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Pawlows beitrag zur psychiatrie — Entwicklungs- und strukturanalyse einer forschungsrichtung
264
Journal o/Neurological Sciences, 27 (1976) 264--266 © Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam - Printed in The Netherlands
Book Reviews
Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology, Vol. 1, No. 1 (January 1975), J o u r n a l o f t h e British N e u r o p a t h o l o g i c a l Society, e d i t o r J. B. C a v a n a g h , B l a c k w e l l Scientific P u b l i c a t i o n s , Ltd., O x f o r d , 4 issues p e r year, a n n u a l s u b s c r i p t i o n price £ 14,00. In December 1950, the late Dr. J. Godwin Greenfield founded the Neuropathological Club, the name of which was changed in 1962 to the British Neuropathological Society. The 50th scientific meeting was held in December 1975, so it is a fitting and conspicuous milestone in the Society's advance that its sponsored journal Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology should make its appearance in this commemorative year. The last quarter of a century has seen a spectacular development in neuropathology and as techniques and experimentation have advanced, with other disciplines notably virology and enzymology becoming implicated, the need for a better understanding of the biology of the nervous system has become apparent. Our knowledge of neuropathology and neurobiology has advanced together, and indeed at the ultramicroscopical level these subjects virtually merge into one. Certainly progress in the former is dependent upon that in the latter. Significant also are the concomitant advances in comparative neuropathology and comparative neurobiology. These sciences were emerging four decades ago, but their importance now in a more crowded and hungry world is only too obvious. From its outset "the Club" has encouraged these growing points in veterinary medicine. The title of this new journal is aptly chosen and constitutes a challenge to the Society. These conjoint subjects neuropathology and neurobiology have never been overrepresented on the shelves of specialist journals and for long there has been talk of a periodical in English to cover the special needs of the North European countries represented in the Society's membership and to report the scientific proceedings. The more general neurological journals have always welcomed contributions on neuropathology and doubtless will continue to do so, especially when the topics are of a wide interest and invite the attention of, and appraisal by, clinicians. This new journal, which we welcome, will appear quarterly and the editor is Professor J. B. Cavanagh, of the Neurobiological Research Unit, Queen Square, whose preface will surely meet with a sympathetic response. The members of the editorial board are W. F. Blakemore, J. E. Cremer, L. W. Duchen, S. Leibowitz, P. D. Lewis and Y. OIsson. The advisory board of 13 which includes the president and the vice-president of the Society, is drawn from 4 continents. The 8 contributions in this first issue and the valuable precis of the papers delivered at the 47th meeting augur well for a high-quality journal which should attract wide interest. Praise is due to the sponsors and publishers for embarking on this literary venture at what is the right but a difficult time. W. H. McMenemey
Pawlows Beitrag zur Psychiatrie - - Entwicklungs- und Strukturanalyse einer Forschungsrichtung ( S a m m l u n g p s y c h i a t r i s c h e r u n d n e u r o l o g i s c h e r E i n z e l d a r s t e l l u n g e n ) , by I. H a n d , w i t h a n i n t r o d u c t i o n by H . B i i r g e r - P r i n z , viii q- 87 pages, G e o r g T h i e m e V e r l a g , S t u t t g a r t , 1972, D M 33.00. The name of Pavlov is popularly associated with his classical work in relation to experimental neuroses, studies which have made him one of the founders of experimental psychiatry. Less well known are his later investigations into the experimental psychoses with hallucinogens.
265 This volume deals not only with the theoretical concepts and immediate applications of classical Pavlovian conditioning but with its relationship to subsequent developments both as regards psychological theory and practice as well as its impact on the field of psychiatry as a whole. Of particular interest to the reviewer were the observations made by the author relating to the differences with which Pavlovian theory was incorporated into the general body of knowledge in the West as compared with the East. Dr. Hand also considers in some detail Pavlov’s contribution to the works of Skinner and Volpe, and in general to the field of behaviour therapy. The author has shown considerable ambition by the scope of his work in which he surveys the whole field of psychiatry for which Pavlov’s work may be considered to have relevance. This has resulted in a somewhat tight text with many references, some interesting ideas, but relatively little space to enlarge upon these. This does not make for easy reading. However, it is a most useful source of reference and sheds some light on the inter-connections between the various disciplines, as well as providing a stimulus for further experimental work both in the neuroses and psychoses. Kurt Schapira
Fine Structure of Human Cells and Tissues, by T. Ebe and S. Kobayashi,
pages, 137 photographs, 1972, DM 118.00.
