1935.
427
PUBLIC HEALTH.
The Literature of Preventive Medicine. Some Methods in Health Education. By M. B. DAVIES, Lecturer in Hygiene, North Wales Training College, Bangor; and L. WILKES, M.A., Lecturer in Education, North Wales Training College, Bangor. London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1935. pp. Ill, illustrated. Price 2s. 6d. net. The claim of the authors of this little book is that it represents an attempt to counteract the current tendency to view health education too exclusively from the point of view of aim and content, and not sufficiently from the point of view of class-room practice. They have endeavoured and have gone far to show that the same principles of psychology and education underlie this teaching as are implicit in the .. methods" of all school subjects: that mainly it is an approach to the teaching of hygiene that is needed. These things they prove by reference to experience in actual practice, and in doing so offer a number of suggestions of real value to teachers generally, most of whom feel, as do the authors, how great a value attaches to the health education of the children in their charge.
• Public III Health. By C. E. McNALLY, Honorary Treasurer, Committee against Malnutrition. London: Victor Gollancz, Ltd., 1935. pp. 224. Price 5s. net. This book has a yellow cover, and outside and around the middle of this a red strip like a body-belt. On the yellow cover the book is described-anonymously-as "vitally important" and as one the importance of which it would be impossible to exaggerate, for it u challenges the conclusions arrived at in the official Annual Report on Public Health which appears under the editorship of. Sir George Newman . . which states that unemployment has had scarcely perceptible effects on the national health." Another sign of its importance, probably, is that-as he states on the red bodybelt-Professor V. H. Mottram has read it .. with great interest and some indignation." That this indignation is roused because the book charges that the motives behind Sir George Newman's report are apathy, disbelief, ignorance, and concludes that the Ministry of Health stands convicted of erecting a barrier of complacency to obstruct efforts being made to build a healthier community, is not clear.
If it was, it is doubtful if he would commend the author for his reasonableness, balance, sanity and sauvity, and recommend the book more or less generally.
•
Modern Marriage and Birth Control. By EDWARD F. GRIFFITH, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. London: Victor Gollancz, Ltd., 1935. pp.221. Price 5s. net. It has often been complained here and elsewhere that so much of the popular writing on birth control, sex hygiene, etc., is left to nonmedical authors. Welcome is, therefore, given to this volume because it is from a medical pen, and by one who can express himself with moderation and with scientific knowledge and an approach to accuracy. Because of this there is no hesitation in recommending and commending it, and there is less hesitation in doing so since Lord Horder, Mr. T. W. Pym, Canon of Bristol, and Mr. Mullins, the metropolitan magistrate, in forewords which they contribute, do so also. London: Health. By E. OBERMER, M.D. John Lane, The Bodley Head Ltd., 1935. pp. 171. Price 3s. 6d. net. The author of this book makes it a plea for an "individual health service" which he believes is desired by the increasing minority of thinking people who are impatient with the medical profession because of its pre-occupation with disease rather than health. To provide what he wants, a complete re-organisation of the health services is required, and he describes how this should be brougbt about. "TWENTy-FIVE SANITARY INSPECTORS."The title of this volume, by Roger East (Collins, 78. 6d.), is a little misleading, which, in fact, is why it is reviewed here. Actually, it is a Crime Club novel concerning mysterious happenings in a West Indian Island and their solution by an ex-detective from Scotland Yard, assisted by 25 natives recruited by an exMinister of Sanitation. The title .. sanitary inspectors" is only conferred for purposes of pay and discipline, the bearers, indeed, playing a very minor part in the plot. None of the characters is very strongly or forcefully drawn, but the atmosphere of the story and the manner of the telling make up for some of the other deficiencies.