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Medical genetics
286
THE
JOURNAL
OF PEDIATRICS
well remembers the second edition as Ms introduction to clinical medicine many years ago, and i t is interesting to muse over the number of American physicians today who have been influenced .by this text. The book has been reviewed so many times t h a t a detailed deseription is unnecessary ~ Sufficient to say t h a t Dr. A~tams has in his changes kept abreast of new methods and of new interpretatious of physic'al findings. The most important revisions are in the "field of the CardiovascuLar hystem. P e d i a t r i c Gynecology. Goodrich C. Schauffier, M.D., Chicago , 19~il, The Year Book Publishers, Inc., pp. 384. price $5.00. This book is the ' ' first and o n l y " of i t s kind. I t is a sure-fire ' ' m u s t ' ' for every pediatrician's library. I t is fortunate t h a t the inspiration to Produce such " f i r s t and o n l y " fell on s u c h ' f e r t i l e soil, for the author has achieved a more than usual result in filling the need for a book in this field of pediatrics. On every page one can feel the personal qualities of the a u t h o r , his j u d g m e n t in selecting only the most reliable information, in expressing his thoughts and feelings clearly, and in evaluating the general knowledge in the field of normal anatomy, physiology, and .de~elopmedtal procesw as well as the pathologic conditions relating: to .tbe female child's genitourinary a n d reproductive system. He has b e e n very successful in uniting the Subject matter closely to the pediatric field of gynecology. Before preparing this review, the book has been discussed with an eminent gynecologist, who is himself well informed in this field, for his opinion as to its value and correctness from the gynecologic viewpoint. He has given assurance that the book is reliable and entirely correct in all the principles and ideas set forth. The material represents more gynecologic pediatrics than pediatric gynecology, and it was agreed t h a t the book might b e more useful to p~diatricians t h a n to gynecologists, but that both groups should find ample satisfaction ~rom reading it. This reviewer finds th e contents most satisfactory from two standpoints: first, the discussion of the psychologi c factor in the management of children and in special methods and technique necessary in a n investigation of this type os examination; second, the great emphasis t h a t is placed on the phase of growth an d development of the reproductive s y s t e m of the child and the relation of this phase to the" child as a whole. The most advanced a n d profound thinking pediatrician will find himself in full harmony with the ideas expressed by .the author and the. m a n n e r in which he deals with the subject. Considerable emphasis is given naturally to the child during the adolescent period, a period which is still somewhat vague and poorly dealt with by a large group of pediatricians. A short chapter of only six pages deals with surgical considerations, principally preoperative and postoperative. There is no presentation of operative technique other t h a n those concerned with the pl~ysleai examination. Besides a chapter on urologic conditions, there is also One oa proctologic conditions, a field t h a t certainly is not often described in a pediatric text. One will find also a most thorough and thoughtful presentation of the management of a girl during the onset of menstruation with treatment of speclal difficulties. The book is unusnally well illustrated. The a u t h o r ' s style is a pleasure to follow, and the pages are full of striking and interesting statements. MCCULLOCH. Genetics. Laurence H. Snydcr, Sc.D., Durham, versity Press~ pp. ]30. Price $].50.
Medical
This book is based on a course class at the College of Medicine of somewhat rearranged, and presented schools of Duke Unlversity~ Wake
N: C., 1941~ Duke
Uni-
of lectures which was given to the sophomore Ohio State University, and which was expanded, in 1941 to t h e entire student body of the medical Forest College, a n d the University of Nort|i
BOOK REVIEWS
287
Carolina under the auspices of the Carnegie Corporation. I n such short series of lectures on medical genetics it was not possible to give an adequate account of the basic principle of genetics. The material in this book, therefore, deals strictly with medical conditions and their practical application. The author outlines the more important kinds of hereditary behavior in such a Way as to make them understandable, This has been done in connection with specific trends the first time that each major kind of hereditary behavior is encountered. Chapter I u in which the various genetic mechanisms are first met in connection with eye abnormalities, provides a working acquaintance to the main kinds of genie action. Following some general principles in Chapter I, and the medicolegal application of hereditary traits in Chapter II, the various medical conditions ~re discussed system by system. The book is very brief, clear, and useful to anyone not familiar with the field of genetics. Its elementary form is the necessary result of preparing a book on the subject for the audience to which it is addressed. For this very reason it should be of interest to pediatricians and practitioners. I t should serve a still more useful purpose in arousing a greater interest in this important ~eld of medicine. The book can be read in three hours, b u t o n e finds a lingering satisfaction in thoughtful consideration of. its contents and wishing for further knowledge. ~r
Directory of Medical Specialists. Press, pp. X V r + 2495.
