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Taschenbuch der digitalis-therapie
Book reviews
anatomy of embryos, it is stated, could not be investigated “because appropriate methods, especially useful reconstruction practices, have been lacking.” In 1883, Born published an account of his method of reconstructing objects in microscopic serial sections, and the method has been in wide use ever since. Indeed, the author includes Born’s method in a series of 32 landmarks of embryologic history which begins with de Graaf in 1672. (3) “To describe their [embryonic] ‘development as movement’ had not been taken into serious consideration. It had not been supposed that this could reveal the regularity and coherence of development.” No comment on this obviously incorrect description of current textbooks in human embryology is needed, beyond pointing out that the limitations of an atlas are such as to provide little opportunity for treating developmental mechanics. Readers of the American Heart Journal ma) be particularly interested in commentary on the account of cardiac embryology. The 12-page section on the heart carries 18 illustrations, and of course some figures in other sections pertain in part to the heart. This compares with one of the standard American texts on human embryology in which the comparable material is covvered in 22 pages with 53 illustrations in the section; here, too, some figures elsewhere are relevant in part. It is difficult to find a niche for this book in a working library. The Ietterpress does not unfold the story of embryologic development in the connected manlier that is imperative in a textbook. The illustrations form an atlas; but the available texts also are abundantly illustrated. Accordingly, the only evident function that the book can serve, in addition to the language training mentioned above, is to supplement the alread) existing “atlases” provided in standard testbooks.
IIVMAN
(British Medical Bulletin, Volume 3, September, 1961). Edited by A. C. London, 1961, Medical Department, Council, 261 pages. Price $3.25.
GENETICS
17, Number Stevenson, The British
This volume contains fifteen well-illustrated papers from a symposium on human genetics by British investigators who were selected for competence in their fields of active research. The areas of human genetics covered are of particular interest to the medical researcher and clinician who must work with individuals who are representative of the one-in-twenty births which result in some malformation (genetic or chromosomal), or which result in one of the 1,000 or more diseases or syndromes caused by known major mutant genes. A. C. Stevenson reviews average frequencies and mutation rates for types of clinical genetic entities, without being specific about any one condition. Emphasis throughout the book is on recent work in cytogenetics (six papers), biochemical genetics (five papers), quantitative and anthropological genetics (two papers), and cliniral genetics (one paper).
431
The first paper by C. E. Ford on human cytogenetics is especially well done and covers the history of human chromosomal work, types and causes of chromosomal aberrations encountered, their frequency, and relations to specific clinical pathology. The other papers likewise are outstanding for their comprehensive yet concise, authoritative, and well-documented summaries and organization of material. The five other papers on cytogenetics cover mongolism (L. S. Penrose), inherited variations of leukocytes (William M. Davidson), indirect assessment of number of X-chromosomes (Bernard Lennox), Turner’s syndrome and allied conditions (P. E. Polani), and cytogenetics of abnormal sexual development (D. G. Harnden and Patricia A. Jacobs). Biochemical genetics is represented by work completed or in progress on galactosemia (A. Holgel), inherited variations of human plasma proteins (H. Harris), aminoaciduria (L. I. Woolf), pseudocholinesterase (H. Lehman, E. Silk, and J. Liddell), and pharmacogenetics (David A. Price Evans and C. ,4. Clarke). The remaining papers are on multifactorial inheritance in relation to human traits (J. -4. Fraser Clarke), quantitative genetics of fingerprint patterns (Sarah B. Holt), and inheritance of congenital pyloric stenosis (C. 0. Carter). Since it would be impossible for a single symposium to cover all areas of current research in human genetics, the organizers of this symposium have wisely limited their selection of topics to timely subjects which relate to many clinical disciplines. The reader should bear in mind that similar treatment could have been given to hundreds of clinical conditions which are of special interest to the neurologist, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, and those in practically all other disciplines in clinical medicine. Topics such as blood groups, linkage, twin studies, etc., are not emphasized. When the reader realizes that this book gives only samples of model presentations representative of many approaches to human genetics, he will be aware of the tremendous scope and explosive penetration of this recently emphasized discipline into practically all aspects of clinical medicine.
TASCHENWCH
Niedner, Thieme,
DER
By Roland Stuttgart, 1961, Georg DM 16.80 ($4.20).
DIGITALIS-THERAPIE.
