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Surgical pediatrics
Volume 83 Number 5
also one o~ the author's etchings entitled "A child of nondisjunction," reminding us of his considerable artistic talents. Another example of disproportionate space allocations is that an entire chaper (19) of six pages is assigned to the Lawrence-Moon-Biedl syndrome, whereas the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome is given a quarter of a page and is interwoven with the Ullrich-Feichtiger syndrome. Perhaps these latter two syndromes do intermesh but more important, Lawrence-Moon-Biedl, and old interest of the author's dating back to the 1930's, receives unparalleled treatment here. Another example is the detailed section on clubfoot (pages 1004 to 1009) where one learns that Little, who wrote a treatise on the subject in 1839, was himself afflicted with talipes of the left foot, and he was one of the earliest successfully treated patients operated on by a Dr. Stronmeyer of Hanover. On the other hand, Noonan syndrome is not included in the index but not because it is not included in the text. He uses almost half a page of the detailed section on re'ale Turner syndrome (pages 1131 to 1134) telling us that "what we do not (italics Warkany's) need are new eponyms for old syndromes" and the reasons that "Noonan and Ehmke did not circumscribe the hereditary Turner phenotype any better than did Kobylinski in 1883." And so it goes because the text does reflect the special interests and perhaps prejudices of the author. After a year of continuous use as a reference source, I have found a few errors. For example, aniridia has not been reported in association with hemihypertrophy as is stated on page 370, and the absence of parathyroid tissue reported by Geertinger in sudden unexpected death of infancy (page 446) has been disproved by ValdesDapnea. These are mentioned only to provide a semblance of critique rather than homage. Although the book is designed as a reference source~ one finds himself frequently distracted from his original intent by a chance encounter with an unrelated item so interestingly depicted that he has the sense of almost listening to the author as he unfolds the story and science of congenital defects. This work should be at hand wherever children with congenital defects are seen. It is destined to become a classic reference for years to come. Other books on teratology will be written but at best they will take up where this definitive work leaves 'off. This was a labor of love, and all who know the author will immediately recognize his personality and pixie
The book shell
88 1
humor throughout. It is an expensive volume but the many enjoyable hours of learning and the wealth of useful information make it a better investment than a no-load mutual fund.
Angelo M. DiGeorge St. Christopher's Hospital for Children Philadelphia, Pa.
Surgical pediatrics S t e p h e n L. Gans, M . D . , N e w York, 1973, Grune & Stratton, Inc., 327 pages. $19.50. This is a refreshing book which addresses itself to the interface between surgery and the medical-social aspects of pediatric care. In a sequential fashion it .organizes outside influences such as interpersonal relationships, transportation of injured children, and genetic counseling with traditional critical care of the pediatric surgical patient. Separate sections deal with infections and those special pediatric problems relating to hematology, diabetes mellitus, and the allergic child. In particular, those chapters dealing with outside influences are of value to physicians whose background in general pediatric care is not extensive enough to~provide familiarity with these aspects of patient management. The chapters dealing with the more technical approaches t o critical care are considerably less complete than those found in standard textbooks. However, in each area the salient points are delineated and broad concepts are noted. The chapters on preoperative hematologic evaluation and surgery in the diabetic and the allergic child give simple, complete, and straightforward guidelines for the management of these common problems. Perhaps the most important contribution is included in the chapters which relate the extensive personal experiences of senior surgeons with the psychosocial impact of surgery upon the child and his family. This is discussed with a sensitivity and wisdom derived from a long experience with these philosophical and social problems. Such chapters need no references. In other sections, more detailed references might be appreciated. This book will not supplant the more complete works in pediatrics and surgery, but it fits comfortably in .the interface between a sick child and his total environment. As such,
882
The book shell
it provides a pleasant interlude from traditional format and content. David K. Wagner, M.D. Department o[ Surgery Medical College o[ Pennsylvania 3300 Henry Ave. Philadelphia, Pa. 19129
