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Principles of surgery
Burns
Vol. ~/NO. 3
Book review Principles of Surgery, 2nd ed. by D. J. du Plessis. Pp. vi+186. 1976. Bristol, Wright. E340. This is the second edition of a most excellent little book which claims not to be a textbook on surgery but more a way of thinking. It is said to be a supplement to both direct clinical instruction and formal textbook reading, bridging the gap between basic science and clinical medicine. The style of the book is described as being strictly one of note form and therefore presents concentrated but valuable reading. After each chapter there is an exercise designed to encourage further reading and this also acts as a test on understanding of the topic. There is a very good section on the general principles of surgery which
covers the pathology of irritation, the wound and injury and repair in special tissues. Included in this section is a chapter on blood transfusions and another on the disturbances of fluid and electrolytes as well as the general reactions to injury. Information on each of these is of general value to the burns surgeon and the actual chapter on burns gives a fairly elegant resume of what we should know. I think it is well worth having this book as it makes one aware of the changes that occur in the body which are perfectly ‘normal’ following bodily injury, whether it be due to trauma or surgery, and I am sure it will help in our thinking and understanding of what we should be trying to do in burns therapy. J. ELLSWORTH LAING
Vol. ~/NO. 3
Book review Principles of Surgery, 2nd ed. by D. J. du Plessis. Pp. vi+186. 1976. Bristol, Wright. E340. This is the second edition of a most excellent little book which claims not to be a textbook on surgery but more a way of thinking. It is said to be a supplement to both direct clinical instruction and formal textbook reading, bridging the gap between basic science and clinical medicine. The style of the book is described as being strictly one of note form and therefore presents concentrated but valuable reading. After each chapter there is an exercise designed to encourage further reading and this also acts as a test on understanding of the topic. There is a very good section on the general principles of surgery which
covers the pathology of irritation, the wound and injury and repair in special tissues. Included in this section is a chapter on blood transfusions and another on the disturbances of fluid and electrolytes as well as the general reactions to injury. Information on each of these is of general value to the burns surgeon and the actual chapter on burns gives a fairly elegant resume of what we should know. I think it is well worth having this book as it makes one aware of the changes that occur in the body which are perfectly ‘normal’ following bodily injury, whether it be due to trauma or surgery, and I am sure it will help in our thinking and understanding of what we should be trying to do in burns therapy. J. ELLSWORTH LAING