this series of cardiovascular clinics have been very good and this is no exception. HEART AND VECTOR: PHYSICAL BASIS OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY. Edited by H. C. Burger and H. W. Julius, Jr., The Netherlands, 1968, Phillips Technical Library, Gordon and Breach, Publishers, Inc., 140 pp. Price $14.00.
731
732
Book
reviews
Julius has condensed in a small book the important contributions made by Prof. Herman C. Burger to electrocardiography and vectorcardiography. Professor Burger’s work has been outstanding and fuily appreciated the world over and this tribute to him and his work is an excellent idea. Julius renders a fine service in bringing together these important studies of Burger. The book includes chapters on instruments, placement of electrodes, Einthoven’s triangle, the electric dipole, heart and lead vectors, polar vectors, ventricular gradient, multipolar effects, clinical applications, aud other aspects of theoretic electrocardiography. The book is actually a dedication to H. C. Burger. This nice book should interest all concerned with electrocardiography. Prof. Burger’s bibliography in this field is also included for those who wish to study the original publications.
THE MANAGEMENT OF GERIATRIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE. By Raymond Harris, M.D., Philadelphia, 1970, J. B. Lippincott Company, 306 pp. Price $16.50. Harris has written an interesting, though relatively small, book on an important subject. Physicians fail too often to realize that diseases in older patients require considerations in management which differ markedly from those for younger people. As this book indicates, old people almost always have several diseases simultaneously, most of them degenerative. Furthermore, old people are frequently more sensitive to drugs than are young people. They respond slowly to questioning, and they must be handled more cautiously during physical examination. Their cardiovascular disease usually involves arteriosclerosis, hypertension, or chronic pulmonary disease with COT pulmonale, and often all three together. Harris discusses these in the usual fashion. He included chapters on congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, occlusive arterial disease and pre- and postoperative care of the aged cardiac patient. This book emphasizes the importance of geriatric cardiology in clinical medicine. The bibliography is complete and the index is good.
RECENT ADVANCES IN BLOOD COAGULATION. Edited by L. Poller, M.D., M.R.C.S.(Eng.), M.D.Path., London, 1969, J. & A. Churchill, Ltd., 362 pages. Price $18.00. This book, edited by Dr. Poller, is concerned with one of the most important problems in clinical
medicine. There are patients whose blood will not clot normally when it should and there are those whose blood will clot when it should not. The same physician is often confronted with 30th during his practice. To understand and manage these patients adequately he should know the general principles of blood coagulation. With the assistance of many outstanding contributors Poller has gathered a series of papers dealing with the important aspects of blood clotting. There are 16 chapters in the book which are concerned with a wide range of aspects of varying from mechanisms blood coagulation, and biochemistry, platelet adhesion and aggregation, to clinical applications. The style is clear and the reviews of the selected aspects of coagulation are thorough though concise. The contributors have maintained a practical point of view while integrating new and complex aspects of biood coagulation with already established ones. This is a good source of fundamental and practical information which should interest all doctors. This book is a good contribution to the medical literature and worth careful study. COMPUTERS IN ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY. By Josef Wartak, M.D., BSc., Springfield, Ill., 1970, Charles C Thomas, Publisher, 250 pages. Price $19.50. This is a highly specialized subject which should interest those planning or already concerned with the use of computers in the analysis of electrocardiographic recordings. The average physician may wish to review this book to learn more about this type of ECG analysis and interpretation. The author briefly discusses the principles of electrocardiography and computers. Chapters are devoted to acquisitions and processing of eiectrocardiograms, and various systems employed for ECG processing and analysis. The presentations are good. Anyone engaged in this field of electrocardionraohv will find this book interesting and should want to own a copy regardless of his ideas and systems of computer applications in electrocardiography. Y
2
,
ADVANCES IN MICROCIRCULATION, H. Harders, Hamburg, Basel, 158 pp. Price $13.00. The
Vol. 3. Edited by 1970, S. Karger AG,
third volume of Advances in Microcirculation is a good one, devoted to discussions of the influence of intravenously administered fat emulsions, thermography, microcirculation of peripheral nerves, the cochlea, autologous graphs of nucleus pulposus, and responses to smoking in man. Those studying the microcirculation will certainly find this to’ be an interesting book although this reviewer is impressed with the paucity of advances and work in this important field. Because of the need for more interest in the microcirculation physiologists should find this summary of important recent advances particularly useful to them. After all, it is the microcirculation which actually supplies the cells of the body with their circulatory needs.
UCLA FORUM IN MEDICAL SCIENCES. Vol. 13, CARDIOVASCULAR BETA-ADREXERGIC RESPONSES. Edited by Albert A. Kattus, Gordon Ross, and Victor Hall, Berkeley, 1970, University of California Press, 284 pp. Price $20.00. The
proceedings of a symposium held at the University of California School of Medicine in Los Angeles during February, 1968, are described in this publication. The beta-adrenergic responses were discussed primarily from the cardiovascular viewpoint. The participants reviewed the history of agents that stimulated or blocked the p-adrenergic responses as well as Dr. Ahlquist’s original studies which introduced the concept of alphaand beta-adrenergic sympathetic innovation. The actions of propranolol and catecholamines on the heart and blood vessels were discussed. The clinical applications of knowledge related to @-adrenergic responses contributed a fairly significant part of the symposium. As in all such symposia the discussions are most interesting, for it is these which reflect the opinions of the participants and the shortcomings in knowledge. The uses of @-adrenergic blocking agents, particularly propranolol, are discussed a great deal. Practices concerning the use of propranolol up to 1968 were presented by the participants, all of whom studied this interesting drug. This is a good book on an extremely important subject.