Dannenberg/Elbe. 117 pages. Price:
This little book was written as a guide to the practicing physician. The author discusses briefly the chemical structure and the degradation and elimination of cardiac glycosides as well as the effects of these glycosides on cardiac contractility, metabolism, and ion fluxes. The major part of the book contains a discussion of the therapeutic application of these glycosides. The modes of administration, dosage, the problem of cumulation and rate of elimination as well as indications and failures of glycoside therapy are discussed in some greater detail. The last part of the book contains some guiding data on perelimination quotients, average sistence and
Announcements
anatomy of embryos, it is stated, could not be investigated “because appropriate methods, especially useful reconstruction practices, have been lacking.” In 1883, Born published an account of his method of reconstructing objects in microscopic serial sections, and the method has been in wide use ever since. Indeed, the author includes Born’s method in a series of 32 landmarks of embryologic history which begins with de Graaf in 1672. (3) “To describe their [embryonic] ‘development as movement’ had not been taken into serious consideration. It had not been supposed that this could reveal the regularity and coherence of development.” No comment on this obviously incorrect description of current textbooks in human embryology is needed, beyond pointing out that the limitations of an atlas are such as to provide little opportunity for treating developmental mechanics. Readers of the American Heart Journal ma) be particularly interested in commentary on the account of cardiac embryology. The 12-page section on the heart carries 18 illustrations, and of course some figures in other sections pertain in part to the heart. This compares with one of the standard American texts on human embryology in which the comparable material is covvered in 22 pages with 53 illustrations in the section; here, too, some figures elsewhere are relevant in part. It is difficult to find a niche for this book in a working library. The Ietterpress does not unfold the story of embryologic development in the connected manlier that is imperative in a textbook. The illustrations form an atlas; but the available texts also are abundantly illustrated. Accordingly, the only evident function that the book can serve, in addition to the language training mentioned above, is to supplement the alread) existing “atlases” provided in standard testbooks.
IIVMAN
(British Medical Bulletin, Volume 3, September, 1961). Edited by A. C. London, 1961, Medical Department, Council, 261 pages. Price $3.25.
GENETICS
17, Number Stevenson, The British
This volume contains fifteen well-illustrated papers from a symposium on human genetics by British investigators who were selected for competence in their fields of active research. The areas of human genetics covered are of particular interest to the medical researcher and clinician who must work with individuals who are representative of the one-in-twenty births which result in some malformation (genetic or chromosomal), or which result in one of the 1,000 or more diseases or syndromes caused by known major mutant genes. A. C. Stevenson reviews average frequencies and mutation rates for types of clinical genetic entities, without being specific about any one condition. Emphasis throughout the book is on recent work in cytogenetics (six papers), biochemical genetics (five papers), quantitative and anthropological genetics (two papers), and cliniral genetics (one paper).
431
The first paper by C. E. Ford on human cytogenetics is especially well done and covers the history of human chromosomal work, types and causes of chromosomal aberrations encountered, their frequency, and relations to specific clinical pathology. The other papers likewise are outstanding for their comprehensive yet concise, authoritative, and well-documented summaries and organization of material. The five other papers on cytogenetics cover mongolism (L. S. Penrose), inherited variations of leukocytes (William M. Davidson), indirect assessment of number of X-chromosomes (Bernard Lennox), Turner’s syndrome and allied conditions (P. E. Polani), and cytogenetics of abnormal sexual development (D. G. Harnden and Patricia A. Jacobs). Biochemical genetics is represented by work completed or in progress on galactosemia (A. Holgel), inherited variations of human plasma proteins (H. Harris), aminoaciduria (L. I. Woolf), pseudocholinesterase (H. Lehman, E. Silk, and J. Liddell), and pharmacogenetics (David A. Price Evans and C. ,4. Clarke). The remaining papers are on multifactorial inheritance in relation to human traits (J. -4. Fraser Clarke), quantitative genetics of fingerprint patterns (Sarah B. Holt), and inheritance of congenital pyloric stenosis (C. 0. Carter). Since it would be impossible for a single symposium to cover all areas of current research in human genetics, the organizers of this symposium have wisely limited their selection of topics to timely subjects which relate to many clinical disciplines. The reader should bear in mind that similar treatment could have been given to hundreds of clinical conditions which are of special interest to the neurologist, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, and those in practically all other disciplines in clinical medicine. Topics such as blood groups, linkage, twin studies, etc., are not emphasized. When the reader realizes that this book gives only samples of model presentations representative of many approaches to human genetics, he will be aware of the tremendous scope and explosive penetration of this recently emphasized discipline into practically all aspects of clinical medicine.
TASCHENWCH
Niedner, Thieme,
DER
By Roland Stuttgart, 1961, Georg DM 16.80 ($4.20).
DIGITALIS-THERAPIE.
Dannenberg/Elbe. 117 pages. Price:
This little book was written as a guide to the practicing physician. The author discusses briefly the chemical structure and the degradation and elimination of cardiac glycosides as well as the effects of these glycosides on cardiac contractility, metabolism, and ion fluxes. The major part of the book contains a discussion of the therapeutic application of these glycosides. The modes of administration, dosage, the problem of cumulation and rate of elimination as well as indications and failures of glycoside therapy are discussed in some greater detail. The last part of the book contains some guiding data on perelimination quotients, average sistence and
Announcements