Review of New Books*

es, ~J.P .. Hnatti•·· antl Wriglt'.'·· +s11 pages with 171'> illustrations. ~inth l'dition, London, l!l:);l, l•;dwanl Arnold & Co. :J;<.i.iiO.

As with the previous editions of JJ.isNtsls of ll'onu "· thP e•litors throug-h tPn <ad, a1lll yt•l all aSl>t'<'ls are a pPlvi" org:ntH, awl eoutinue~ on to g·yne!'ologie ntiation of lil'ltr•Jtoi is Pmpltn.si?,erl. The Eng-li~h r·.ontrihutor~, llo\I'<'V<'r, :q>]'<':tl' tu ]H• mon• •·on~"nat:ve titan "'t' in tit<' treat rll<'nt of 1'\mmi,· ]H'lvi<• inflammatory di~ea'''. 'l'hPre is no t: in th•• t·,•vic"·,•r'~ mind lltat this l>11ok \\'ould l11• a valuaiJk :t'd to heg·inllt'l'S in tla•. fit'lf1 of g·yueC'olugy-. Eden and Holland's Manual of Obstetrics. By Alan Brew~, M.ll., :VLH., M.KC.P., r'.RC.k., l<'.H.C.O.G. Tenth edition, Sl2 pagi'H with 375 il!nstmtion;;;. Lon1lou, l~J5:l, .T. & A. <

!hurchill. Ltd.

5:ls. 0<1.

This tenth edition of Eden and IIollond ·8 Manna./ of Obstet'rics by Dr. Bre,vs ;, illtewll't! primarily ns a tPxtbook for tlw medical stwlent and the pl,ysieian engaged in geneml pmetif'<'. The material is \Wll organiz!' puerperium. Tlwn' is an wl 1litional •·hnptPr on tl1e earp or the n.~wborn awl mPtho,.ls of rpsuseitation. TlH' hook •·on dn1lPs with a pre~entation of 1"" in
In general, too lit.tlc attPntion i~ paistetri•·s as hypotensive tlrng" in the tJ·eatment of toxPmia, the us<' of Pxtraperitoneal <·.psare~m ""c.tion, PStrogPn therapy for the preg-nant lliahE>tin patient, a.n1l P.ondur.tion anesthesia. 'rhe r!'prol,Y from p\:11'1' jo p]ac·e. '!'his, of 1'0Ul'>'i' 1 ]'ia<'()S a ]Hll'•ltnt upon the rt•:tlkl'. 'l'his latest edition of a stan1lard British tPxtl>ook is a valuablE> aid for the rtH'tliral stu dent hut will not greatly benPfit the speeiali~t. ~udt

Praktische Geburtshilfe. By Prof. Dr. \V. Poyn•ml>el, from tlw \\'onw.n ·~ Clini<· of the l'it.'· Hospitn.l of Berlin-Friethi•·hshRin. Third edition, (i:"i7 pag,:s wit!, .J.57 illu~t ratioJJH. Berlin, 1053, \Va.lter De
This textbook is just Yrhat the narnc itnp11es.

Every page 1s crammed \Yith lJractical

advice, suggestions, and aids to the general practitioner and student.

'l'he material is arranged

Vdumc 67 1\umber f)

1371

in a most interesting manner. Basic princ~iples are printeJ in bold-faced type and surronwle
The Digestive Tract in Roentgenology.

'l'he author must un~tive tract from a roentgenological aspect. The material is extremely extensive and deals with practically every lesion, disease, or condition conceived in medicine. Bach aspect of the digestive tract is clearly and completely brought forward and de~c,rihed. Clinical case reports are given in conjunction with every lesion presented. Various technical procedures are given \Yhic,h arc of inestimable aid to the roentgenologist in determining the presenee of extremely rm·e conditions, particularly some congenital abnormalities, which procedures onlinarily are not used routinely. The majority of bizarre lesions have been verified by operation or autopsy. The normal variations of each aspect of the monstrating pathological con•litions on paper. The procl.'ss of transposing the image of the film to paper has been unsatisfactory at times, but not in this work. Numerous microscopic illustrations are given in ],Jack ancl white. 1'his of course rlefinitely detraets from the effectiveness of illustration of the lesions. Colorecl illustrations wouhl unrnists - o - , .. ---,-----J.-----~---·-:---~--

--L

._,

.;

By Ernest W. Page, M.D. 120 pages with 2 figures and 5 tables. Springfield, Ill., 195:3, Charles C Thomas. $:3.75.

The Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy.

