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L'Année Thérapuetique et Clinique en Ophtalmologie
BOOK REVIEWS
347
Garstang (1894) first suggested the larval echinoderms as a likely source of vertebrate ancestry. The australopiths discovered in southern Africa, which are possibly a mil lion years old, conform closely to the lookedfor connecting link between the anthropoidapes and the later hominids of the Pithecan thropus genus. Modern man emerged about 40,000 years ago. He is said to differ in hav ing learned how to learn. The profession is indebted to the Ciba Company for the publication of this stimulat ing monograph in a free paper-back edition, as with The Rauwolfia Story ( T H E JOURNAL, 39: 257 [Feb. Pt. 1] 1955) and the Ciba Symposia. James E. Lebensohn.
gic and pathophysiologic effects of the corticoids on the eye, Böke concerns himself with the clinical application of cortisone and its derivatives; the indications for the use of steroids ; and the results and failures of their use. With wise restraint he cautions against the overly enthusiastic and indiscriminate administration of these potent drugs. He is in favor of limiting this form of treatment to cases in which it may prevent functional loss of the eye. This would eliminate such self-limiting diseases as episcleritis and cer tain types of conjunctivitis. However, he makes a strong point in advising against this medication in all types of corneal involvment for prolonged periods of time. Curiously enough he fails to call attention to the poten tial danger of steroid treatment in fungus infections.
L ' A N N É E THÉRAPUETIQUE ET CLINIQUE EN
In his studies of the glycogen metabolism of the cornea, and the possibility of an in hibitory action by the steroids, he found to his surprise an increased glycogen content of the inflamed tissues. This may be either the result of leukocytic infiltration or of an ac tual glycogen formation in the stroma. In eyes treated with cortisone, a relative lack of glycogen could actually be demonstrated. This finding was not interpreted as a "glycogen stabilization" but as a decreased glycogen formation. PAS stain showed no difference in the acid polysaccharide contents of control eyes and those treated with cortisone. However, the metachromatic changes found in control eyes could not be demonstrated in eyes treated with cortisone. A possible explanation of this finding is that cortisone causes a high degree of polymerization of the mucopolysaccharides. The second main part of the volume is devoted to some highly interesting theoreti cal and experimental aspects of the effect of desoxycorticosterone on the eye. This agent may induce an acute inflammatory reaction in the eye which, however, does not neces sarily resemble either a chronic or acute fo cal infection in the human eye. It remains
Edited by G. E. Jayle and A. DuBois-Poulsen. Marseille, FueryLamy, 1959, Volume X, 335 pages, index. Price: $10.00. This volume marks the 10th anniversary of the first appearance of this most useful series, and continues the subject of ocular surgery with which Volume IX was concerned. Chap ters are devoted to anesthesia and its com plications, postoperative ocular infections, decubitus, and failures and complications of various types of ocular surgery, written by well-known French experts. It contains much information of considerable note and Frenchreading ophthalmologists will find much in it of profit to themselves and their patients. Volume XI will cover the subject of "In dustrial ophthalmology." Derrick Vail. OPHTALMOLOGIE.
T H E INFLUENCE OF T H E ADRENAL CORTICOIDS ON THE INFLAMMATORY REACTION
OF THE EYE. By Wilhelm Böke, M.D. Leipzig, Georg Thieme, 1960. 104 pages, 29 illustrations, bibliography. Price: DM 21.70. After a discussion of the general physiolo
347
Garstang (1894) first suggested the larval echinoderms as a likely source of vertebrate ancestry. The australopiths discovered in southern Africa, which are possibly a mil lion years old, conform closely to the lookedfor connecting link between the anthropoidapes and the later hominids of the Pithecan thropus genus. Modern man emerged about 40,000 years ago. He is said to differ in hav ing learned how to learn. The profession is indebted to the Ciba Company for the publication of this stimulat ing monograph in a free paper-back edition, as with The Rauwolfia Story ( T H E JOURNAL, 39: 257 [Feb. Pt. 1] 1955) and the Ciba Symposia. James E. Lebensohn.
gic and pathophysiologic effects of the corticoids on the eye, Böke concerns himself with the clinical application of cortisone and its derivatives; the indications for the use of steroids ; and the results and failures of their use. With wise restraint he cautions against the overly enthusiastic and indiscriminate administration of these potent drugs. He is in favor of limiting this form of treatment to cases in which it may prevent functional loss of the eye. This would eliminate such self-limiting diseases as episcleritis and cer tain types of conjunctivitis. However, he makes a strong point in advising against this medication in all types of corneal involvment for prolonged periods of time. Curiously enough he fails to call attention to the poten tial danger of steroid treatment in fungus infections.
L ' A N N É E THÉRAPUETIQUE ET CLINIQUE EN
In his studies of the glycogen metabolism of the cornea, and the possibility of an in hibitory action by the steroids, he found to his surprise an increased glycogen content of the inflamed tissues. This may be either the result of leukocytic infiltration or of an ac tual glycogen formation in the stroma. In eyes treated with cortisone, a relative lack of glycogen could actually be demonstrated. This finding was not interpreted as a "glycogen stabilization" but as a decreased glycogen formation. PAS stain showed no difference in the acid polysaccharide contents of control eyes and those treated with cortisone. However, the metachromatic changes found in control eyes could not be demonstrated in eyes treated with cortisone. A possible explanation of this finding is that cortisone causes a high degree of polymerization of the mucopolysaccharides. The second main part of the volume is devoted to some highly interesting theoreti cal and experimental aspects of the effect of desoxycorticosterone on the eye. This agent may induce an acute inflammatory reaction in the eye which, however, does not neces sarily resemble either a chronic or acute fo cal infection in the human eye. It remains
Edited by G. E. Jayle and A. DuBois-Poulsen. Marseille, FueryLamy, 1959, Volume X, 335 pages, index. Price: $10.00. This volume marks the 10th anniversary of the first appearance of this most useful series, and continues the subject of ocular surgery with which Volume IX was concerned. Chap ters are devoted to anesthesia and its com plications, postoperative ocular infections, decubitus, and failures and complications of various types of ocular surgery, written by well-known French experts. It contains much information of considerable note and Frenchreading ophthalmologists will find much in it of profit to themselves and their patients. Volume XI will cover the subject of "In dustrial ophthalmology." Derrick Vail. OPHTALMOLOGIE.
T H E INFLUENCE OF T H E ADRENAL CORTICOIDS ON THE INFLAMMATORY REACTION
OF THE EYE. By Wilhelm Böke, M.D. Leipzig, Georg Thieme, 1960. 104 pages, 29 illustrations, bibliography. Price: DM 21.70. After a discussion of the general physiolo