books received Sudden infant death syndrome. Selected annotated bibliography 1960-1971 Prepared by the Scientific Publications Section, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Washington, D. C., 1972, Superintendent of Documents, 58 pages. No price listed. Pediatric cardiology. Sound filmstrips Roland Schmidt, M.D., and George H. Khoury, M.D., Philadelphia, 1973, W. B. Saunders Company, 83 page booklet, four 35 mm. color filmstrips and two I hour tape cassettes, $75.00. Exercises in diagnostic radiology. Vol. 5: Pediatrics Richard M. Heller, M.D., and Luch Frank Squire, M.D., Philadelphia, 1973, W. B. Saunders Company, 162 pages. $5.95 paper. The child with Down's syndrome (mongolism) David W. Smith, M.D., and Ann Asper Wilson, Philadelphia, 1973, W. B. Saunders Company, 106 pages. $5.75 paper. Essentials of pediatric cardiology James H. Moller, M.D., Philadelphia, 1973, F. A. Davis Company, 124 pages. $4.50 paper. Paediatrische Fortbildungskurse Fuer Die Praxis. Vol. 36. Neues aus der Kinderchirurgie Basel, 1973, S. Karger AG, 193 pages. $14.90. Mental development evaluation of the pediatric patient Lawrence C. Hartlage, Ph.D., and David G. Lucas, M.A., Springfield, Ill., 1973,
The Journal o[ Pediatrics November 1973
Charles C Thomas, Publisher, 79 pages. No price listed. Pediatric cardiology. (Cardiovascular Clinics, vol. 4, No. 3) Mary Allen Engle, M.D., editor, Philadelphia, 1972, F. A. Davis Company, 380 pages. $12.00. My friend the doctor. A read-together book for parents and children Jane Werner Watson, Robert E. Switzer, M.D., and J. Cotter Hirschberg, M.D., New York, 1972, Golden Press, 32 pages. $1.95. Reflex testing methods for evaluating C.N.S. development, ed. 2 Mary R. Fiorentino, Mus.B., O.T.R., Springfield, Ill., Charles C Thomas, Publisher, 57 pages. No price listed. The management of neonates and infants with congenital heart disease Donal M. Billig, M.D., and Marshall B. Kreidberg, M.D., New York, 1973, Grune & Stratton, Inc., 182 pages. $12.75. Scleroderma: Proceedings of an International Symposium sponsored by the World Health Organization F. Delbarre, editor, Paris, 1972, Masson et Cie, 311 pages. Fr. fr. 140. Les troubles du langage de la parole et de la voix chez l'enfant Clement Launay and S. Borel-Maisonny, Paris, 1972, Masson et Cie, 408 pages. 96 F. Human sexuality and the mentally retarded Felix F. de la Cruz and Gerald D. LaVeck, editors, New York, 1973, Brunner/Mazel, Inc., 347 pages. $8.95. Minimal cerebral dysfunction in children Stanley Walzer , M.D., and Peter H. Wolff, M.D., editors, New York, 1973, Grune & Stratton, Inc., 117 pages. $7.50. Febrile convulsions. A reappraisal. Supplement No. 32 to Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology Margaret A. Lennox-Buchtal, M.D., Amsterdam, 1972, Elsevier Publishing Company, 152pages. $17.25. The course of human development Selected papers from the Longitudinal
also one o~ the author's etchings entitled "A child of nondisjunction," reminding us of his considerable artistic talents. Another example of disproportionate space allocations is that an entire chaper (19) of six pages is assigned to the Lawrence-Moon-Biedl syndrome, whereas the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome is given a quarter of a page and is interwoven with the Ullrich-Feichtiger syndrome. Perhaps these latter two syndromes do intermesh but more important, Lawrence-Moon-Biedl, and old interest of the author's dating back to the 1930's, receives unparalleled treatment here. Another example is the detailed section on clubfoot (pages 1004 to 1009) where one learns that Little, who wrote a treatise on the subject in 1839, was himself afflicted with talipes of the left foot, and he was one of the earliest successfully treated patients operated on by a Dr. Stronmeyer of Hanover. On the other hand, Noonan syndrome is not included in the index but not because it is not included in the text. He uses almost half a page of the detailed section on re'ale Turner syndrome (pages 1131 to 1134) telling us that "what we do not (italics Warkany's) need are new eponyms for old syndromes" and the reasons that "Noonan and Ehmke did not circumscribe the hereditary Turner phenotype any better than did Kobylinski in 1883." And so it goes because the text does reflect the special interests and perhaps prejudices of the author. After a year of continuous use as a reference source, I have found a few errors. For example, aniridia has not been reported in association with hemihypertrophy as is stated on page 370, and the absence of parathyroid tissue reported by Geertinger in sudden unexpected death of infancy (page 446) has been disproved by ValdesDapnea. These are mentioned only to provide a semblance of critique rather than homage. Although the book is designed as a reference source~ one finds himself frequently distracted from his original intent by a chance encounter with an unrelated item so interestingly depicted that he has the sense of almost listening to the author as he unfolds the story and science of congenital defects. This work should be at hand wherever children with congenital defects are seen. It is destined to become a classic reference for years to come. Other books on teratology will be written but at best they will take up where this definitive work leaves 'off. This was a labor of love, and all who know the author will immediately recognize his personality and pixie
The book shell
88 1
humor throughout. It is an expensive volume but the many enjoyable hours of learning and the wealth of useful information make it a better investment than a no-load mutual fund.
Angelo M. DiGeorge St. Christopher's Hospital for Children Philadelphia, Pa.
