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Principles of neurology, fifth edition
Book Reviews
early historical figures but also many of the contributors to advances in this field in recent years, many of which have a delightfully informal character, as though the individuals had been caught quite off their guard in their normal working environment. This book is remarkably informative as well as entertaining and can be highly commended to anyone, irrespective of discipline, with an interest in the neuromuscular field.
Victor Dubowitz Postgraduate Medical School London
Principles of Neurology, Fifth Edition. By Adams and Victor. Published 1993 by McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-00341-6, 1394 pp. Price £55. For a book of its type and scope this comprehensive textbook of clinical neurology is unusual in having only two authors. Now into its fifth edition it represents many years of clinical experience and several previous editions which have helped produce a smooth and logical format. The two authors are both highly experienced and respected clinical neurologists and, although they have written the text themselves, acknowledge a number of colleagues who have given specialist advice on particular topics. Introductory chapters cover clinical examination, the anatomy and physiology of the motor and sensory systems and the nature of disordered physiology in disease states. It is refreshing to find a number of the subsequent chapters written around problem management in clinical neurology (e.g. headache, syncope, back and neck pain) and also to see the inclusion of quite large sections coveting psychiatric disorders and the effects of trauma on the nervous system; these topics often being neglected in standard neurological textbooks. One advantage of having only two principal authors is the achievement of excellent balance and consistency throughout the book. Common disorders are given, quite tightly, much larger coverage than rarer ones. One disadvantage of this type of authorship is the difficulty in keeping up-to-date with advances in a rapidly changing scene. Although the
525
chapter on epilepsy is quite extensive and gives practical advice, it is rather out-of-date, particularly with regard to the use of different anticonvulsant drugs and the approach to surgical treatment. Similarly some of the genetic advances which have been made in recent years (e.g., Huntington's chorea and cerebellar degenerations) are not included. Common disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease are covered in a comprehensive, practical and well-balanced fashion, The text is of uniformly high quality and there are few, if any, printing errors. Illustrations are all monochrome, but photographic reproductions of scans and X-rays are of generally high quality. All chapters are accompanied by an extensive alphabetical reference list which readers will find useful for more in depth study. This book represents excellent value and can be recommended to practising neurologists from early postgraduate stage up to fully trained clinicians working in the clinical neurosciences.
Roger E. Cull Royal Infirmary Edinburgh
Neurological Rehabilitation, Second Edition. Edited by L. Illis. Published 1994 by Blackwell Science. ISBN 0-632-03282-0, 581 pp. Price £69.50. The
first
edition
of
this
book,
titled
Rehabilitation of the Neurological Patient, was published in 1982 and the intervening 12 years have seen a dramatic expansion of interest in neurorehabilitation. The number of contributors has increased from 14 to 54; the chapters from 14 to 36; and the sections from 3 to 6 but the overall character of the text is similar to the original. After outlining the clinical background with a welcome account of the perspective of a patient and her husband, the second section gives the scientific background to neurological recovery in four chapters which are both readable and useful. There follow two chapters about assessment of outcome, including economic factors and audit. The fourth and largest section consists of 13 chapters addressing specific diagnostic groups, two of which
early historical figures but also many of the contributors to advances in this field in recent years, many of which have a delightfully informal character, as though the individuals had been caught quite off their guard in their normal working environment. This book is remarkably informative as well as entertaining and can be highly commended to anyone, irrespective of discipline, with an interest in the neuromuscular field.
Victor Dubowitz Postgraduate Medical School London
Principles of Neurology, Fifth Edition. By Adams and Victor. Published 1993 by McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-00341-6, 1394 pp. Price £55. For a book of its type and scope this comprehensive textbook of clinical neurology is unusual in having only two authors. Now into its fifth edition it represents many years of clinical experience and several previous editions which have helped produce a smooth and logical format. The two authors are both highly experienced and respected clinical neurologists and, although they have written the text themselves, acknowledge a number of colleagues who have given specialist advice on particular topics. Introductory chapters cover clinical examination, the anatomy and physiology of the motor and sensory systems and the nature of disordered physiology in disease states. It is refreshing to find a number of the subsequent chapters written around problem management in clinical neurology (e.g. headache, syncope, back and neck pain) and also to see the inclusion of quite large sections coveting psychiatric disorders and the effects of trauma on the nervous system; these topics often being neglected in standard neurological textbooks. One advantage of having only two principal authors is the achievement of excellent balance and consistency throughout the book. Common disorders are given, quite tightly, much larger coverage than rarer ones. One disadvantage of this type of authorship is the difficulty in keeping up-to-date with advances in a rapidly changing scene. Although the
525
chapter on epilepsy is quite extensive and gives practical advice, it is rather out-of-date, particularly with regard to the use of different anticonvulsant drugs and the approach to surgical treatment. Similarly some of the genetic advances which have been made in recent years (e.g., Huntington's chorea and cerebellar degenerations) are not included. Common disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease are covered in a comprehensive, practical and well-balanced fashion, The text is of uniformly high quality and there are few, if any, printing errors. Illustrations are all monochrome, but photographic reproductions of scans and X-rays are of generally high quality. All chapters are accompanied by an extensive alphabetical reference list which readers will find useful for more in depth study. This book represents excellent value and can be recommended to practising neurologists from early postgraduate stage up to fully trained clinicians working in the clinical neurosciences.
Roger E. Cull Royal Infirmary Edinburgh
Neurological Rehabilitation, Second Edition. Edited by L. Illis. Published 1994 by Blackwell Science. ISBN 0-632-03282-0, 581 pp. Price £69.50. The
first
edition
of
this
book,
titled
Rehabilitation of the Neurological Patient, was published in 1982 and the intervening 12 years have seen a dramatic expansion of interest in neurorehabilitation. The number of contributors has increased from 14 to 54; the chapters from 14 to 36; and the sections from 3 to 6 but the overall character of the text is similar to the original. After outlining the clinical background with a welcome account of the perspective of a patient and her husband, the second section gives the scientific background to neurological recovery in four chapters which are both readable and useful. There follow two chapters about assessment of outcome, including economic factors and audit. The fourth and largest section consists of 13 chapters addressing specific diagnostic groups, two of which