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Pain—Clinical and Experimental Perspectives
BOOK REVIEWS
843
author determined to do exactly what he set out to do. It supports it because the first edition of the companion volume entitled Practices in Anesthesiology, under multiple authorship, has not yet seen the light of day despite the The number of published works on pain has been increasing fact that the first edition of the volume under review was rapidly in the past three to four years, reflecting a rather published in 1966. longer upsurge of interest in it amongst those disciplines This is a textbook that no teacher can afford to ignore, that are able to contribute to our knowledge in this area. not because it is free from faults—it is not—but because it Regrettably, most texts are biased towards neurophysio- is a comprehensive and well-documented text that provides logical aspects of pain and its treatment by drugs or surgery, not only a detailed account of current practice but also an and works presenting a balanced view of both the organic excellent reference source. The material presented covers and psychological elements are few in number. However, the fundamental aspects of anaesthetic practice so that to the editor of this book has done something to redress the some extent the title is misleading. The text goes far balance, providing a volume which consists of a selection of beyond principles and, indeed, part of its strength lies in papers which he feels are key publications in eight different the specific information provided about equipment, areas of laboratory and clinical pain research. They deal techniques and drugs. It is also refreshing to find an author with general and theoretical concepts of pain, measurement who is not afraid to allow his convictions and prejudices of pain, social and psychological correlates of pain per- to appear in print. It is not necessary to agree with Dr ception, cultural influences upon pain perception, lab- Collins to appreciate that his rather dogmatic approach to oratory methods for the control of experimentally induced some problems may well be more effective than a' less pain, the effects of hypnosis, acupuncture and surgical committed approach. treatments and problems of pain control in selected disThe text is presented in nearly 1700 pages divided into orders. Each section is preceded by the editor's comments four sections. The first, which deals with fundamental which are designed to give a framework for the papers that follow, but the task is a difficult one and one may dispute practices, occupies about one-half of the book. The second the inclusion of some papers which are either trivial or section is devoted to regional anaesthesia and includes a outdated and regret the absence of others, for example chapter on acupuncture. The remaining sections are illustrating Richard Sternbach's work on pain measures. concerned with physiological and pharmacological conThe book will serve to introduce many British readers to siderations. At first sight the rationale of the layout is not important concepts of which they will either be totally easy to follow because many pharmacological and physioignorant, or have little knowledge about, such as works logical matters are considered in the first two sections, dealing with psychological methods of pain control and the and it would seem that a more logical presentation would patterns of behaviour exhibited both by those in pain and not be too difficult to devise. In fairness, however, the their attendants. There is an extensive annotated biblio- index is good enough to ensure that most material can be graphy with 450 references which, regrettably, span only the found fairly easily and in practice its arrangement is less years 1965 to 1972. Nevertheless, the list forms a very troublesome than might have been expected. For the most part, the author has chosen his illustrations useful basis for later additions and the book is worthy of the attention of all clinicians and postgraduates who have with care and many greatly enhance the value of the text; however, a few could have been omitted without detriment. an interest in pain and its management. As might be expected the bias of this book is strongly M. R. Bond North American, but, unlike some of his countrymen, Dr Collins appreciates that substantial contributions to Principles of Anesthesiology. 2nd edn. By Vincent J. Collins. anaesthesia have come from other parts of the world, and Published (1976) by Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. on the whole he has been generous in his recognition of that fact. It is all the more disappointing, therefore, to find no Pp. 1670; illustrated; indexed. Price £39. reference to Tindal's pioneering work on hyperbaric It is currently fashionable, particularly among the younger anaesthesia carried out in Glasgow about the beginning of clinical teachers, to deride the need for text books. It is World War II. Similarly, there is no mention of the work argued that under present day conditions the standard of Ferguson during the 1930's on anaesthetic action and textbook no longer serves a useful purpose and that it is thermodynamic potential, without which it is highly unusually out of date before it is published. According to the likely that halothane would ever have been discovered. critics, what is needed are more monographs, special Again to Europeans, it scarcely seems possible to devote articles and comprehensive reviews. There is much justi- a chapter to acid-base balance without acknowledging fication for this point of view, especially when the text is the contribution of Astrup and his colleagues after the dependent upon multiple authorship. By the nature of epidemic of poliomyelitis in Denmark during the early things some writers are less industrious and conscientious 1950's. Perhaps these omissions and others like them than others and most editors are familiar with the frustrating can be explained by Dr Collins' admission in his preface and thankless task of extracting a manuscript from a dilatory that for much of his information he relied on personal author long after the other contributions have reached the communications and the testimony of his friends and printer. It is a sad fact that the publication date of any multi- colleagues. They, too, can have prejudices! However, author text is often dictated by the least competent these are minor criticisms of a book that almost certainly will become a major source of reference for many years to contributor. This second edition of Principles of Anesthesiology both come. It can be recommended with confidence to all practising refutes the argument and supports it. It refutes it because anaesthetists and particularly to teachers of the subject. it shows just how much can be accomplished by a dedicated J. P. Payne Pain—Clinical and Experimental Perspectives. Edited by M. Weisenberg. Pp. 385; illustrated; indexed. Price £5-25.