ix + 266 4 figures, F. K. Schattauer Verlag, Stuttgart, New York,
As electron microscopy spreads to more departments throughout the world, and workers who had not previously used the electron microscope become more interested in its applications, there is an ever-increasing need for worthwhile atlases of electron-microscopic structure. This need is being met by many new publications, all of them comprising mainly electron micrographs with a small amount of text describing the ultrastructural appearances, and all of them very expensive. The cost is only to be expected in view of the large number of micrographs, and the relatively small sale to be expected. Atlases are now available covering many different tissues and many different animals. This atlas which has been produced by Drs. Ebe and Kobayashi from the Niigata University School of Medicine, Japan, is of high quality. The authors provide a good coverage of the ultrastructure of human tissues. They give a careful description of the source of each of the tissues which is illustrated, the vast majority being from surgical biopsy specimens. The descriptive text is limited, but frequently one or two references are quoted for further reading. The illustrations are produced with a very fine photographic method which gives good definition, but unfortunately many of the micrographs lack a certain degree of contrast. This is a book which can be recommended to those departments dealing entirely with human tissues from surgical biopsies if they wish to have a basic ultrastructural atlas of such tissues. W. G. Bradley
Biological Diagnosis of Brain Disorders - The Future of the Brain Sciences (Proceedings of the 5th International Conference held at the New York Academy of Science, 2-3 October, New York, 1972), by S. Bogoch (Ed.), xvi + 392 pages, 134 illustrations, 31 tables, Spectrum Publications, Inc., Flushing, N.Y., 1973, & 12.15. This volume is a record of the proceedings of the 5th International Conference on the future of the brain sciences held at the New York Academy of Medicine in October 1972. The distinguished participants were from Great Britain, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R., and the unusual step was taken of arranging that all the participants should visit each other’s laboratories in turn before the conference. The stated goal of the conference, admirable but hard to attain, was that of making advances in the Brain Sciences available to the clinician as rapidly as possible.
Journal o/Neurological Sciences, 27 (1976) 264--266 © Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam - Printed in The Netherlands
Book Reviews
Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology, Vol. 1, No. 1 (January 1975), J o u r n a l o f t h e British N e u r o p a t h o l o g i c a l Society, e d i t o r J. B. C a v a n a g h , B l a c k w e l l Scientific P u b l i c a t i o n s , Ltd., O x f o r d , 4 issues p e r year, a n n u a l s u b s c r i p t i o n price £ 14,00. In December 1950, the late Dr. J. Godwin Greenfield founded the Neuropathological Club, the name of which was changed in 1962 to the British Neuropathological Society. The 50th scientific meeting was held in December 1975, so it is a fitting and conspicuous milestone in the Society's advance that its sponsored journal Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology should make its appearance in this commemorative year. The last quarter of a century has seen a spectacular development in neuropathology and as techniques and experimentation have advanced, with other disciplines notably virology and enzymology becoming implicated, the need for a better understanding of the biology of the nervous system has become apparent. Our knowledge of neuropathology and neurobiology has advanced together, and indeed at the ultramicroscopical level these subjects virtually merge into one. Certainly progress in the former is dependent upon that in the latter. Significant also are the concomitant advances in comparative neuropathology and comparative neurobiology. These sciences were emerging four decades ago, but their importance now in a more crowded and hungry world is only too obvious. From its outset "the Club" has encouraged these growing points in veterinary medicine. The title of this new journal is aptly chosen and constitutes a challenge to the Society. These conjoint subjects neuropathology and neurobiology have never been overrepresented on the shelves of specialist journals and for long there has been talk of a periodical in English to cover the special needs of the North European countries represented in the Society's membership and to report the scientific proceedings. The more general neurological journals have always welcomed contributions on neuropathology and doubtless will continue to do so, especially when the topics are of a wide interest and invite the attention of, and appraisal by, clinicians. This new journal, which we welcome, will appear quarterly and the editor is Professor J. B. Cavanagh, of the Neurobiological Research Unit, Queen Square, whose preface will surely meet with a sympathetic response. The members of the editorial board are W. F. Blakemore, J. E. Cremer, L. W. Duchen, S. Leibowitz, P. D. Lewis and Y. OIsson. The advisory board of 13 which includes the president and the vice-president of the Society, is drawn from 4 continents. The 8 contributions in this first issue and the valuable precis of the papers delivered at the 47th meeting augur well for a high-quality journal which should attract wide interest. Praise is due to the sponsors and publishers for embarking on this literary venture at what is the right but a difficult time. W. H. McMenemey
Pawlows Beitrag zur Psychiatrie - - Entwicklungs- und Strukturanalyse einer Forschungsrichtung ( S a m m l u n g p s y c h i a t r i s c h e r u n d n e u r o l o g i s c h e r E i n z e l d a r s t e l l u n g e n ) , by I. H a n d , w i t h a n i n t r o d u c t i o n by H . B i i r g e r - P r i n z , viii q- 87 pages, G e o r g T h i e m e V e r l a g , S t u t t g a r t , 1972, D M 33.00. The name of Pavlov is popularly associated with his classical work in relation to experimental neuroses, studies which have made him one of the founders of experimental psychiatry. Less well known are his later investigations into the experimental psychoses with hallucinogens.