The intro
j;rJ:.:

BOOK REVIEWS

_f-\_lJt. J.

Obst. & Gynec. June, 1954

featun's is a. 1able of prt'rllillllt:-< >Yltielt ~elt'<:te
TlJi...; t·tldc emlll1a:--ize~ fa<'tor:-; \\·hi(' II predispose t< 1 t lit> dt~\t•Jop­ ruerlt of prl:.·e<•htJll]J~ia an(l gi\-P:-' an estintat.~ of tl1eji' relative '~.veight:-::. The rnanagement

of the patients anctn:ertt ot their r·.·,- ""1ne of tht' physiological and chemieal changes of uorrna] :tnd 1oxiP pn•gnunciP~.

~uhjeL·t-.: di:-~<'tiSSt~d irH·lttdt• the ;:~in·ulation, n•nal fuut'tion,

water and eledrolytt' halaJl<'r', suHw of ihe ltotmCiltes, and hlooirl fa,·r>l'illg "'"'own tlll'i!l',,. . _ ~l:t11ting thi~ prP~Pntation with pre,inflir·P ronlu only ]Je avoitlPd h\- ll'l'iting· 11 lengtl,\·, ltr•avih- rlrwunH'nterl ailll unnitieal Yolume." ThL' thc•ury j~ that ]d pn•tipitatillg e:tllt:'l~ of to:-..t>Jflia. Png(~';...; flill'erentiat.ion of pn,]i'l""ing fa<'tors, ]>IPI'ipitati11.g· far·tor (''crtnse''), mediators, and serondnrv nlanifeHtHt.itJtJ:-< :-\ho::ld Le rt>nd l>y anvonp iufprPsied jn tuxernia (or othnr disl\ase). ·i~here are hunrlrt•,]:.; of l''ll'l.'l':-< in th·,. lit~raturt' which h:l\·e eonfused tlte i:<~ne b:>' reganling- pn·di:·qJO~ing· f:t('ttJI':-' a:-- •·r:ttl~t·~·'' I·~Yt'll :->t'('<•ndar_,- rnallifp;-;tatinn....; \'-fl .. \·a:-;o
:iiT inarsha11eol 1n ~upport of tht• theory arHl man,\- rli\·~rH• rlat:t nn~ r·ntTel:tlt>vritv a lrr111k \\ ithout nntking· ""lre ~tatements unaeceptable io a n~'\'iCY\-P!". :\nloiJ:;; H'\'!'rn1 \\"1Ji('h 1l1i~ I't>\ iL'\\t'!' df!e:-; ~1ot helit•Ye nre: t!1nt !1(1 pt•r t'(•rd of pre-P<:lamptic patiPrtt' sltll\\' nqtitl w~igltt gain as a Jirst sign; that 'alt can he ''washed out'' b,Y- watc'r tliure,is: that tht• Lloorl urir· ar·id ll'Vt'] givt>R nn i11dieation of the se\-erit,v

author'~

of the toxpmia; that '' n1scular CHr.~ on pag·p lltfi. Jn a. pi••ayune vein, the l' anyu11p knowing

Pat_,;t~'~

\\Otk

!!light.

t.'XjH'<·t,

tl1i~

i~~ an excellent, ('Oil('i~•), ~nHI

stimulating hook whi~h \l'ill he of \'alne to the physi.,ian doing some obstctric·s, to the oJ,stetrician, and io the sp<~r·ialist in toxrmin. Highly rer'llllllllPJl
Sexual Behavior in the Human Female.

Dr. :\lfn·d !'. h:in'"·"• \,],, '·h:11J hee11 at \\'rH·k fj;l6(10t . . . . "to aitl in collecting and analyzing histories." Increasing finan!'hl Rlll>J'Ol'l -,""' gil'!'ll Lr:- tlte < 'ommitt.>t: Ulltil, in ]!118, furtlter gran[:; were ma
Volume 67 !\'umber t)

BOO I-~

1373

"RESOLUTION: The impul~es and activities as~ociated with sex behavior and Tel'roduction are fundamentally important for the welfare of the individual, the family, the c·ommnnity, the race. N everthelesR, the reports of personal experience are lacking ancl the relatively few data of ohRervation have not been collected in serviceable form. Under eircunt~taneeR where "'~e shouhl have kno"·le<, problems of sex behavior can be subjected to scientiJlc examination. In order to eliminate auy suggestion that such inquiry is undertaken for purposes of propaganda, it should be sponsored by a body of inv-estig-ators ~.rhose di:·dnterestea deYotion to scienee is 'vell recognized. For the~e various reasons, the CommittPe recommenrls that the National Research Council he ach-isetl to organize and foster an im-estigation into the problems of Rex.'' (Pages 1:!-l:l.) In the first ~1 page:.; of thiR J.ook the authors convincingly clalHnate on the scope, th~ need, and the justification of their stUtlic" nncl of the publication of their results in sueh manner as to make them useful to the lay retuler. Alreatl~' too many commentators have manifested failure to rearl three significant, carefully wonlerl paragraphs: (In the following, from page

+,

all but the first two italicizations are mine.)

