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The Papers Of Alfred Blalock.
Review of Recent Books
T H E PAPERS OF ALFRED BLALOCK. Edited by Mark M . Ravitch, M.D. T h e Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, Md., 1966.2 vols., 1,984 pp., 500 illus., $50.00. Reviewed by Herbert Sloan, M.D.
In this day of antiheroes we need still to be aware of men who have achieved greatness in surgery-Dr. Blalock was such a man. He could have had no better Boswell than Mark Ravitch who is responsible for this two-volume collection of Dr. Blalock’s papers. It is a magnificent tribute and no more can be said of Dr. Blalock than that he obviously had the love and respect of men like Dr. Ravitch. These two beautiful volumes trace Dr. Blalock‘s history completely and present, in chronological order, his many contributions to surgery. It is fascinating to follow these papers from his productive years at Vanderbilt through his contributions at Johns Hopkins. As time passed Dr. Blalock matured from his dedication to investigation through his major contributions in cardiovascular surgery to the philosophy of surgical statesman. Two of the most interesting parts of this work are the biography and medical history which begin the first volume. Like all great men, Dr. Blalock was intensely human and this side of him has been presented clearly. T h e reviewer lived through his first years at Johns Hopkins as a professor when the residents were in rebellion, and he still experiences an emotional response reading about them. Much more is said about the halcyon days when Dr. Blalock trained the succession of residents who went on to such brilliant achievements of their own. These volumes are well worth having as the personal history of a great man, as a record of his accomplishments, and as an example for all of us. A n n Arbor, Mich. Editor’s Note: Having had the responsibility of editing a memorial to a distinguished surgeon, the Editor realizes some of the problems which Dr. Ravitch encountered and which he has handled so well. H e is to be congratulated.
380
T H E ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY
T H E PAPERS OF ALFRED BLALOCK. Edited by Mark M . Ravitch, M.D. T h e Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, Md., 1966.2 vols., 1,984 pp., 500 illus., $50.00. Reviewed by Herbert Sloan, M.D.
In this day of antiheroes we need still to be aware of men who have achieved greatness in surgery-Dr. Blalock was such a man. He could have had no better Boswell than Mark Ravitch who is responsible for this two-volume collection of Dr. Blalock’s papers. It is a magnificent tribute and no more can be said of Dr. Blalock than that he obviously had the love and respect of men like Dr. Ravitch. These two beautiful volumes trace Dr. Blalock‘s history completely and present, in chronological order, his many contributions to surgery. It is fascinating to follow these papers from his productive years at Vanderbilt through his contributions at Johns Hopkins. As time passed Dr. Blalock matured from his dedication to investigation through his major contributions in cardiovascular surgery to the philosophy of surgical statesman. Two of the most interesting parts of this work are the biography and medical history which begin the first volume. Like all great men, Dr. Blalock was intensely human and this side of him has been presented clearly. T h e reviewer lived through his first years at Johns Hopkins as a professor when the residents were in rebellion, and he still experiences an emotional response reading about them. Much more is said about the halcyon days when Dr. Blalock trained the succession of residents who went on to such brilliant achievements of their own. These volumes are well worth having as the personal history of a great man, as a record of his accomplishments, and as an example for all of us. A n n Arbor, Mich. Editor’s Note: Having had the responsibility of editing a memorial to a distinguished surgeon, the Editor realizes some of the problems which Dr. Ravitch encountered and which he has handled so well. H e is to be congratulated.
380
T H E ANNALS OF THORACIC SURGERY