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Ophthalmology: Principles and Concepts
357
BOOK REVIEWS of somewhat lesser quality, the instrument I have been using has the advantages of being inexpensive, easily acquired and replaced and powered by penlight battery. My colleagues and I have found this portable slitbeam to be extremely helpful, emphasizing Dr. Apt's suggestion. (Signed) Steven M. Podos, St. Louis, Missouri. GONIOPHOTOGRAPHY
Editor,
cases during 1964-1965 (Miller, R. W., Fraumani, J. F., Jr., and Manning, M. D. : New England J. Med., 270:922, 1964; Fontana, V. J., Ferrara, A., and Perciaccante, R., Am. J. Dis. Child. 109:459, 1965) and four more awaiting publication. The ophthalmologist is quite likely to see children with aniridia in early life. If the associated high incidence (1:73) with Wilm's tumor is considered, early death may be avoided. (Signed) Angelo Ferrara, New York.
American Journal of Ophthalmology: Drs. Pratt-Johnson, Buckley and Pleasance are to be congratulated on their article on goniophotography (Am. J. Ophth. 59: 508, 1965). It is important to point out that not only external photography of the eye but such specialized techniques as goniophotography can be performed using cameras and equipment which are readily available to most doctors. It should be pointed out that a very similar technique for goniophotography was described by myself and co-worker some time ago (Arch. Ophth., 53:649, 1955). However, it seems evident that the more sophisticated light source which Pratt-Johnson and his collaborators have devised, utilizing a synchronized electronic flash, should be much simpler in operation. (Signed) Seymour Goodstein, Bayside, New York. ANIRIDIA AND W I L M ' S TUMOR
Editor, American Journal of Ophthalmology: Since the early 1800's, aniridia has been known as a distinct entity. Only in the past few decades has this condition been linked with other anomalies. In the last one and one-half years, a definite association between aniridia and Wilm's tumor (virtually fatal if not early detected) has been noted. In fact, there have been seven such reported
BOOK REVIEWS OPHTHALMOLOGY: PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS. By Frank W. Newell, M.D. St.
Louis, The C. V. Mosby Company. 491 pages, 172 illustrations, short chapter bibliographies. Price: $12.25. To justify its emergence into a world overpopulated by its own kind, a textbook written for the lower levels of ophthalmology must be good ; the urge to write a treatise of this kind for the undergraduate and postgraduate student has always been common, but most of such books have been ephemeral, disappearing after the first stage of curiosity is past, except, perhaps, in the author's own university ; few reach the 23rd editions of May's. How shall we assess this volume and prophesy its fate? In the first place, it is easy and pleasant to read—a great asset. In the second place, it has an unique feature distinguishing it from most in that almost a quarter of it is devoted to a useful yet simple discussion of the basic sciences. This gives sense and coherence to the clinical section, and most medical students and all practitioners of medicine rapidly forget or have forgotten these things once the appropriate examinations have been passed, and at the time of their studies few have appreciated their importance in the understanding of disease. Some of the clinical sections are very good,
358
BOOK REVIEWS
such as the discussion on ocular infections known mecca of British ophthalmology he and immunity; it is interesting that in the has, from his large experiences, presented description of the individual infections viral us with a book on glaucoma that is superb. diseases (rightly) occupy as much space as He presents the views of a clinician interbacterial. The mistake is not committed of ested in the diagnosis and management of describing a host of rare conditions (neces- glaucoma. "This is not, therefore," he says, sarily) too shortly to be usefully descriptive, "a book for the research worker or the arbut stress is wisely laid on the common and dent controversialist, but one for the cliniimportant diseases, particularly those with cian who is interested to know the approach systemic implications. In the many condi- of a colleague to a difficult subject." tions for which no effective treatment is There are nine chapters. They concern available this is stated with concise and the definition, general considerations and frank honesty—a very healthy teaching fea- classifications ; the incidence ; the anatomy ture. There are, indeed, few points of and physiology; the etiology and causative justifiable