"This is a study of sexual J,eh:l\·ior in (!l"ithin) <'<'Itaiu groups of the human species, Homo saz1iens. It is obviously not a stuoy of the sexual behavior of all cultures and of all races of man. At its best, the present volume can pretr.11cl to report behavior which may be typical of no more than a portio11, although prohablr not an inconsiderable portion, of the white females liYing within the boundaries of the United States. Neither the title of our first volume on the male, nor the title of this volume on the female, should be taken to imply that the authors are unaware of the diversity which exists in patterns of sexual beha,-ior in other parts of the worlrl.'' Further, on page 537, we read: "It is obvious, but it neerl' to he pointed out again, that no population of variant individuals can ever have their behavior characterize(] by any simple description. It is more nearly possible to write anatomic descriptions which cover a whole group of individuals, but physiologic functionR are usually more variable than anatomic structures, and behaYioral characters are still more variable than physiologic functions.''

Also, on page 5±3, is the pointed statement: '''l'he sexual history of eaeh individual represents a unique combination of . . . variables. There is little chance that such a combination has ever existed befo1·e, or ever will exist again. We have never found any individual who was a composite of all the av· erages on all of the aspects of sexual response and overt acti,-ity which we have analyzed in the present volume. This is the most important fact which we can report on the sexual histories of the females who have contributed to the present study.'' Chapters 2 and 3, comprising 7;i pages, are devoted to an extremely detaileo exposition of how and where the subject matter was obtained and of the methodology of statistical analysis. Then follow ten chapters ( +66 pages) of finely processed meat, the micronized carnality of 5,!1±0 white females of the United States. Incidences of almost every manner and degree of sexuality are gi,-en for numerous categories, such as those of age, of social and marital position, of religious attitUlle, of educational background: an impressive example of truly scientific ardor· in obtaining material as best one can, ancl also of a sincere attempt to utilize its full possibilities. Few of the frequencies of this or that particular manifestation nf sex will surprise• many experienced gynecologists. 'l'herefo1·e, and also because of the futility of attempting within the hounds of space and accuracy to summarize such a plethora of numerieal de-

1374

Arn . .1.

BOOK REVIEWS

0\l~t.

&. (oyno.?,·.

Jun.·. 19.'4

iails! I .lll· ~nlvel':l s.ynlht·.~i;:::t• tln:'ir uhsnrv:..tlious i11io t•xplamthon~ nud lht.•uri~·::; JliJI' \l'f!Uid tlH'Y han· appronclti'•l llt•·ir •drjt•('ti,·e of t'fhwatillg tlw puldie in li1P a<'lunli1_.:·~ r•t' ~··x \I"PI't' I'IIP.\" t.o wit.hhnla t·un·pl.-·tf· 1y their ow11 expert eom~lu ...;iotl~ from the ftJl'l." n'- tJ,, ..\. to11111l the111. NO\I'lt!·l'l'

je~t.ivity

J,_,,

:1

in tlH·

boo,~.~ hOWP\'<'1' 1 iB 1.1tPI'P ~my 11\'Pt·t rlPHil'tltl'lll

11r'

r•ot'']':wt flXplieit. exJH'es~ion of 1ltc autliiJ!S 1 l'OlliOpr of

rltPir nvnwl·tl obt•t.l1ie1-1; l!llt liP·

!-.1''\

:- 1!i!ll'lit:lt'S 1'\.t'll will1in, lilt"• litws 111' inrtlllltt>f:ildt• pag<·s ~·rtrlly tl1i~ n•a•ln {lt•tPI'ts wkll appP:u·:- to Ill' l'il.llt'r an il!lt•r inr·omtm·lil'"~ion 1 hu1 \l:1n i..; r11on• t l1a1• ;111 :1111or:d a11i

tWP<~n,

lil!d!

lll' 1111

inl:(.llll!ll'l'ltCJLl'iil]l!

