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Immunological diseases
624
Book Reviews
considered. Papers on genetics, schistosomiasis, blood formation and coagulation factors, connective tissue growth, reticula-endothelial physiology and liver cell replication are presented. As in any such collection of papers, the quality varies widely but averages good to excellent. I found a review on the ultramicroscopic structure of the liver most rewarding. In a few pages it presented what I had not been able to grasp in a dozen previous efforts. The essay on the function of the biliary tract, the two papers on schistosomiasis in the liver, and that on radiological methods are all outstanding. The final paper by the editors on “The Problem of Chronicity in Liver Disease” is the most useful synthesis of all of the theories of this problem that I have seen. The editors and authors have produced a most satisfying and useful volume. The price seems high but there are approximately 200 illustrations. The print is large and the paper excellent. The book will be welcomed by anyone working in these fields, and by students and physicians having occasion to require a review in one of the areas covered. It certainly should be purchased by teaching libraries. The material will remain current and useful for a long time to come. FRANK L.IBER
THE MANAGEMENT OF CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE. and Co., Boston, 1965. 199 pp. Indexed. Price $10.50.
JOHN MARSHALL. Little, Brown
DR. JOHN MARSHALL has long been known as one of the leading investigators in England in cerebrovascular disease. In this small monograph he presents his views of the pathophysiology of cerebrovascular accidents and their managements. The volume is introduced by a brief review of the anatomy of the cerebral vasculature and the physiology of cerebral blood flow. There is also an excellent discussion of the neuro and vascular pathology of stroke by Dr. T. Crawford and Dr. M. R. Compton. The section on pathology follows the same outline as the subsequent clinical sections and covers the completed stroke, the stroke in evolution and transient ischemic attacks. This facilitates correction of the pathologic mechanisms and clinical picture for the various types of stroke. The completed stroke is by far the most common variety of cerebrovascular accident and the author points this up by covering in detail the general management, diagnosis and common causes of completed stroke. He re-emphasizes the fact that the completed stroke can be caused by tissue ischemia from atherosclerotic vascular disease, by embolus or by intracranial hemorrhage. The current literature covering etiology and diagnosis for each cause is well reviewed and clearly presented. Of special interest to physicians dealing with medical problems is the section on transient is&emit attacks, the neurologic phenomena which give warning of cerebrovascular disease before irreversible neurologic damage has occurred. The signs and symptoms of these attacks are well presented along with a good discussion of the etiology of the attacks. Because many of the current advances in the understanding of stroke are related to cerebral angiography, the author carefully outlines the advantages and hazards of the various types of cerebral angiography. He covers in some detail most of the recommended techniques, past and present, and indicates their particular advantages and complications. Anticoagulants are recommended for treatment for several types of cerebrovascular disease. The book includes an excellent chapter on the use of anticoagulants for each variety of stroke as well as the details of the institution of anticoagulants and management of patients on anticoagulants. In his last chapter he discusses the relationship of hypertension to stroke, in respect to both its etiological and therapeutic implications. This is an excellent little book and one that every one who deals with the problem of cerebrovascular disease should read. It is short, complete, well written and well referenced. It approaches cerebrovascular disease from the positive aspect of what can be done for patients and how to do it. FLETCHERMCDOWELL
IMMUNOLOGICAL 966 pp. Indexed.
DISEASES. Edited by MAX SAMTER. Little, Brown and Co., Boston, 1965. Price $30.00.
THIS book fulfills the need to correlate basic immunological knowledge with the manifestations of diseases which may have an underlying immunological mechanism. That the correlation is incomplete and that the mechanism leading to signs and symptoms of disease remains unknown in many instances lies in the deficiencies in our knowledge and not in any deficiencies of the expertise of the 89 contributors to this volume. The discoveries in recent years about antibodies and hypersensitivity have made the desirability of such a book evident. It is not, however, a work which presents a unified
Book Reviews
625
viewpoint (never likely with multiple authorship) or which explains everything. It is rather a comprehensive positive report of the present state of our knowledge, or perhaps more accurately, of our ignorance, and more things are left unexplained than are elucidated. The authors are invariably the most knowledgable and distinguished authorities on their separate subjects and the editors have done well in seeking out those who can speak from their personal experience in the laboratory or the clinic rather than merely review the work of others. Immunological Diseases is not a clinical guide or an attempt to make immunology easy; it is a thorough review of a rapidly advancing area for those with a serious intellectual interest. It will be a reference work, not a book to read from cover to cover. If it goes through numerous editions, as seems likely if its editors can stand the strain, it will be a standard work for laboratory and clinical scientists for many years. P. S. NORMAN
Book Reviews
considered. Papers on genetics, schistosomiasis, blood formation and coagulation factors, connective tissue growth, reticula-endothelial physiology and liver cell replication are presented. As in any such collection of papers, the quality varies widely but averages good to excellent. I found a review on the ultramicroscopic structure of the liver most rewarding. In a few pages it presented what I had not been able to grasp in a dozen previous efforts. The essay on the function of the biliary tract, the two papers on schistosomiasis in the liver, and that on radiological methods are all outstanding. The final paper by the editors on “The Problem of Chronicity in Liver Disease” is the most useful synthesis of all of the theories of this problem that I have seen. The editors and authors have produced a most satisfying and useful volume. The price seems high but there are approximately 200 illustrations. The print is large and the paper excellent. The book will be welcomed by anyone working in these fields, and by students and physicians having occasion to require a review in one of the areas covered. It certainly should be purchased by teaching libraries. The material will remain current and useful for a long time to come. FRANK L.IBER
THE MANAGEMENT OF CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE. and Co., Boston, 1965. 199 pp. Indexed. Price $10.50.