criticism: the importance of keratic pathology ; pathology ; symptoms and signs ; precipitates even as a lone sign of ocular in- clinical course; diagnosis; and treatment of flammation could be more cogently stressed, glaucoma. and perhaps the enumeration of 16 lid His classification of the glaucomas is a signs in thyroid dysfunction is somewhat sound one, in my opinion, although the auunnecessarily confusing, or Donders's old thor admits that there are some gaps in it. term of "retinitis pigmentosa" with its From a clinical standpoint, however, it is etymologic implication of an inflammation workable and useful. The anatomy and phymight well be discarded in favor of von siology chapter is well written and adeGraefe's "pigmentary degeneration." But to quately illustrated. He has been able to stress these the reviewer must be somewhat choose with skill from the enormous literapetty. ture those facts which are definitely estabMisprints are conspicuously absent, the lished. index is fully adequate, the illustrations are He believes that chronic simple glaucoma good, some of them refreshingly original is probably due to obstruction, somewhere (16, 54) and the little girl who served as a along the line, to the outflow of aqueous. He pleasant and demure model throughout is considers that the theory of neurovascular delightful to meet each time she appears. It malfunction as the etiology is a "rather would seem that the book has justified its vaguely defined one." emergence, even on a critical review : its fuConcerning closed-angle glaucoma, the ture looks good. cause is just that. His discussion of the etiology of secondary glaucoma is excellent, Stewart Duke-Elder. short and to the point. The design and purpose of the book is CLINICAL GLAUCOMA. By Redmond J. H. well conceived and executed. There is little Smith, D.O. (Eng.), M.S. (Lond.), to quarrel with from a clinical viewpoint, F.R.C.S. (Eng.). Philadelphia, F. A. and the reader will find himself in agreeDavis Company. 1965. 235 pages, 53 fig- ment with almost all of the statements. ures, 1 color plate (acute glaucoma, beauti- After perusing it carefully, as he should do ful), chapter references, index. Price. of course, he will find that the problem of $9.00. the glaucomas, in so far as his patients and Mr. Smith is a consultant surgeon, their care are concerned, is clarified most Moorfields Eye Hospital, and is in charge lucidly. This should give him pleasure and, of the Glaucoma Clinic there. In this well- of course, satisfaction.
BOOK REVIEWS of somewhat lesser quality, the instrument I have been using has the advantages of being inexpensive, easily acquired and replaced and powered by penlight battery. My colleagues and I have found this portable slitbeam to be extremely helpful, emphasizing Dr. Apt's suggestion. (Signed) Steven M. Podos, St. Louis, Missouri. GONIOPHOTOGRAPHY
Editor,
cases during 1964-1965 (Miller, R. W., Fraumani, J. F., Jr., and Manning, M. D. : New England J. Med., 270:922, 1964; Fontana, V. J., Ferrara, A., and Perciaccante, R., Am. J. Dis. Child. 109:459, 1965) and four more awaiting publication. The ophthalmologist is quite likely to see children with aniridia in early life. If the associated high incidence (1:73) with Wilm's tumor is considered, early death may be avoided. (Signed) Angelo Ferrara, New York.
American Journal of Ophthalmology: Drs. Pratt-Johnson, Buckley and Pleasance are to be congratulated on their article on goniophotography (Am. J. Ophth. 59: 508, 1965). It is important to point out that not only external photography of the eye but such specialized techniques as goniophotography can be performed using cameras and equipment which are readily available to most doctors. It should be pointed out that a very similar technique for goniophotography was described by myself and co-worker some time ago (Arch. Ophth., 53:649, 1955). However, it seems evident that the more sophisticated light source which Pratt-Johnson and his collaborators have devised, utilizing a synchronized electronic flash, should be much simpler in operation. (Signed) Seymour Goodstein, Bayside, New York. ANIRIDIA AND W I L M ' S TUMOR
Editor, American Journal of Ophthalmology: Since the early 1800's, aniridia has been known as a distinct entity. Only in the past few decades has this condition been linked with other anomalies. In the last one and one-half years, a definite association between aniridia and Wilm's tumor (virtually fatal if not early detected) has been noted. In fact, there have been seven such reported
BOOK REVIEWS OPHTHALMOLOGY: PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS. By Frank W. Newell, M.D. St.