I
Downloaded from http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Winnipeg on August 25, 2015
J-
843
author determined to do exactly what he set out to do. It supports it because the first edition of the companion volume entitled Practices in Anesthesiology, under multiple authorship, has not yet seen the light of day despite the The number of published works on pain has been increasing fact that the first edition of the volume under review was rapidly in the past three to four years, reflecting a rather published in 1966. longer upsurge of interest in it amongst those disciplines This is a textbook that no teacher can afford to ignore, that are able to contribute to our knowledge in this area. not because it is free from faults—it is not—but because it Regrettably, most texts are biased towards neurophysio- is a comprehensive and well-documented text that provides logical aspects of pain and its treatment by drugs or surgery, not only a detailed account of current practice but also an and works presenting a balanced view of both the organic excellent reference source. The material presented covers and psychological elements are few in number. However, the fundamental aspects of anaesthetic practice so that to the editor of this book has done something to redress the some extent the title is misleading. The text goes far balance, providing a volume which consists of a selection of beyond principles and, indeed, part of its strength lies in papers which he feels are key publications in eight different the specific information provided about equipment, areas of laboratory and clinical pain research. They deal techniques and drugs. It is also refreshing to find an author with general and theoretical concepts of pain, measurement who is not afraid to allow his convictions and prejudices of pain, social and psychological correlates of pain per- to appear in print. It is not necessary to agree with Dr ception, cultural influences upon pain perception, lab- Collins to appreciate that his rather dogmatic approach to oratory methods for the control of experimentally induced some problems may well be more effective than a' less pain, the effects of hypnosis, acupuncture and surgical committed approach. treatments and problems of pain control in selected disThe text is presented in nearly 1700 pages divided into orders. Each section is preceded by the editor's comments four sections. The first, which deals with fundamental which are designed to give a framework for the papers that follow, but the task is a difficult one and one may dispute practices, occupies about one-half of the book. The second the inclusion of some papers which are either trivial or section is devoted to regional anaesthesia and includes a outdated and regret the absence of others, for example chapter on acupuncture. The remaining sections are illustrating Richard Sternbach's work on pain measures. concerned with physiological and pharmacological conThe book will serve to introduce many British readers to siderations. At first sight the rationale of the layout is not important concepts of which they will either be totally easy to follow because many pharmacological and physioignorant, or have little knowledge about, such as works logical matters are considered in the first two sections, dealing with psychological methods of pain control and the and it would seem that a more logical presentation would patterns of behaviour exhibited both by those in pain and not be too difficult to devise. In fairness, however, the their attendants. There is an extensive annotated biblio- index is good enough to ensure that most material can be graphy with 450 references which, regrettably, span only the found fairly easily and in practice its arrangement is less years 1965 to 1972. Nevertheless, the list forms a very troublesome than might have been expected. For the most part, the author has chosen his illustrations useful basis for later additions and the book is worthy of the attention of all clinicians and postgraduates who have with care and many greatly enhance the value of the text; however, a few could have been omitted without detriment. an interest in pain and its management. As might be expected the bias of this book is strongly M. R. Bond North American, but, unlike some of his countrymen, Dr Collins appreciates that substantial contributions to Principles of Anesthesiology. 2nd edn. By Vincent J. Collins. anaesthesia have come from other parts of the world, and Published (1976) by Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. on the whole he has been generous in his recognition of that fact. It is all the more disappointing, therefore, to find no Pp. 1670; illustrated; indexed. Price £39. reference to Tindal's pioneering work on hyperbaric It is currently fashionable, particularly among the younger anaesthesia carried out in Glasgow about the beginning of clinical teachers, to deride the need for text books. It is World War II. Similarly, there is no mention of the work argued that under present day conditions the standard of Ferguson during the 1930's on anaesthetic action and textbook no longer serves a useful purpose and that it is thermodynamic potential, without which it is highly unusually out of date before it is published. According to the likely that halothane would ever have been discovered. critics, what is needed are more monographs, special Again to Europeans, it scarcely seems possible to devote articles and comprehensive reviews. There is much justi- a chapter to acid-base balance without acknowledging fication for this point of view, especially when the text is the contribution of Astrup and his colleagues after the dependent upon multiple authorship. By the nature of epidemic of poliomyelitis in Denmark during the early things some writers are less industrious and conscientious 1950's. Perhaps these omissions and others like them than others and most editors are familiar with the frustrating can be explained by Dr Collins' admission in his preface and thankless task of extracting a manuscript from a dilatory that for much of his information he relied on personal author long after the other contributions have reached the communications and the testimony of his friends and printer. It is a sad fact that the publication date of any multi- colleagues. They, too, can have prejudices! However, author text is often dictated by the least competent these are minor criticisms of a book that almost certainly will become a major source of reference for many years to contributor. This second edition of Principles of Anesthesiology both come. It can be recommended with confidence to all practising refutes the argument and supports it. It refutes it because anaesthetists and particularly to teachers of the subject. it shows just how much can be accomplished by a dedicated J. P. Payne Pain—Clinical and Experimental Perspectives. Edited by M. Weisenberg. Pp. 385; illustrated; indexed. Price £5-25.
I
Downloaded from http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Winnipeg on August 25, 2015
J-