IIIOI'alis(ie

llt~t~l'il]tty in 0!!1' pJ1a~P

pnJ,lic welfal'i'. :<~l:wtcd J>ll~~a!.!~'~ npjli: following tw•J; nntl nvu•n'cl pJf,Jr1

ltXWHnl

1\Inoug- :-:4

\I'T!t.t·Pn

rd tJWil'

nlllt'JIIiSP :-;ul't~I]J

r•:J~u:d:~-

noh·d :-:in1ilarly

l'atte .J'D: i lr:di('i-; a.tl' 111ine.) '' .Be('an~c of its l'tHotin1J:tl •'Ol1Ht~1 ariotts, prr·unu·it:d like n11y l}thn iyp(~ of :·WI'iO·flf'Xua.J ~>Xpl:'l'kllr·e, ma~· han? long rangr- dl\•J't:-; wl1i1~h 11n·

coitu~.

of f'OilRir1t•nddt' :-:il<'ittl sig-nifieanl't'. In xfwiO·st>xual l'.ont:wt><, iH•li,·illunl...: ;:Ia,\· hl'crrm1· lit'· qnrti·nff''d ~rith rnr·h otlwr, lf•nrn tn mlj11.~f ph,I!Nif!IITI.t/ fllill l'llwt.inna/ly, !'(IIIII' tn r1wlastunrl e:wh olh,~r, allll ,.,,lilt' 1r.1 11f1f1J'Iriaft· •!a•·lt otl~t•r's qnalitit's in a ll':1y wl1i.·lt i:-; '"'t p":-.:-ild,• ia ali.\ /,ttll'lliu!l lo nsJIOillliHI.of.ioiWiliJ 1.11 a :-~·:.:trnl partm·r 11111.,11 o1ht~r l,rpP of ~1wial J·plationsltil'·

contr-i'b·ute to

:-tm·ial n•lntion~liip~ .. , stro11gly insinuato jul'tification of JH'(•-malital ''oitn:-:

t1u·t1l~dit•fnf.~i.luf Ont''s

other,

nont-~t'XIIaL

J,~, ~lyly or inHen· . lilt' nutlwr~ t.Hh-ertcJJtly i-!':\lJiishiHg one of it::; po~sihle etft•t·t.s witl1 ~ur·h geur_'rnl .lc·~irahiliU••s as are italicize:} t.r llll:'. Tl1is pa~sagr.. I think, statl·:-: not wha1 tlll'y f
On pngl'

J~:~

is anotlwr Ii kHwise '' ]mu.l•ld ' 1 pant:gmph:

'(Coralemnatton:-; of homtJI'exual a:-: \\'(•11 :1~ :-;ome lJtlll'l' typps of ~Wxtml :wl.i\'ity ar1• ltai-!etl vn tltl' nrg-unw11t that. tli~_·y do uot ~PI'\'1' ll11~ pri1111: J'111wliun of 1'\'X, wl1ida is i?lll'l"lll'l:tcd to be prot·reativn. rllHl in that :-~rnsc repr('.94>JJt n. perversion of what i::- taktll fo ho '?ronnal' S('xual 1Jeha\ inr. It is contendoc] that tile genentl spt·ca•1 of Jtomost-xuulity would threaten

1.he exif'tenr·e nf the human specit>>':, ana that the itltegrity of tile home allll (,f the !:lucial or~ani?.tttiun r·uuld ll•Jt he majntaiued if humosexuul acti\'ity WPI't' r1ot. r•ondemuerl l•y moral eodes an1l public opinion and mnde punishal1Je ,m,ler l:hc statute lnw. The nrg-umcnt ig norell t.Lto fad that tltP exi:>~t!•nt mammalian t-~p(•eil"~ ltnn• m:um~-:·e,J til slta/;c'' 1 us if that \\'I'll~ suf7kwnt flit' I:Utll:lll ltt'il!,!.!~l ' 1 itt ,..;pii·· or j]ll.'il' widc•spn:ad 1101110~··:-.ual adilily, aud lhat· :O:!'Xllal rulation!' l1dwt·t~11 malt·~ sHt'lll It> lw wi•lt·~pr·t•:ul in ('Nlnin <·ultures r:ft~r ill~taHt'l', Moslem and Hudrd1i.~t eulture~) whidt are llWl'L' :·mrioui'!ly cu•rretnpd wit.h JHuhlelD~ of O\ er

populati1HJ thtn thl'y are with uny thrent of underpopulation. Intere:o:;tingly enough thes~ are uJso cultnres in which the im;titution of the family i.:; yery Hrollg. '· (Italics
This p:u:tgrap), appears in a discusr:cion of "Social Rignifir.:all('l" 0£ HomoAexuality, 11 which starts 01~ pngc- 476. As doe.<; the whole subchapter, it dearly connot~_~s apprdnll of pre-111aritn.l thiA manner nf St:X expression, just as the snciion 1 ' Social coitus), starting on page :126, implies, purposefull3' nr not, esteem for thi~ rommo11 lwlmviori:-rn.