Louis, The C. V. Mosby Company. 491 pages, 172 illustrations, short chapter bibliographies. Price: $12.25. To justify its emergence into a world overpopulated by its own kind, a textbook written for the lower levels of ophthalmology must be good ; the urge to write a treatise of this kind for the undergraduate and postgraduate student has always been common, but most of such books have been ephemeral, disappearing after the first stage of curiosity is past, except, perhaps, in the author's own university ; few reach the 23rd editions of May's. How shall we assess this volume and prophesy its fate? In the first place, it is easy and pleasant to read—a great asset. In the second place, it has an unique feature distinguishing it from most in that almost a quarter of it is devoted to a useful yet simple discussion of the basic sciences. This gives sense and coherence to the clinical section, and most medical students and all practitioners of medicine rapidly forget or have forgotten these things once the appropriate examinations have been passed, and at the time of their studies few have appreciated their importance in the understanding of disease. Some of the clinical sections are very good,
358
BOOK REVIEWS
such as the discussion on ocular infections known mecca of British ophthalmology he and immunity; it is interesting that in the has, from his large experiences, presented description of the individual infections viral us with a book on glaucoma that is superb. diseases (rightly) occupy as much space as He presents the views of a clinician interbacterial. The mistake is not committed of ested in the diagnosis and management of describing a host of rare conditions (neces- glaucoma. "This is not, therefore," he says, sarily) too shortly to be usefully descriptive, "a book for the research worker or the arbut stress is wisely laid on the common and dent controversialist, but one for the cliniimportant diseases, particularly those with cian who is interested to know the approach systemic implications. In the many condi- of a colleague to a difficult subject." tions for which no effective treatment is There are nine chapters. They concern available this is stated with concise and the definition, general considerations and frank honesty—a very healthy teaching fea- classifications ; the incidence ; the anatomy ture. There are, indeed, few points of and physiology; the etiology and causative justifiable criticism: the importance of keratic pathology ; pathology ; symptoms and signs ; precipitates even as a lone sign of ocular in- clinical course; diagnosis; and treatment of flammation could be more cogently stressed, glaucoma. and perhaps the enumeration of 16 lid His classification of the glaucomas is a signs in thyroid dysfunction is somewhat sound one, in my opinion, although the auunnecessarily confusing, or Donders's old thor admits that there are some gaps in it. term of "retinitis pigmentosa" with its From a clinical standpoint, however, it is etymologic implication of an inflammation workable and useful. The anatomy and phymight well be discarded in favor of von siology chapter is well written and adeGraefe's "pigmentary degeneration." But to quately illustrated. He has been able to stress these the reviewer must be somewhat choose with skill from the enormous literapetty. ture those facts which are definitely estabMisprints are conspicuously absent, the lished. index is fully adequate, the illustrations are He believes that chronic simple glaucoma good, some of them refreshingly original is probably due to obstruction, somewhere (16, 54) and the little girl who served as a along the line, to the outflow of aqueous. He pleasant and demure model throughout is considers that the theory of neurovascular delightful to meet each time she appears. It malfunction as the etiology is a "rather would seem that the book has justified its vaguely defined one." emergence, even on a critical review : its fuConcerning closed-angle glaucoma, the ture looks good. cause is just that. His discussion of the etiology of secondary glaucoma is excellent, Stewart Duke-Elder. short and to the point. The design and purpose of the book is CLINICAL GLAUCOMA. By Redmond J. H. well conceived and executed. There is little Smith, D.O. (Eng.), M.S. (Lond.), to quarrel with from a clinical viewpoint, F.R.C.S. (Eng.). Philadelphia, F. A. and the reader will find himself in agreeDavis Company. 1965. 235 pages, 53 fig- ment with almost all of the statements. ures, 1 color plate (acute glaucoma, beauti- After perusing it carefully, as he should do ful), chapter references, index. Price. of course, he will find that the problem of $9.00. the glaucomas, in so far as his patients and Mr. Smith is a consultant surgeon, their care are concerned, is clarified most Moorfields Eye Hospital, and is in charge lucidly. This should give him pleasure and, of the Glaucoma Clinic there. In this well- of course, satisfaction.