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Principles of medical statistics
264
Book Reviews
DRUG THERAPY. FRANK C. &RGUSON, Jr. Indexed. Price $7.50.
Lea & Febiger,
Philadelphia,
1962.
411 pp.
PROFESSOR FERGUSON is obviously a man of strong opinions, and he expresses them in this book. In a sense, it is refreshing to read a text with a highly personal flavour, which minces no words. For those who are willing to trust someone else to thin out the overcrowded gardens of pharmacology, this book has much to offer in the way of simplicity and brevity. Unfortunately, despite the generally high level of much of the material, there are many who would also argue with this or that opinion of Dr. FERGUSON. It will be interesting to see how popular the book turns out to be. LOUIS LASAGNA REVIEW OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY. ERNEST JAWETZ, JOSEPH L. MELNICK and EDWARD A. ADELBERG. 5th Edition. Lange Medical Publications, Los Altos, California, 1962. 399 pp. Indexed. Price $5.50. THIS remarkable little book is often referred to by medical students as the ‘blue bible’ of microbiology. As stated in the preface, the authors’ intention has been, “to make available a brief, accurate, up-to-date presentation of those aspects of medical microbiology which are of particular significance in the fields of clinical infections and chemotherapy.” In this they have succeeded admirably. One could take issue with the statement that “this book is directed primarily at the medical student, house officer, and practicing physician.” It is really directed at the medical student (period). Not that it would have anything but a salutary influence on the graduated physician who would take the time to read it. Unfortunately, the presentation of material is far more suitable for an undergraduate medical-school course than for the practicing physician removed from the main stream of modem biology and biochemistry. It would really be a tour de force to capture both audiences. Publishers to the contrary, you can’t have it both ways. Nevertheless, this book is an extremely useful adjunct to teaching of microbiology. Quite obviously, it must be supplemented by other reading, which is the authors’ intention. Dr. JAWETZ informs me thar the process of photo-offset printing allows the authors to make topical revisions with each edition. In this respect ir could serve as a model for all inexpensive textbooks in any rapidly advancing discipline. ROBERT R. WAGNER PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL STATISTICS. A. BRADFORD HILL. University Press, New York, 1961. 367 pp. Indexed. Price S4.50.
7th Edition.
Oxford
DR. HILL has done it again. He has succeeded in improving upon his 6th Edition. This book continues to be one of the best in its field. The principles of statistics (and of the statistical design of clinical investigation) are discussed in a most lucid manner. The reader is carefully led to the heart of each subject. Pitfalls and fallacies are pointed out and discussed. There is no extravagance of words, yet all points are made, and made well. Although rhe book is delightfully free of errors in syntax, spelling and text, it should perhaps be pointed out that not every statistical technique (e.g. analysis of variance) is discussed. The book is not to be used as a complete reference but as a foundation upon which to build. I can recommend this monograph to all scientists, present and future. RONALD OKUN CURARE AND CURARELIKE AGENTS. Ciba Foundation Study Group No. 12. Edited by A. V. S. DE REUCK. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1962. 103 pp. Indexed. Price $2.95. THIS volume is one of the Ciba Foundation Study Group series in which the acknowledged leaders in the field gathered for a one day conference on neuromusoular blocking drugs. The individual essays are for the most part written with clarity. The critical, spirited, and sometimes heated discussions following each paper add flavor as well as perspective to the topics discussed. This voIume should be of interest to all those concerned with neuromuscular function and drug action. R. L. JOHNS
Book Reviews
DRUG THERAPY. FRANK C. &RGUSON, Jr. Indexed. Price $7.50.
Lea & Febiger,
Philadelphia,
1962.
411 pp.
PROFESSOR FERGUSON is obviously a man of strong opinions, and he expresses them in this book. In a sense, it is refreshing to read a text with a highly personal flavour, which minces no words. For those who are willing to trust someone else to thin out the overcrowded gardens of pharmacology, this book has much to offer in the way of simplicity and brevity. Unfortunately, despite the generally high level of much of the material, there are many who would also argue with this or that opinion of Dr. FERGUSON. It will be interesting to see how popular the book turns out to be. LOUIS LASAGNA REVIEW OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY. ERNEST JAWETZ, JOSEPH L. MELNICK and EDWARD A. ADELBERG. 5th Edition. Lange Medical Publications, Los Altos, California, 1962. 399 pp. Indexed. Price $5.50. THIS remarkable little book is often referred to by medical students as the ‘blue bible’ of microbiology. As stated in the preface, the authors’ intention has been, “to make available a brief, accurate, up-to-date presentation of those aspects of medical microbiology which are of particular significance in the fields of clinical infections and chemotherapy.” In this they have succeeded admirably. One could take issue with the statement that “this book is directed primarily at the medical student, house officer, and practicing physician.” It is really directed at the medical student (period). Not that it would have anything but a salutary influence on the graduated physician who would take the time to read it. Unfortunately, the presentation of material is far more suitable for an undergraduate medical-school course than for the practicing physician removed from the main stream of modem biology and biochemistry. It would really be a tour de force to capture both audiences. Publishers to the contrary, you can’t have it both ways. Nevertheless, this book is an extremely useful adjunct to teaching of microbiology. Quite obviously, it must be supplemented by other reading, which is the authors’ intention. Dr. JAWETZ informs me thar the process of photo-offset printing allows the authors to make topical revisions with each edition. In this respect ir could serve as a model for all inexpensive textbooks in any rapidly advancing discipline. ROBERT R. WAGNER PRINCIPLES OF MEDICAL STATISTICS. A. BRADFORD HILL. University Press, New York, 1961. 367 pp. Indexed. Price S4.50.
7th Edition.
Oxford
DR. HILL has done it again. He has succeeded in improving upon his 6th Edition. This book continues to be one of the best in its field. The principles of statistics (and of the statistical design of clinical investigation) are discussed in a most lucid manner. The reader is carefully led to the heart of each subject. Pitfalls and fallacies are pointed out and discussed. There is no extravagance of words, yet all points are made, and made well. Although rhe book is delightfully free of errors in syntax, spelling and text, it should perhaps be pointed out that not every statistical technique (e.g. analysis of variance) is discussed. The book is not to be used as a complete reference but as a foundation upon which to build. I can recommend this monograph to all scientists, present and future. RONALD OKUN CURARE AND CURARELIKE AGENTS. Ciba Foundation Study Group No. 12. Edited by A. V. S. DE REUCK. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1962. 103 pp. Indexed. Price $2.95. THIS volume is one of the Ciba Foundation Study Group series in which the acknowledged leaders in the field gathered for a one day conference on neuromusoular blocking drugs. The individual essays are for the most part written with clarity. The critical, spirited, and sometimes heated discussions following each paper add flavor as well as perspective to the topics discussed. This voIume should be of interest to all those concerned with neuromuscular function and drug action. R. L. JOHNS