To thoHe who beJieve that western cidlization surpa.sses other~ in the welfare of all, morality of sex is inseparable from monogam~·· Ir ic:. at least highly debatable that either homosexuality or pre-mnrital coitus confprms to or strengthens

to ''mora] feelings.''

Vnlume u7

Number 6

BOOK REVIEWS

1375

monogamy. I think that authors do wrong repeatedly to give the impression that tlteir objective findings substantiate the morality of these substitutes for monogamy. Their excellent (]etailed analysis of case histories certainly does not do this for me. 'fhe first two sections of this tripartite volume, in spite of ad verse criticism of expert statisticians, would fully justify a title such as Sexual Behavior of 5,940 White American Females and amply accord the authors illustrious eminence among social scientists. The last five chapters, comprising Part III, entitled "Comparison8 of Female and Male," appreciably adJ to their scholarly stature, for herein, utilizin~..; our limited available basit· scic>Hce, they lucidly expound-though frequently without proving-their theories of allinelusive sex physiology; i.e., all inelusive except for the element of svirituality. This they either do not recognize as a factor in human psychology, or refuse to include for th<> Heedle~s fear that itR implication would contaminate the purity of their ''science.'' 'l'hpsf! I aRt ehapters are re8pectively entitled: ' 1Anatomy of Sexual Response and Orgasm''; ''Physiology of Sexual Response and Orgasm''; 1 'Psychologic Factors in Sexual Response''; • 'Neural Mechanisms of Sexual Response''; ''Hormonal Factor~ in Sexual Response.'' I believe careful study of them should be added to the requirements for board acc;editatiou at least in gynecology and obstetrics, and wish such r~quirement could be made retroactive for those already certified in these specialties. Now many psychoanalysts, jurists, professional moralists, all clinicians and family<'Ounselors-in-sex, pedagogues, and parents re-examine their doctrines and replenish their tools hy only a few days' discriminating reading of the first two parts and careful study of Part III of this immensely instructive book. In size it is 914 by 6 inches wide and l 'Y~ inches thick and weighs only 2lj2 pounds. It is securely bound and legibly printed with wide page margins for both pro- and con- notes. Its plenitude of references makes of it a bibliographic compendium. Its abundant citations of conflicting reports and views are a high tribute to the authors' impartial scholarship. The text is a literary achievement b integration of authorship as well as in pleasing style. Indiana University and the Committee for Research in Problems of Sex of the National Research Council, which, together, from first to last have sponsored these studies, can well feel proud of their product. The authorA, collectively called "the Staff of the Institute for Sex Research, Indiana University,'' and individually named ns Alfred C. Kinsey, Wardell B. Pomeroy, Clyde R Martin, anJ Paul H. Gehban1, Irlerit high acclaim for a very difficult job we11 done. Prematurity, Congenital Malformation and Birth Injury-Proceedings. By Dr. I. E. Holt, .Jr., Department of Pediatrics, New York University Coiiege of Medicine, Dr. Theodore Ingalls, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard University, and Dr. Louis M. Hellman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University of New York College of Medicine at New York City. 25.5 pages. New York, 1953, published by the Association for the Aid of Crippled Children. $4.00. Prematurity, congenital malformation and birth lllJury, their prevention and medical management constitute one of the major problems confronting obstetricians, prtliatricians, and public health 'Yorkers. Not only are these conditions, in the order mentioned, the leading causes of death in the first month of life but they are of even greater community importance from the point of view of the crippling defects which handicap many of the ~urvivors. It is of significance that this conference was sponsored by the New York Association for Aid to Crippled Children. Thirty papers were presented undar the co-chairmanship of Dr. Emmet Holt, a pediatrician, Dr. Theodore Ingalls, an epidemiologist and public health worker, and Dr. Louis Hellman, an obstetrician. 'l'hese papers, presented by experts in their respective fields, give the reader a bird 's-eye view of much of the recent research in these fields. f:;ome of the material presented is highly provocative; in the field of prematurity those papers relating to the prevention of prematurity and to the maturation of enzyme systems seem of particular importance.

