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Not waving but…
Book Reviews and team support), the school and the guardian ad litem. It is emphasised that staff 'who become involved in suspected cases of MBPS quickly learn that they are incredibly exhausting, time consuming and emotionally draining because of the personal attacks, abuse, threats, criticism and devaluing aimed by the MBPS mother at anyone who gets in her way. They are time consuming, and for these reasons, many cases are never reported; they are just too hard'. I consider this to be correct, and we must not underestimate the emotional impact, the confusion and rage, which these patients provoke and for which we all need our colleagues' help. Especially helpful is a proposed 'response protocol' from the time of suspicion of this behaviour, through the various sequences necessary to achieve proper child protection and help for the motherlperpetrator. Some recommendations for improving the recognition and management of this constellation of behaviours include: increased education of doctors, at medical student as well as postgraduate levels but also that of other health and social services personnel, as well as the wider community of hospital administrators, lawyers, teachers, this list goes on. I have only a few minor criticisms of this book. The chapter on 'Investigating the Perpetrator' in Part I, seemed to me just a trifle naive; possibly, this is because this is the area in which (I think) I am most experienced and therefore, possibly, competent! Also the chapter on 'The Use of Psychological Evaluation', whilst interesting in its review of the (sparse) literature, was itself somewhat 'thin' - as the author acknowledges - in its presentation of data using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Investory (MMPI) on a total of only 15 patients. What is most clearly communicated is the urgent need for studies of larger samples, using consistent and wide spread psychological tests and in-depth investigations, if we are to understand more about the perpetrators of these strange behaviours. This volume can be thoroughly recommended to the wide range of professionals who (unfortunately) need to have knowledge of this extraordinary, possibly new, syndrome. It can be recommended to all relevant libraries, and at its price should be affordable for private acquisition. C Cordess
NOT WAVING BUT.. . Forensic Diatomology and Drowning Michael S Pollanen (Elseviel; Amsterdam, 1998, 170pp, index, ISBN 0 444 82844 3; NLG 295.00, $149.00; available in US from Elsevier Science Inc, PO Box 945, Madison Sq. Station, New York, NY 10160-0757) Given that a substantial proportion of the earth's surface is covered in water, deaths associated with water are a regular and staple component of any forensic pathologist's annual work-load. This booklet is a dissertation on drowning with particular emphasis on the role of the laboratory testing for diatoms and their identification in attempting to produce a firmer diagnosis of a death secondary to immersion. The text refers to quite meticulous and painstaking work carried
out by the author and published previously by him, and thus it tends to approach the problem from a personal viewpoint. The indications for this test, the method of canying it out appropriately and its limitations are well covered by one who is obviously very experienced in its application. The book is copiously illustrated with black-and-white photographs - most of which are of a good quality; among these are a number of illustrations of some of the commoner fresh-water diatoms. The latter compilation of photographs gathered together in one publication may be of valuable assistance to potential readers. To illustrate the usefulness of the technique, seven practical examples are cited from the author's department utilising diatom studies. Little new factual information is presented in the book, and apart from the diatom tests, the text is somewhat shallow and much of the ground covered is well trodden. The book appears to have been produced to a very strict deadline in that it is quite short and contains several spelling errors; a number of its figures have not been redrawn by a medical artist from original computer printouts, and the references do not appear to follow any uniformity of citation. Significant repetition occurs in the reference listings at the end of each chapter, and given that it was the author's intention to have all the references listed alphabetically towards the end of the book, they could well have been omitted at the end of each chapter in a book of this size. It is quite helpful, however, that the trawl for references was quite comprehensive in that the list does include several papers published both in languages other than English and in non-cited journals. The role and appeal of this book to individual forensic pathologists is limited, particularly given its price; forensic institutions may benefit from a copy in their libraries for quick, easily assimilable, referencing access. A Busuttil FINDING OUT TOGETHER
Analytical Toxicology for Clinical, Forensic and Pharmaceutical Chemists H Brandenberger and RAA Maes (editors) (W de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, 1997, 736pp, index, ISBN 3 11 010731 7.498DM) The editorial gives a valuable warning to the chemist who is engaged in the field of analytical toxicology. The message here and by implication throughout the book is that communication with colleagues in other disciplines is a prerequisite for a satisfactory outcome to an investigation. I concur with this philosophy. Contributions have been made by experts worldwide, with a slight bias toward European countries. There are three main parts to the book, the first described as 'general'. The second part covers inter alia natural gases, carbon monoxide, alcohol, volatile halogenated organic compounds, pesticides and metals. The chapter on pesticides is especially comprehensive and well written. The third part of the book discusses drugs. The chapter on analgesics is particularly concise and informative. A final section of the book contains blood level data. There is a Science & Justice 1998; 38(3): 215-218
NOT WAVING BUT.. . Forensic Diatomology and Drowning Michael S Pollanen (Elseviel; Amsterdam, 1998, 170pp, index, ISBN 0 444 82844 3; NLG 295.00, $149.00; available in US from Elsevier Science Inc, PO Box 945, Madison Sq. Station, New York, NY 10160-0757) Given that a substantial proportion of the earth's surface is covered in water, deaths associated with water are a regular and staple component of any forensic pathologist's annual work-load. This booklet is a dissertation on drowning with particular emphasis on the role of the laboratory testing for diatoms and their identification in attempting to produce a firmer diagnosis of a death secondary to immersion. The text refers to quite meticulous and painstaking work carried
out by the author and published previously by him, and thus it tends to approach the problem from a personal viewpoint. The indications for this test, the method of canying it out appropriately and its limitations are well covered by one who is obviously very experienced in its application. The book is copiously illustrated with black-and-white photographs - most of which are of a good quality; among these are a number of illustrations of some of the commoner fresh-water diatoms. The latter compilation of photographs gathered together in one publication may be of valuable assistance to potential readers. To illustrate the usefulness of the technique, seven practical examples are cited from the author's department utilising diatom studies. Little new factual information is presented in the book, and apart from the diatom tests, the text is somewhat shallow and much of the ground covered is well trodden. The book appears to have been produced to a very strict deadline in that it is quite short and contains several spelling errors; a number of its figures have not been redrawn by a medical artist from original computer printouts, and the references do not appear to follow any uniformity of citation. Significant repetition occurs in the reference listings at the end of each chapter, and given that it was the author's intention to have all the references listed alphabetically towards the end of the book, they could well have been omitted at the end of each chapter in a book of this size. It is quite helpful, however, that the trawl for references was quite comprehensive in that the list does include several papers published both in languages other than English and in non-cited journals. The role and appeal of this book to individual forensic pathologists is limited, particularly given its price; forensic institutions may benefit from a copy in their libraries for quick, easily assimilable, referencing access. A Busuttil FINDING OUT TOGETHER
Analytical Toxicology for Clinical, Forensic and Pharmaceutical Chemists H Brandenberger and RAA Maes (editors) (W de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, 1997, 736pp, index, ISBN 3 11 010731 7.498DM) The editorial gives a valuable warning to the chemist who is engaged in the field of analytical toxicology. The message here and by implication throughout the book is that communication with colleagues in other disciplines is a prerequisite for a satisfactory outcome to an investigation. I concur with this philosophy. Contributions have been made by experts worldwide, with a slight bias toward European countries. There are three main parts to the book, the first described as 'general'. The second part covers inter alia natural gases, carbon monoxide, alcohol, volatile halogenated organic compounds, pesticides and metals. The chapter on pesticides is especially comprehensive and well written. The third part of the book discusses drugs. The chapter on analgesics is particularly concise and informative. A final section of the book contains blood level data. There is a Science & Justice 1998; 38(3): 215-218