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Injuries to the major branches of peripheral nerves of the forearm
363
Journal of the neurological Sciences, 18 (1973) 363 © Elsevier Scientific Publishing C o m p a n y , A m s t e r d a m - Printed in The Netherlands
Book Reviews
Injuries to the Major Branches of Peripheral Nerves of the Forearm, by MORTON SPINNER, X+ 141 pages, 63 illustrations, Saunders, Philadelphia, London, Toronto, 1972, £ 5.35. This book, written, one presumes, for orthopaedic surgeons, summarises the author's surgical experience over 15 years in treating patients with injuries to or lesions of peripheral nerves in the forearm. It is written in a somewhat anecdotal style in that case histories are interwoven into the text and are somewhat difficult to disentangle from his review of the literature and from the discussion. The author comes down firmly in favour of primary rather than
Special Topics in Stereotaxis. Epilepsy, Disorders of Behaviour, and Autonomic Balance (Symposium, Berlin, September, 1970), by W. UMaACH (Ed.), 183 pages, 56 illustrations, 11 tables, Hippokrates, Stuttgart, 1971. This report of a Symposium held in Berlin in 1970 gives in its 180 pages an excellent account of some lesser known applications of stereotaxic surgery, particularly in relation to the treatment of epilepsy and behaviour disorders. O f particular interest is Professor Sano's account of stereotaxic stimulation and destruction in the posteriorhypothalamus in
Ermiidun 9, Schla/'und Traum, by W. BAUST (Ed.), xii+314 pages. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft M B H Stuttgart. 1970. D.M. The nature of sleep and dreams has been a subject about which poets, philosophers and theologians have speculated for m a n y centuries. Scientific enquiry has a m u c h briefer history, a mere 40 years or so. A n d yet during this time there has accumulated a vast literature with contributions from m a n y scientific disciplines. We have learned a great deal, and yet fundamental questions such as why h u m a n beings cannot exist without sleep, a state which comprises one third of their lives, whereas for instance the crocodile or the bullfrog appear to be able to do so, await an answer. This m o n o g r a p h , the first on this subject to appear in the G e r m a n language, provides a brief but comprehensive review of recent advances confined largely to the physiological and biochemical areas of research. As the editor, Professor Baust points
secondary suture after traumatic division of peripheral nerves. The anatomical diagrams and clinical photographs which the book contains are of good quality and it contains m a n y observations which will be of value to surgeons practising peripheral nerve surgery. It will, however, be of very limited interest and value to neurologists as this reviewer did not find any information of diagnostic value in the text which has not been fully covered in established works; the book would also have been more useful if the author had analysed the longterm results of his surgical treatment more extensively. JOHN N. WALTON
cases of epilepsy and behaviour disorders. There are also accounts of operative procedures in certain sexual disorders and it appears that in certain countries from time to time such procedures are suggested by courts of law. There is a very useful a m o u n t of technical detail for the specialist in stereotaxic surgery and much of more general interest for workers in neurophysiology and psychiatry. Professor U m b a c h is to be congratulated on this valuable contribution to advancing knowledge and therapy in these conditions. J. HANKINSON
out in his introduction, such a selection was a compromise, in view of the vast literature that would otherwise have had to be reviewed. The eight sections of the book, each dealing with a specific theme, such as the regulation of sleep, the rhythm of sleeping and waking, and the anatomical basis of sleep, are written by experts who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. It would be invidious to select any particular part of this m o n o g r a p h for special comment, but the clinician will find the excellent accounts of the pathophysiology of sleep and of pharmacologically induced sleep, of particular interest. Even the reader who has no specialist knowledge of the subject will find m u c h useful information. He will, for instance, be enlightened about the mechanism of snoring but alas. he will be disappointed to learn that no effective remedy has yet been found for this universal complaint! K. SCHApIRA
Journal of the neurological Sciences, 18 (1973) 363 © Elsevier Scientific Publishing C o m p a n y , A m s t e r d a m - Printed in The Netherlands
Book Reviews
Injuries to the Major Branches of Peripheral Nerves of the Forearm, by MORTON SPINNER, X+ 141 pages, 63 illustrations, Saunders, Philadelphia, London, Toronto, 1972, £ 5.35. This book, written, one presumes, for orthopaedic surgeons, summarises the author's surgical experience over 15 years in treating patients with injuries to or lesions of peripheral nerves in the forearm. It is written in a somewhat anecdotal style in that case histories are interwoven into the text and are somewhat difficult to disentangle from his review of the literature and from the discussion. The author comes down firmly in favour of primary rather than
Special Topics in Stereotaxis. Epilepsy, Disorders of Behaviour, and Autonomic Balance (Symposium, Berlin, September, 1970), by W. UMaACH (Ed.), 183 pages, 56 illustrations, 11 tables, Hippokrates, Stuttgart, 1971. This report of a Symposium held in Berlin in 1970 gives in its 180 pages an excellent account of some lesser known applications of stereotaxic surgery, particularly in relation to the treatment of epilepsy and behaviour disorders. O f particular interest is Professor Sano's account of stereotaxic stimulation and destruction in the posteriorhypothalamus in
Ermiidun 9, Schla/'und Traum, by W. BAUST (Ed.), xii+314 pages. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft M B H Stuttgart. 1970. D.M. The nature of sleep and dreams has been a subject about which poets, philosophers and theologians have speculated for m a n y centuries. Scientific enquiry has a m u c h briefer history, a mere 40 years or so. A n d yet during this time there has accumulated a vast literature with contributions from m a n y scientific disciplines. We have learned a great deal, and yet fundamental questions such as why h u m a n beings cannot exist without sleep, a state which comprises one third of their lives, whereas for instance the crocodile or the bullfrog appear to be able to do so, await an answer. This m o n o g r a p h , the first on this subject to appear in the G e r m a n language, provides a brief but comprehensive review of recent advances confined largely to the physiological and biochemical areas of research. As the editor, Professor Baust points
secondary suture after traumatic division of peripheral nerves. The anatomical diagrams and clinical photographs which the book contains are of good quality and it contains m a n y observations which will be of value to surgeons practising peripheral nerve surgery. It will, however, be of very limited interest and value to neurologists as this reviewer did not find any information of diagnostic value in the text which has not been fully covered in established works; the book would also have been more useful if the author had analysed the longterm results of his surgical treatment more extensively. JOHN N. WALTON
cases of epilepsy and behaviour disorders. There are also accounts of operative procedures in certain sexual disorders and it appears that in certain countries from time to time such procedures are suggested by courts of law. There is a very useful a m o u n t of technical detail for the specialist in stereotaxic surgery and much of more general interest for workers in neurophysiology and psychiatry. Professor U m b a c h is to be congratulated on this valuable contribution to advancing knowledge and therapy in these conditions. J. HANKINSON
out in his introduction, such a selection was a compromise, in view of the vast literature that would otherwise have had to be reviewed. The eight sections of the book, each dealing with a specific theme, such as the regulation of sleep, the rhythm of sleeping and waking, and the anatomical basis of sleep, are written by experts who have made significant contributions in their respective fields. It would be invidious to select any particular part of this m o n o g r a p h for special comment, but the clinician will find the excellent accounts of the pathophysiology of sleep and of pharmacologically induced sleep, of particular interest. Even the reader who has no specialist knowledge of the subject will find m u c h useful information. He will, for instance, be enlightened about the mechanism of snoring but alas. he will be disappointed to learn that no effective remedy has yet been found for this universal complaint! K. SCHApIRA