Ed. Price $7.00.
2, New York, :19~2, Columbia University
Since the first edition appeared, more than four thousand doctors have taken their Board examinations. This second edition, therefore, contains complete information about more than eighteen thousand diplomates. Not only is the book larger by that many diplomates, but also information about each doctor is more complete than it was before. An idea of the increase in size of the second edition may be indicated by the increase from 1,573 pages in the first edition to the present 2,495 pages. The pe.diatric section shows an increase from 110 pages to 181 pages. This book is not only a directory to medical specialists, but also aa index to a trend ill medical development. The value of the book to a nation at war is tremendous. To Washington officials, to army and navy administrators, as well as to local and regional selective service executives, it will become increasingly useful. A separate section is devoted to each American Board, with both a geographic and a biographic listing of its diplomates, t n addition, there is a complete alphabetic list of all diplomates.. I n this list there are addresses and indications of specialty certification, while in tile geographic section complete biographic information is given. The organizatien and examination requirements of each of the American Boards are explained in full. All these features make the directory unique and invaluable t a doctors (specialists or general practitioners), hospitals, social agencies, libraries, medical societiesl business organizations, etc. I t will help hospital officials pass on the ability of candidates for staff positions; it will provide medical society officers with authoritative lists; and the family physician can form accurate judgment of the qualification and ability of specialists in any branch of medicine for the benefit of his patients. The book in general has the same arrangement and form as the first edition. I t is uow four years since the first edition appeared. During this time the various Boards have probably " c l e a n e d u p " the last available but delinquent specialists who had not been included in the first aditlon. Sipce these names have been added to ed. 2, further increase in size of future editions should not be so great. Accessions will outnumber dMetions probably only slightly. The book is an indispensable directory. IVICCULLOCII.
THE
JOURNAL
OF PEDIATRICS
well remembers the second edition as Ms introduction to clinical medicine many years ago, and i t is interesting to muse over the number of American physicians today who have been influenced .by this text. The book has been reviewed so many times t h a t a detailed deseription is unnecessary ~ Sufficient to say t h a t Dr. A~tams has in his changes kept abreast of new methods and of new interpretatious of physic'al findings. The most important revisions are in the "field of the CardiovascuLar hystem. P e d i a t r i c Gynecology. Goodrich C. Schauffier, M.D., Chicago , 19~il, The Year Book Publishers, Inc., pp. 384. price $5.00. This book is the ' ' first and o n l y " of i t s kind. I t is a sure-fire ' ' m u s t ' ' for every pediatrician's library. I t is fortunate t h a t the inspiration to Produce such " f i r s t and o n l y " fell on s u c h ' f e r t i l e soil, for the author has achieved a more than usual result in filling the need for a book in this field of pediatrics. On every page one can feel the personal qualities of the a u t h o r , his j u d g m e n t in selecting only the most reliable information, in expressing his thoughts and feelings clearly, and in evaluating the general knowledge in the field of normal anatomy, physiology, and .de~elopmedtal procesw as well as the pathologic conditions relating: to .tbe female child's genitourinary a n d reproductive system. He has b e e n very successful in uniting the Subject matter closely to the pediatric field of gynecology. Before preparing this review, the book has been discussed with an eminent gynecologist, who is himself well informed in this field, for his opinion as to its value and correctness from the gynecologic viewpoint. He has given assurance that the book is reliable and entirely correct in all the principles and ideas set forth. The material represents more gynecologic pediatrics than pediatric gynecology, and it was agreed t h a t the book might b e more useful to p~diatricians t h a n to gynecologists, but that both groups should find ample satisfaction ~rom reading it. This reviewer finds th e contents most satisfactory from two standpoints: first, the discussion of the psychologi c factor in the management of children and in special methods and technique necessary in a n investigation of this type os examination; second, the great emphasis t h a t is placed on the phase of growth an d development of the reproductive s y s t e m of the child and the relation of this phase to the" child as a whole. The most advanced a n d profound thinking pediatrician will find himself in full harmony with the ideas expressed by .the author and the. m a n n e r in which he deals with the subject. Considerable emphasis is given naturally to the child during the adolescent period, a period which is still somewhat vague and poorly dealt with by a large group of pediatricians. A short chapter of only six pages deals with surgical considerations, principally preoperative and postoperative. There is no presentation of operative technique other t h a n those concerned with the pl~ysleai examination. Besides a chapter on urologic conditions, there is also One oa proctologic conditions, a field t h a t certainly is not often described in a pediatric text. One will find also a most thorough and thoughtful presentation of the management of a girl during the onset of menstruation with treatment of speclal difficulties. The book is unusnally well illustrated. The a u t h o r ' s style is a pleasure to follow, and the pages are full of striking and interesting statements. MCCULLOCH. Genetics. Laurence H. Snydcr, Sc.D., Durham, versity Press~ pp. ]30. Price $].50.