Surgical pediatrics S t e p h e n L. Gans, M . D . , N e w York, 1973, Grune & Stratton, Inc., 327 pages. $19.50. This is a refreshing book which addresses itself to the interface between surgery and the medical-social aspects of pediatric care. In a sequential fashion it .organizes outside influences such as interpersonal relationships, transportation of injured children, and genetic counseling with traditional critical care of the pediatric surgical patient. Separate sections deal with infections and those special pediatric problems relating to hematology, diabetes mellitus, and the allergic child. In particular, those chapters dealing with outside influences are of value to physicians whose background in general pediatric care is not extensive enough to~provide familiarity with these aspects of patient management. The chapters dealing with the more technical approaches t o critical care are considerably less complete than those found in standard textbooks. However, in each area the salient points are delineated and broad concepts are noted. The chapters on preoperative hematologic evaluation and surgery in the diabetic and the allergic child give simple, complete, and straightforward guidelines for the management of these common problems. Perhaps the most important contribution is included in the chapters which relate the extensive personal experiences of senior surgeons with the psychosocial impact of surgery upon the child and his family. This is discussed with a sensitivity and wisdom derived from a long experience with these philosophical and social problems. Such chapters need no references. In other sections, more detailed references might be appreciated. This book will not supplant the more complete works in pediatrics and surgery, but it fits comfortably in .the interface between a sick child and his total environment. As such,
882
The book shell
it provides a pleasant interlude from traditional format and content. David K. Wagner, M.D. Department o[ Surgery Medical College o[ Pennsylvania 3300 Henry Ave. Philadelphia, Pa. 19129
books received Sudden infant death syndrome. Selected annotated bibliography 1960-1971 Prepared by the Scientific Publications Section, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Washington, D. C., 1972, Superintendent of Documents, 58 pages. No price listed. Pediatric cardiology. Sound filmstrips Roland Schmidt, M.D., and George H. Khoury, M.D., Philadelphia, 1973, W. B. Saunders Company, 83 page booklet, four 35 mm. color filmstrips and two I hour tape cassettes, $75.00. Exercises in diagnostic radiology. Vol. 5: Pediatrics Richard M. Heller, M.D., and Luch Frank Squire, M.D., Philadelphia, 1973, W. B. Saunders Company, 162 pages. $5.95 paper. The child with Down's syndrome (mongolism) David W. Smith, M.D., and Ann Asper Wilson, Philadelphia, 1973, W. B. Saunders Company, 106 pages. $5.75 paper. Essentials of pediatric cardiology James H. Moller, M.D., Philadelphia, 1973, F. A. Davis Company, 124 pages. $4.50 paper. Paediatrische Fortbildungskurse Fuer Die Praxis. Vol. 36. Neues aus der Kinderchirurgie Basel, 1973, S. Karger AG, 193 pages. $14.90. Mental development evaluation of the pediatric patient Lawrence C. Hartlage, Ph.D., and David G. Lucas, M.A., Springfield, Ill., 1973,
The Journal o[ Pediatrics November 1973
Charles C Thomas, Publisher, 79 pages. No price listed. Pediatric cardiology. (Cardiovascular Clinics, vol. 4, No. 3) Mary Allen Engle, M.D., editor, Philadelphia, 1972, F. A. Davis Company, 380 pages. $12.00. My friend the doctor. A read-together book for parents and children Jane Werner Watson, Robert E. Switzer, M.D., and J. Cotter Hirschberg, M.D., New York, 1972, Golden Press, 32 pages. $1.95. Reflex testing methods for evaluating C.N.S. development, ed. 2 Mary R. Fiorentino, Mus.B., O.T.R., Springfield, Ill., Charles C Thomas, Publisher, 57 pages. No price listed. The management of neonates and infants with congenital heart disease Donal M. Billig, M.D., and Marshall B. Kreidberg, M.D., New York, 1973, Grune & Stratton, Inc., 182 pages. $12.75. Scleroderma: Proceedings of an International Symposium sponsored by the World Health Organization F. Delbarre, editor, Paris, 1972, Masson et Cie, 311 pages. Fr. fr. 140. Les troubles du langage de la parole et de la voix chez l'enfant Clement Launay and S. Borel-Maisonny, Paris, 1972, Masson et Cie, 408 pages. 96 F. Human sexuality and the mentally retarded Felix F. de la Cruz and Gerald D. LaVeck, editors, New York, 1973, Brunner/Mazel, Inc., 347 pages. $8.95. Minimal cerebral dysfunction in children Stanley Walzer , M.D., and Peter H. Wolff, M.D., editors, New York, 1973, Grune & Stratton, Inc., 117 pages. $7.50. Febrile convulsions. A reappraisal. Supplement No. 32 to Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology Margaret A. Lennox-Buchtal, M.D., Amsterdam, 1972, Elsevier Publishing Company, 152pages. $17.25. The course of human development Selected papers from the Longitudinal