265 This volume deals not only with the theoretical concepts and immediate applications of classical Pavlovian conditioning but with its relationship to subsequent developments both as regards psychological theory and practice as well as its impact on the field of psychiatry as a whole. Of particular interest to the reviewer were the observations made by the author relating to the differences with which Pavlovian theory was incorporated into the general body of knowledge in the West as compared with the East. Dr. Hand also considers in some detail Pavlov’s contribution to the works of Skinner and Volpe, and in general to the field of behaviour therapy. The author has shown considerable ambition by the scope of his work in which he surveys the whole field of psychiatry for which Pavlov’s work may be considered to have relevance. This has resulted in a somewhat tight text with many references, some interesting ideas, but relatively little space to enlarge upon these. This does not make for easy reading. However, it is a most useful source of reference and sheds some light on the inter-connections between the various disciplines, as well as providing a stimulus for further experimental work both in the neuroses and psychoses. Kurt Schapira
Fine Structure of Human Cells and Tissues, by T. Ebe and S. Kobayashi,
pages, 137 photographs, 1972, DM 118.00.
ix + 266 4 figures, F. K. Schattauer Verlag, Stuttgart, New York,
As electron microscopy spreads to more departments throughout the world, and workers who had not previously used the electron microscope become more interested in its applications, there is an ever-increasing need for worthwhile atlases of electron-microscopic structure. This need is being met by many new publications, all of them comprising mainly electron micrographs with a small amount of text describing the ultrastructural appearances, and all of them very expensive. The cost is only to be expected in view of the large number of micrographs, and the relatively small sale to be expected. Atlases are now available covering many different tissues and many different animals. This atlas which has been produced by Drs. Ebe and Kobayashi from the Niigata University School of Medicine, Japan, is of high quality. The authors provide a good coverage of the ultrastructure of human tissues. They give a careful description of the source of each of the tissues which is illustrated, the vast majority being from surgical biopsy specimens. The descriptive text is limited, but frequently one or two references are quoted for further reading. The illustrations are produced with a very fine photographic method which gives good definition, but unfortunately many of the micrographs lack a certain degree of contrast. This is a book which can be recommended to those departments dealing entirely with human tissues from surgical biopsies if they wish to have a basic ultrastructural atlas of such tissues. W. G. Bradley
Biological Diagnosis of Brain Disorders - The Future of the Brain Sciences (Proceedings of the 5th International Conference held at the New York Academy of Science, 2-3 October, New York, 1972), by S. Bogoch (Ed.), xvi + 392 pages, 134 illustrations, 31 tables, Spectrum Publications, Inc., Flushing, N.Y., 1973, & 12.15. This volume is a record of the proceedings of the 5th International Conference on the future of the brain sciences held at the New York Academy of Medicine in October 1972. The distinguished participants were from Great Britain, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R., and the unusual step was taken of arranging that all the participants should visit each other’s laboratories in turn before the conference. The stated goal of the conference, admirable but hard to attain, was that of making advances in the Brain Sciences available to the clinician as rapidly as possible.