Medical
This book is based on a course class at the College of Medicine of somewhat rearranged, and presented schools of Duke Unlversity~ Wake
N: C., 1941~ Duke
Uni-
of lectures which was given to the sophomore Ohio State University, and which was expanded, in 1941 to t h e entire student body of the medical Forest College, a n d the University of Nort|i
BOOK REVIEWS
287
Carolina under the auspices of the Carnegie Corporation. I n such short series of lectures on medical genetics it was not possible to give an adequate account of the basic principle of genetics. The material in this book, therefore, deals strictly with medical conditions and their practical application. The author outlines the more important kinds of hereditary behavior in such a Way as to make them understandable, This has been done in connection with specific trends the first time that each major kind of hereditary behavior is encountered. Chapter I u in which the various genetic mechanisms are first met in connection with eye abnormalities, provides a working acquaintance to the main kinds of genie action. Following some general principles in Chapter I, and the medicolegal application of hereditary traits in Chapter II, the various medical conditions ~re discussed system by system. The book is very brief, clear, and useful to anyone not familiar with the field of genetics. Its elementary form is the necessary result of preparing a book on the subject for the audience to which it is addressed. For this very reason it should be of interest to pediatricians and practitioners. I t should serve a still more useful purpose in arousing a greater interest in this important ~eld of medicine. The book can be read in three hours, b u t o n e finds a lingering satisfaction in thoughtful consideration of. its contents and wishing for further knowledge. ~r
Directory of Medical Specialists. Press, pp. X V r + 2495.
Ed. Price $7.00.
2, New York, :19~2, Columbia University
Since the first edition appeared, more than four thousand doctors have taken their Board examinations. This second edition, therefore, contains complete information about more than eighteen thousand diplomates. Not only is the book larger by that many diplomates, but also information about each doctor is more complete than it was before. An idea of the increase in size of the second edition may be indicated by the increase from 1,573 pages in the first edition to the present 2,495 pages. The pe.diatric section shows an increase from 110 pages to 181 pages. This book is not only a directory to medical specialists, but also aa index to a trend ill medical development. The value of the book to a nation at war is tremendous. To Washington officials, to army and navy administrators, as well as to local and regional selective service executives, it will become increasingly useful. A separate section is devoted to each American Board, with both a geographic and a biographic listing of its diplomates, t n addition, there is a complete alphabetic list of all diplomates.. I n this list there are addresses and indications of specialty certification, while in tile geographic section complete biographic information is given. The organizatien and examination requirements of each of the American Boards are explained in full. All these features make the directory unique and invaluable t a doctors (specialists or general practitioners), hospitals, social agencies, libraries, medical societiesl business organizations, etc. I t will help hospital officials pass on the ability of candidates for staff positions; it will provide medical society officers with authoritative lists; and the family physician can form accurate judgment of the qualification and ability of specialists in any branch of medicine for the benefit of his patients. The book in general has the same arrangement and form as the first edition. I t is uow four years since the first edition appeared. During this time the various Boards have probably " c l e a n e d u p " the last available but delinquent specialists who had not been included in the first aditlon. Sipce these names have been added to ed. 2, further increase in size of future editions should not be so great. Accessions will outnumber dMetions probably only slightly. The book is an indispensable directory. IVICCULLOCII.