GRANT’S CLINICAL ELECTROCARDIOGRAPBLY: THE SPATIAL VECTOR APPROACH, ed. 2. Revised by Julian R. Bechwith, M.D., New York, 1970, A Blakiston Publication, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 22.5 pp. Price $9.95. This second edition electrocardiography
of Grant’s brings
approach to clinical these concepts up to
date. Beckwith has not changed the presentations very much, however. Those who find this simplified approach to spatial vectorcardiography useful will want to own this new volume. This reviewer, however, finds such an approach to the clinical interpretation of electrocardiograms oversimplified. The detailed configuration and changes with disease of all the complexes of the ECG are extremely important in clinical diagnosis. The relatively crude mean values may be useful but they are not adequate for most effective practice of cardiology. Nevertheless, Grant’s approach is satisfactorily presented in this volume for those interested in it.
THE CLINICAL, RECOGNITION OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE. By Joseph K. Perloff, M.D., Philadelphia, 1970, W. B. Saunders Company, 606 pp. Price $25.00. This book on the clinical recognition of congenital heart disease not only is of importance to the cardiologist but will also serve as an educational monograph. Perloff has written this monograph to assist doctors in becoming more efficient in diagnosis and management. His presentation is lucid and supported by many excellent illustrations and bibliographies. The physical examination and laboratory studies are emphasized. Perloff presents the simple bedside approach to diagnosis rather than reliance primarily on cardiac catheterization. It is extremely gratifying to see the doctor return to the bedside where the best medicine must eventually be practiced. The common heart defects are considered and clearly discussed. This is a very good book which should interest all pediatricians and internists as well as cardiologists.
CARDIOVASCULAR CLINICS. Albert N. Brest, M.D., Editor-in-chief. CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE, Daniel F. Downing, Guest Editor, Philadelphia, 1970, F. A. Davis Company, 330 pp. Price $10.00. Brest edits another nice volume of cardiovascular clinics. The many contributors are well known in the field of congenital heart diseases. This volume includes the common congenital cardiac defects. It is written for the practicing physician and is an excellent up-to-date review of the subject which should not only interest pediatricians but all internists and cardiologists as well. The volumes in this series of cardiovascular clinics have been very good and this is no exception. HEART AND VECTOR: PHYSICAL BASIS OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY. Edited by H. C. Burger and H. W. Julius, Jr., The Netherlands, 1968, Phillips Technical Library, Gordon and Breach, Publishers, Inc., 140 pp. Price $14.00.
731
732
Book
reviews
Julius has condensed in a small book the important contributions made by Prof. Herman C. Burger to electrocardiography and vectorcardiography. Professor Burger’s work has been outstanding and fuily appreciated the world over and this tribute to him and his work is an excellent idea. Julius renders a fine service in bringing together these important studies of Burger. The book includes chapters on instruments, placement of electrodes, Einthoven’s triangle, the electric dipole, heart and lead vectors, polar vectors, ventricular gradient, multipolar effects, clinical applications, aud other aspects of theoretic electrocardiography. The book is actually a dedication to H. C. Burger. This nice book should interest all concerned with electrocardiography. Prof. Burger’s bibliography in this field is also included for those who wish to study the original publications.
THE MANAGEMENT OF GERIATRIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE. By Raymond Harris, M.D., Philadelphia, 1970, J. B. Lippincott Company, 306 pp. Price $16.50. Harris has written an interesting, though relatively small, book on an important subject. Physicians fail too often to realize that diseases in older patients require considerations in management which differ markedly from those for younger people. As this book indicates, old people almost always have several diseases simultaneously, most of them degenerative. Furthermore, old people are frequently more sensitive to drugs than are young people. They respond slowly to questioning, and they must be handled more cautiously during physical examination. Their cardiovascular disease usually involves arteriosclerosis, hypertension, or chronic pulmonary disease with COT pulmonale, and often all three together. Harris discusses these in the usual fashion. He included chapters on congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, occlusive arterial disease and pre- and postoperative care of the aged cardiac patient. This book emphasizes the importance of geriatric cardiology in clinical medicine. The bibliography is complete and the index is good.
RECENT ADVANCES IN BLOOD COAGULATION. Edited by L. Poller, M.D., M.R.C.S.(Eng.), M.D.Path., London, 1969, J. & A. Churchill, Ltd., 362 pages. Price $18.00. This book, edited by Dr. Poller, is concerned with one of the most important problems in clinical
medicine. There are patients whose blood will not clot normally when it should and there are those whose blood will clot when it should not. The same physician is often confronted with 30th during his practice. To understand and manage these patients adequately he should know the general principles of blood coagulation. With the assistance of many outstanding contributors Poller has gathered a series of papers dealing with the important aspects of blood clotting. There are 16 chapters in the book which are concerned with a wide range of aspects of varying from mechanisms blood coagulation, and biochemistry, platelet adhesion and aggregation, to clinical applications. The style is clear and the reviews of the selected aspects of coagulation are thorough though concise. The contributors have maintained a practical point of view while integrating new and complex aspects of biood coagulation with already established ones. This is a good source of fundamental and practical information which should interest all doctors. This book is a good contribution to the medical literature and worth careful study. COMPUTERS IN ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY. By Josef Wartak, M.D., BSc., Springfield, Ill., 1970, Charles C Thomas, Publisher, 250 pages. Price $19.50. This is a highly specialized subject which should interest those planning or already concerned with the use of computers in the analysis of electrocardiographic recordings. The average physician may wish to review this book to learn more about this type of ECG analysis and interpretation. The author briefly discusses the principles of electrocardiography and computers. Chapters are devoted to acquisitions and processing of eiectrocardiograms, and various systems employed for ECG processing and analysis. The presentations are good. Anyone engaged in this field of electrocardionraohv will find this book interesting and should want to own a copy regardless of his ideas and systems of computer applications in electrocardiography. Y
2
,