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The acute medical syndromes and emergencies. Diagnosis and treatment
Book
Reviews
STERIC COURSE OF MICROBIOLOGICAL REACTIONS. Ciba Foundation Study Group No. 2, A. Neuberger, Chairman. Edited by G. E. W. Wolstenholme, O.B.E., M.A., M.B., M.R.C.P., and Cecilia M. O’Connor, B.Sc. Boston, 1959, Little, Brown & Company, Pp. 115, indexed. As pointed out by the chairman of the study group, A. Neuberger, two concepts dominated the proceedings: the direct and stereospecilic transfer of hydrogen between substrate and pyridine nucleotide ccenzyme, and the stereochemistry of the attachment of substrate to enzyme. These subjects were discussed in formal presentations and in general question and answer sessions by a number of chemists and biochemists, including V. Prelog, N. 0. Kaplan, P. Talalay, and H. Krebs. As one might expect, the research interests of the participants set the pattern for the discussion. Of particular interest to the reviewer was K. Wallenfels’ presentation concerning his work with pyridine nucleotide ccenzyme models and the subsequent discussion as to the form in which hydrogen is transferred. With the exception of a short historical review by F. Westheimer, the presentation was extremely detailed, suggesting that the book would be most valuable to the biochemist interested in electron transport or in the mechanism of enzyme action. Gale W. Rafter
THE
ACUTE MEDICAL SYNDROMES AND EMERGENCIES. DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT. By Albert Salisbury Hyman, M.D. New York, 1959, Landsberger Books, Inc. Pp. 442, indexed. Price $8.75.
AND Medical
This concise and readable volume condenses theory, literature, old and new treatments, and extensive experience into a few pages on each of its subjects. Active physicians were polled to indicate the medical emergencies that they encounter and this book was prepared to consider them. The lirst half of the book is written by Dr. Hyman and is on cardiovascular emergencies. He succeeds in bringing all of the pertinent information and his rich experience into the discussion of diagnosis and helps choose between many competing therapeutic regimens. However, alternative treatments are also presented, with their advantages. This section is difficult to criticize. Giving actual dosage and route of administration of drugs would prove most helpful. Adrestat and Synkayvite are recommended equal to Mephyton as antidotes to excess coumarin anticoagulants (p. 77); surely, this was not intentional. Dr. Weiss covers the gastrointestinal emergencies in 70 pages. The sections on anatomy, physiology, and differential diagnosis are complete. Discussion of the controversial aspects of treatment is often meager. The statement that the treatment is “symptomatic” in the case of many entities does not permit the reader to sample the experience of the author. Dr. Ornstein, in 60 pages devoted to pulmonary emergencies, writes concisely of his tield and quite adequately covers it. Dr. Root discusses diabetes in a 34page section, railing upon a lifetime of study to produce a few time-proved recommendations for each acute situation. The sectio 1 on renal emergencies is sketchy on recommended measures for diagnosis and treatment. The possible hazard of drugs in renal insufficiency is not amply discussed. Barbiturate intoxication is discussed, but the general availability of Megimide should be noted, rather than the statement that “it is available as an experimental drug.”
BOOK
REVIEWS
The book is a convenient size (5% inches by 8% inches) for desk, office, or glove compartment. The type is large and the publisher has assembled a pleasing book. The authors have tilled a need for a concise book on this subject; they have not presented another manual but a learned and differential diagnosis that will prove integration of background physiology, pathology, valuable in permitting a good acquaintance with a subject in a few minutes. They chose to put “newness” into its proper perspective and ha\.e succeeded in all areas except in treatment, where some of the authors properly mention new treatments and judge them but other authors omit and, therefore, do not judge treatment. The recommendations are both modern and moderate, the errors very few. This book is to be recommended for hospital and medical staff libraries and will be useful to practitioners who encounter these problems infrequently. Frank L. 11~
FAMILY MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA. By Justus J. Srhifferes, Permabooks, Pocket Books, Inc. Pp. 619. Price 50 cents.
Ph.D.
New
York,
1959,
Dr. Schifferes’ Family Medical Encyclopedia is another addition to a growing list of medical publications for the layman. He states in his preface that the purpose of the book is to “provide easily understood, common-sense information whose mastery will render medical and life emergencies less likely to happen.” He goes on to say that it “aims to create attitudes toward health. disease, and specific disease conditions which will lead toward healthier living generally autl permit a person to overcome the obstacles of disease (psychological, as well as physical).” It should be stated at the outset of this review that the author achieves his objective reason ably well. The obvious handicap in trying to meld dictionary and encyclopedia into a compact pocket book that sells for 50 cents and contains only around 600 pages has been offset by the author’s judicious choice of the more frequently occurring and more interesting medical phenomena. Also included in the book is a first-aid index, a list of medical code letters, a weight chart, and a calorie table for foods and beverages. The inclusion of more illustrations would have enhanced the book’s value; the existing drawings are generally good but in some cases lack a three dimensional quality which would have made their interpretation a little easier. Be that as it may, the book is worth recommendation to patients and can be looked upon as a useful addition to their library, until it goes out of date or a better one is written. John U. Murph>
THE
STORY OF DISSECTION. Library. Pp. 80, not indexed.
By Jack Kevorkian, Price $3.75.
M.1).