JOHN MARSHALL. Little, Brown
DR. JOHN MARSHALL has long been known as one of the leading investigators in England in cerebrovascular disease. In this small monograph he presents his views of the pathophysiology of cerebrovascular accidents and their managements. The volume is introduced by a brief review of the anatomy of the cerebral vasculature and the physiology of cerebral blood flow. There is also an excellent discussion of the neuro and vascular pathology of stroke by Dr. T. Crawford and Dr. M. R. Compton. The section on pathology follows the same outline as the subsequent clinical sections and covers the completed stroke, the stroke in evolution and transient ischemic attacks. This facilitates correction of the pathologic mechanisms and clinical picture for the various types of stroke. The completed stroke is by far the most common variety of cerebrovascular accident and the author points this up by covering in detail the general management, diagnosis and common causes of completed stroke. He re-emphasizes the fact that the completed stroke can be caused by tissue ischemia from atherosclerotic vascular disease, by embolus or by intracranial hemorrhage. The current literature covering etiology and diagnosis for each cause is well reviewed and clearly presented. Of special interest to physicians dealing with medical problems is the section on transient is&emit attacks, the neurologic phenomena which give warning of cerebrovascular disease before irreversible neurologic damage has occurred. The signs and symptoms of these attacks are well presented along with a good discussion of the etiology of the attacks. Because many of the current advances in the understanding of stroke are related to cerebral angiography, the author carefully outlines the advantages and hazards of the various types of cerebral angiography. He covers in some detail most of the recommended techniques, past and present, and indicates their particular advantages and complications. Anticoagulants are recommended for treatment for several types of cerebrovascular disease. The book includes an excellent chapter on the use of anticoagulants for each variety of stroke as well as the details of the institution of anticoagulants and management of patients on anticoagulants. In his last chapter he discusses the relationship of hypertension to stroke, in respect to both its etiological and therapeutic implications. This is an excellent little book and one that every one who deals with the problem of cerebrovascular disease should read. It is short, complete, well written and well referenced. It approaches cerebrovascular disease from the positive aspect of what can be done for patients and how to do it. FLETCHERMCDOWELL
IMMUNOLOGICAL 966 pp. Indexed.
DISEASES. Edited by MAX SAMTER. Little, Brown and Co., Boston, 1965. Price $30.00.
THIS book fulfills the need to correlate basic immunological knowledge with the manifestations of diseases which may have an underlying immunological mechanism. That the correlation is incomplete and that the mechanism leading to signs and symptoms of disease remains unknown in many instances lies in the deficiencies in our knowledge and not in any deficiencies of the expertise of the 89 contributors to this volume. The discoveries in recent years about antibodies and hypersensitivity have made the desirability of such a book evident. It is not, however, a work which presents a unified
Book Reviews
625
viewpoint (never likely with multiple authorship) or which explains everything. It is rather a comprehensive positive report of the present state of our knowledge, or perhaps more accurately, of our ignorance, and more things are left unexplained than are elucidated. The authors are invariably the most knowledgable and distinguished authorities on their separate subjects and the editors have done well in seeking out those who can speak from their personal experience in the laboratory or the clinic rather than merely review the work of others. Immunological Diseases is not a clinical guide or an attempt to make immunology easy; it is a thorough review of a rapidly advancing area for those with a serious intellectual interest. It will be a reference work, not a book to read from cover to cover. If it goes through numerous editions, as seems likely if its editors can stand the strain, it will be a standard work for laboratory and clinical scientists for many years. P. S. NORMAN