1376

BOOK

RI~VIEWS

Ob~t. &

Am.

Gynt:.:. June, 19;4

The proLlem of e\'aluating factors concerned in the production of congenital malfur mation is discussed in eight papers and is approached from three points uf view-laboratory, dinical, and statistical. 'rhe relationship Lctween birth injury and pr·emn.turity i;o pointed out in a paper entitled, '' J\fass Study of Reprodueti \'C \Vastage.'' The seven papers presented under the general heading of birth injury contain a large numlwr of data. They should serve as a stimuluH to finding a pathway through the virtuall.v uncharted field of anoxia am! its biochemical und physiopathologic manifeBtations. Pregnancy Wastage, By Earl T. };ngle, M.D., :.ltiti pages with H:J illustrations. Ill., Hl53, Charles C Thomas. $8.50.

i:"lpriugfield,

This small book contains much interesting material which is the result of the proeeedings of a conference held in 1951 and sponsored Ly the Committee on Human Reproduction of the National Research Council in behalf of the National Committee on Maternal Health. The hook wa' Nlited Ly Dr. Earl Engle and has an introduction by him which briefly emphasizes the subject of the conference. Dr. Engle states that while the hmnan race h::!H b.:Jen singularly adept at Teproducing itself, there is no lmown measure .Jf the proportion of conceptions which succumb or the fadors responsible for this wastag<:'. The session chairmen were Drs. Rock, }jastman, D 'Esopo, and Hertig. '!'here wNe lri in1· t()nif•A Pti\H;)rpfi tho \.VPrA -- rnn -----,,-...... TYH1~t ___ ...,.u.._ ()11h:tnnrH-n0" n..P "\\lhi.0h •••--"-•. - - - , -in - - -t.hP. - - - onh1i.Olt of i11i~ author. those hy Dr. George Corner on Early ALnormal Emln·yos in the Rhesus :\fonkry, Dr. E that the remainder of the hook contains mnch valuable and pertinent information orr the subject of pregnancy wastage which cannot be obtained easily from any otlwr source. The discussion of the various topics was particularly timely and in many rases as illuminatiug as the oTiginal presentation. It is unfortunate that the reporting of these ~eonferences takes so long Lo get into print. In this ease, a matter of two years seems to have elapsed before mueh of this material became available. It is al! subject of pregnancy wastage. -"l--~~

·--·~-~·-•1

~-~

'-'~~-~---~--~b

~·

_.L____

---

-

Clinical Endocrinology. By Karl Paschkis, M.D., Abraham Rackoff, M.D., and Abraham Cantarow, M.D. 7oS pages with :.l54 illmtrations. Xew York, 1954, Hoeher-Harpe1·. $16.00. This volume represents the combined efforts of an Associate Professor of Medicine, a Clinical Professor of Obstetric and Gynecologic Endocrinology, and a Professor of Biochemistry. All have heen nationally known for their interest in endocrinology. The work is intensely intere~ting and reads more like a novel thau a reference book. The data anu references are up to date. 'rhe book itself iR divided into 12 sections. 'J'en of these relate to specific endocrine glands and their disorders, such as the pituitary, the thyroid, the adrenal cortex, the adrenal medulla, the ovaries, the testes, the pancreas, and the parathyroid. Included as an endocrine gland, and quite correctly, is the placenta. In addition, there is a section on obesity and one on methods and materials. The sections are presented in an orderly manner, beginning with the anatomy and physiology of the various glands or parts of glands under discussion. There then follow discussions of malfunction usually divided into hyper- and hypofunction of the various compartments of the organ discuR~ed. Speciftc diseases aml various syndromes of malfunction are described a.nd treatment and theory of treatment given. In addition, the interrelationships with other glands are thoroughly discussed. References are given at the end of each section. The vo1unle ls

\'ulume 67 6

~~Jmher

BOOI{ REVIE\VS

1377

extensively illustrHted and the paper excellent. For the most part, the reproductions are good; however, occasionally the charts, as in Figure 1:36, are umeadable. In addition, there are occasional photomicrographs which are extremely poor and detract from what i" otherwise a splendid piece of craftsmanship. 'l'his volume, as are many similar texts on endocrinology, is confusing when it speaks of biological methods of assay. In particular, in dealing with the pituitary and the placental hormones, there is no attempt made to translate data into standard units of measurement. 'L'his makes a difficult situation for tht' student. The section on procedure is superficial and not given in sufficient detail to enable the reader to perform many of the tests indicated. However, the references are inrluded, au