Sew
York,
1959,
Philosophical
This small book is an account of the varying attitudes of different ages and cultures toward the dissection of the animal and human body. The first half of the book is the most interesting, particularly those sections dealing with the influence of the Catholic Church on dissection. R>contrast, the second half seems dull and superficial. Dr. Kevorkian’s brief review is enlivened by a number of photographs of famous hgures and a fascinating chart plotting the popularit). of dissection over 55 centuries. Louis Lahagna
Reviews
STERIC COURSE OF MICROBIOLOGICAL REACTIONS. Ciba Foundation Study Group No. 2, A. Neuberger, Chairman. Edited by G. E. W. Wolstenholme, O.B.E., M.A., M.B., M.R.C.P., and Cecilia M. O’Connor, B.Sc. Boston, 1959, Little, Brown & Company, Pp. 115, indexed. As pointed out by the chairman of the study group, A. Neuberger, two concepts dominated the proceedings: the direct and stereospecilic transfer of hydrogen between substrate and pyridine nucleotide ccenzyme, and the stereochemistry of the attachment of substrate to enzyme. These subjects were discussed in formal presentations and in general question and answer sessions by a number of chemists and biochemists, including V. Prelog, N. 0. Kaplan, P. Talalay, and H. Krebs. As one might expect, the research interests of the participants set the pattern for the discussion. Of particular interest to the reviewer was K. Wallenfels’ presentation concerning his work with pyridine nucleotide ccenzyme models and the subsequent discussion as to the form in which hydrogen is transferred. With the exception of a short historical review by F. Westheimer, the presentation was extremely detailed, suggesting that the book would be most valuable to the biochemist interested in electron transport or in the mechanism of enzyme action. Gale W. Rafter
THE
ACUTE MEDICAL SYNDROMES AND EMERGENCIES. DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT. By Albert Salisbury Hyman, M.D. New York, 1959, Landsberger Books, Inc. Pp. 442, indexed. Price $8.75.
AND Medical
This concise and readable volume condenses theory, literature, old and new treatments, and extensive experience into a few pages on each of its subjects. Active physicians were polled to indicate the medical emergencies that they encounter and this book was prepared to consider them. The lirst half of the book is written by Dr. Hyman and is on cardiovascular emergencies. He succeeds in bringing all of the pertinent information and his rich experience into the discussion of diagnosis and helps choose between many competing therapeutic regimens. However, alternative treatments are also presented, with their advantages. This section is difficult to criticize. Giving actual dosage and route of administration of drugs would prove most helpful. Adrestat and Synkayvite are recommended equal to Mephyton as antidotes to excess coumarin anticoagulants (p. 77); surely, this was not intentional. Dr. Weiss covers the gastrointestinal emergencies in 70 pages. The sections on anatomy, physiology, and differential diagnosis are complete. Discussion of the controversial aspects of treatment is often meager. The statement that the treatment is “symptomatic” in the case of many entities does not permit the reader to sample the experience of the author. Dr. Ornstein, in 60 pages devoted to pulmonary emergencies, writes concisely of his tield and quite adequately covers it. Dr. Root discusses diabetes in a 34page section, railing upon a lifetime of study to produce a few time-proved recommendations for each acute situation. The sectio 1 on renal emergencies is sketchy on recommended measures for diagnosis and treatment. The possible hazard of drugs in renal insufficiency is not amply discussed. Barbiturate intoxication is discussed, but the general availability of Megimide should be noted, rather than the statement that “it is available as an experimental drug.”
BOOK
REVIEWS
The book is a convenient size (5% inches by 8% inches) for desk, office, or glove compartment. The type is large and the publisher has assembled a pleasing book. The authors have tilled a need for a concise book on this subject; they have not presented another manual but a learned and differential diagnosis that will prove integration of background physiology, pathology, valuable in permitting a good acquaintance with a subject in a few minutes. They chose to put “newness” into its proper perspective and ha\.e succeeded in all areas except in treatment, where some of the authors properly mention new treatments and judge them but other authors omit and, therefore, do not judge treatment. The recommendations are both modern and moderate, the errors very few. This book is to be recommended for hospital and medical staff libraries and will be useful to practitioners who encounter these problems infrequently. Frank L. 11~
FAMILY MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA. By Justus J. Srhifferes, Permabooks, Pocket Books, Inc. Pp. 619. Price 50 cents.
Ph.D.
New
York,
1959,
Dr. Schifferes’ Family Medical Encyclopedia is another addition to a growing list of medical publications for the layman. He states in his preface that the purpose of the book is to “provide easily understood, common-sense information whose mastery will render medical and life emergencies less likely to happen.” He goes on to say that it “aims to create attitudes toward health. disease, and specific disease conditions which will lead toward healthier living generally autl permit a person to overcome the obstacles of disease (psychological, as well as physical).” It should be stated at the outset of this review that the author achieves his objective reason ably well. The obvious handicap in trying to meld dictionary and encyclopedia into a compact pocket book that sells for 50 cents and contains only around 600 pages has been offset by the author’s judicious choice of the more frequently occurring and more interesting medical phenomena. Also included in the book is a first-aid index, a list of medical code letters, a weight chart, and a calorie table for foods and beverages. The inclusion of more illustrations would have enhanced the book’s value; the existing drawings are generally good but in some cases lack a three dimensional quality which would have made their interpretation a little easier. Be that as it may, the book is worth recommendation to patients and can be looked upon as a useful addition to their library, until it goes out of date or a better one is written. John U. Murph>
THE
STORY OF DISSECTION. Library. Pp. 80, not indexed.
By Jack Kevorkian, Price $3.75.
M.1).
Sew
York,
1959,
Philosophical
This small book is an account of the varying attitudes of different ages and cultures toward the dissection of the animal and human body. The first half of the book is the most interesting, particularly those sections dealing with the influence of the Catholic Church on dissection. R>contrast, the second half seems dull and superficial. Dr. Kevorkian’s brief review is enlivened by a number of photographs of famous hgures and a fascinating chart plotting the popularit). of dissection over 55 centuries. Louis Lahagna