Obstetrics

Department of Book Reviews CONDUCTED BY ROBERT

T.

FRANK

Review of New Books Obstetrics Antenatal and Postnatal Carel is a concise, practical, and substantial book, written with the purpose of providing, in the 1wthor 's wonl8 1 '-instruction in the more recent advances in antenatal care and . . . the methuus useu in its practice,'' and presenting specifically the teaching of the University College Hospital in London. The book covers its field adequately, incluuing chapters on the history and development of antenatal care, the clinic and its equipment, examination of the patient, the diagnosis of early pregnancy, hygiene of pregnancy, influence of the emotions on pregnancy and parturition, maturity,· all
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BOOK REVTEWS

( :ontmeted pelves are elassified strictly after Caldwell and Moloy, treat.ment tak· ing the form of cesarean section, trial labor, or induction of premature labor. :'\t•r tion is advised. if the conjugata vera is under 3.25 inches in a :flat, or 3.5 inches in a genrrally contracted pelvis and in most elderly primigravidas with confracted pelves unless th,•re is no disproportion. \Vith reHpect to trial labor the author say8, '• A fair trial of labor can only be said to have bePn given whrn good pains ha.ve been rN'urring en•ry four or fh·e minutes for at leaHt two hours, during which the c••rvh h:tll been fully dilated anm•rally used. Artificial l'Up· tm<• of the membranes is not a1lowed. Vomiting in pregnancy is resourcefully •listmJSed, the methods employed in l.J'eat ing· tl'lho l:yperemesis graddarum avpal't'ntly differing little from those used in this eonntry, although the indications for termination of the pregnancy are perhnps slightly kss 0xacting. Emphasis is plaeed on the importance of liver .damage m thi~ eondition, and jaundice of a mild degree, or o;Yen ~light bilirubinuria is regarde•l as a granl prognostic sign. The management of preeclamptie toxemias and of eclampsia also accords in g•m· eral with the uRual view in America. Early recognition of an impending toxemic stat.e is stresse•l, as would he expected in a hook on prenatal care, but a full diseussion of the whole topie of toxemias is given, the a nth or endorsing the opinions of Stander and Peckham regarding the outlook in chronic nephritis. Dr. Browne's h<•Ok is readable, wrll informed, and diseriminating in its •logma. It i8 a rontl'ihntion of importance in a !''till somPwhat nPglected field. FRED L. ADA!It. Abortim<, Spontcmeoloneous un(l Indlleed. JI.Iedical and Social Aspect~. By Fre