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Symposium on some aspects of neurology
606
BOOK REVIEWS
means that once the scope of the volume has been thus defined, his achievement-is all the more impressive and the volume seems even more encyclopaedic in its coverage. After a n introductory chapter on general anatomy and physiology, he considers successively degeneration and regeneration, clinicopathological correlations, the effect of nerve injury upon bones, joints, muscles and motor function, sensory and sympathetic mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment, and finally lesions of individual nerves. Each chapter concludes with a comprehensive list of references, though as would be expected in a work of this magnitude, comparatively few papers published since 1964 are included. However, the chapter on physiological changes in nerve and muscle and its section on nerve conduction velocity in particular are remarkably up to date, even if a n u m b e r of
important contributions of the last 3 years in this rapidly-developing field have not been included. The book is well-organised, clearly-written and well-illustrated. It brings together much important information which could hitherto be obtained only by a thorough search of the literature. It will be a valuable work of reference not only to the neurologist and neurosurgeon, but also to orthopaedic and plastic surgeons and physicians in physical medicine. It will stand as a lasting m o n u m e n t to a lifetime spent by the author in carefully marshalling and correlating the ever-growing mass of information related to this important field. While the price of the volume is somewhat forbidding, it must surely find a favoured place in every neurological library. JOHN N. WALTON
Symposium on Some Aspects of Neurology, by R. F. ROBERTSON (Ed.), 151 pages, The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 1968.
cations of thyroid disease (Jellinek), thymoleptics and tranquillisers (Ashcroft), the E E G (Townsend), the E M G (Lenman), the use of echoencephalography and gamma-encephalography (Donaldson) and a final chapter on thermography in cerebrovascular disease (Samuel). Each of the communications can be regarded as a valuable essay for the postgraduate student, bringing into perspective some recent advances in the respective fields which are considered. At a time when there appears to be a surfeit of symposium proceedings on the market, this little volume nevertheless gives the reader a useful insight into contemporary Scottish neurology. Each contribution could be read with profit not only by postgraduate students but also by experienced neurologists.
Within the last 8 years, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh has followed the policy of publishing a n u m b e r of the more important lectures delivered at the College as well as the proceedings of a n u m b e r of important symposia. Previous symposia have covered such topics as renal disease, genetics, psychiatric research, blood disorders and thyroid disease. The present volume publishes in full a n u m b e r of papers on neurological topics delivered at the beginning of December 1967. Included in the volume are lectures on cerebrovascular disease (Marshall), headache (Stanton), the neuropathies (Simpson), uraemic neuropathy (Robson), neurological complications of the reticuloses (Mawdsley), neurological compli-
Modern Trends in Mental Health and Subnormality, by G. O'GORMAN (Ed.), ix + 302 pages, with tables, Butterworth, London, 1968, 75s. The first chapter (W. H. Trethowan) in this volume introduces the difficult problem of mental health and its promotion, and ranges sensibly over psychiatry as a whole. C. E. Williams writes on Psychiatric Problems of Blind Children; as be points out this field (in common with the problems of deaf children) has been gravely neglected by psychiatrists, and his assessment of the widely scattered literature on this subject is of great value, as is his list of schools for the Blind and Partially Sighted in England and Wales. B. W. Richards ably surveys the rapidly growing field of cytogenetics in relation to mental subnormality, and M. E. Burns and G. B. Simon the equally important biochemical factors in subnormality. P. S. Miller's
JOHN N. WALTON thoughtful chapter considers the varied ways in which the clinical psychologist assesses and trains the subnormal person; the pioneering advances made in this country in recent years are clearly summarised. Administrative efficiency plays an important part in ensuring that scientific advances in this field are implemented; the functions of day hospitals are examined by W. A. J. Farndale and G. O. Gorman and of local authorities by A. Gatherer. R. Phillipson surveys the Mental Health Act 1959 and the way it has been implemented. Finally the editor (G. O'Gorman) provides a view of the design and function of "The New Subnormality Hospital", exemplifying the vigour and idealism that is presently current in this speciality and that is displayed in all contributions to this excellent volume. R. T. C. PRATT
J. neurol. Sci., 1969, 9:603~506
BOOK REVIEWS
means that once the scope of the volume has been thus defined, his achievement-is all the more impressive and the volume seems even more encyclopaedic in its coverage. After a n introductory chapter on general anatomy and physiology, he considers successively degeneration and regeneration, clinicopathological correlations, the effect of nerve injury upon bones, joints, muscles and motor function, sensory and sympathetic mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment, and finally lesions of individual nerves. Each chapter concludes with a comprehensive list of references, though as would be expected in a work of this magnitude, comparatively few papers published since 1964 are included. However, the chapter on physiological changes in nerve and muscle and its section on nerve conduction velocity in particular are remarkably up to date, even if a n u m b e r of
important contributions of the last 3 years in this rapidly-developing field have not been included. The book is well-organised, clearly-written and well-illustrated. It brings together much important information which could hitherto be obtained only by a thorough search of the literature. It will be a valuable work of reference not only to the neurologist and neurosurgeon, but also to orthopaedic and plastic surgeons and physicians in physical medicine. It will stand as a lasting m o n u m e n t to a lifetime spent by the author in carefully marshalling and correlating the ever-growing mass of information related to this important field. While the price of the volume is somewhat forbidding, it must surely find a favoured place in every neurological library. JOHN N. WALTON
Symposium on Some Aspects of Neurology, by R. F. ROBERTSON (Ed.), 151 pages, The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, 1968.
cations of thyroid disease (Jellinek), thymoleptics and tranquillisers (Ashcroft), the E E G (Townsend), the E M G (Lenman), the use of echoencephalography and gamma-encephalography (Donaldson) and a final chapter on thermography in cerebrovascular disease (Samuel). Each of the communications can be regarded as a valuable essay for the postgraduate student, bringing into perspective some recent advances in the respective fields which are considered. At a time when there appears to be a surfeit of symposium proceedings on the market, this little volume nevertheless gives the reader a useful insight into contemporary Scottish neurology. Each contribution could be read with profit not only by postgraduate students but also by experienced neurologists.
Within the last 8 years, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh has followed the policy of publishing a n u m b e r of the more important lectures delivered at the College as well as the proceedings of a n u m b e r of important symposia. Previous symposia have covered such topics as renal disease, genetics, psychiatric research, blood disorders and thyroid disease. The present volume publishes in full a n u m b e r of papers on neurological topics delivered at the beginning of December 1967. Included in the volume are lectures on cerebrovascular disease (Marshall), headache (Stanton), the neuropathies (Simpson), uraemic neuropathy (Robson), neurological complications of the reticuloses (Mawdsley), neurological compli-
Modern Trends in Mental Health and Subnormality, by G. O'GORMAN (Ed.), ix + 302 pages, with tables, Butterworth, London, 1968, 75s. The first chapter (W. H. Trethowan) in this volume introduces the difficult problem of mental health and its promotion, and ranges sensibly over psychiatry as a whole. C. E. Williams writes on Psychiatric Problems of Blind Children; as be points out this field (in common with the problems of deaf children) has been gravely neglected by psychiatrists, and his assessment of the widely scattered literature on this subject is of great value, as is his list of schools for the Blind and Partially Sighted in England and Wales. B. W. Richards ably surveys the rapidly growing field of cytogenetics in relation to mental subnormality, and M. E. Burns and G. B. Simon the equally important biochemical factors in subnormality. P. S. Miller's
JOHN N. WALTON thoughtful chapter considers the varied ways in which the clinical psychologist assesses and trains the subnormal person; the pioneering advances made in this country in recent years are clearly summarised. Administrative efficiency plays an important part in ensuring that scientific advances in this field are implemented; the functions of day hospitals are examined by W. A. J. Farndale and G. O. Gorman and of local authorities by A. Gatherer. R. Phillipson surveys the Mental Health Act 1959 and the way it has been implemented. Finally the editor (G. O'Gorman) provides a view of the design and function of "The New Subnormality Hospital", exemplifying the vigour and idealism that is presently current in this speciality and that is displayed in all contributions to this excellent volume. R. T. C. PRATT
J. neurol. Sci., 1969, 9:603~506