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The Rhinogenous Diseases of the Orbit.
BOOK REVIEWS
914
In the fifth section on pathology there is an interesting article on conjunctival capil lary fragility in diabetes. The authors show that in diabetics with retinopathy, the con junctival capillaries are more easily ruptured by an applied suction cup. In these cases the author advises the use of vitamin C, vitamin P, and others, and concludes with proper conservatism "one can sometimes avoid the severe hemorrhagic complications of diabetic retinopathy." An excellent experimental study on heal ing of the cataract wound is reported by Duque Estrada. He concludes on the basis of histologic examination of dogs' eyes at vary ing intervals after surgery that catgut pro duces far more reaction and infiltration than silk unless the suture is entirely corneal. The final article illustrates the pitfalls in herent in clinical research and the athletic phenomenon of "jumping to conclusions." Twenty-four eyes (12 patients) with pig mentary degeneration received "retinal il lumination" according to a specified tech nique. Of these 24 eyes, 10 showed no change, nine improved "one-tenth," and five improved "two-tenths." The author con cludes that " l i g h t . . . is able to improve, in a notable number of cases . . . the visual acuity . . . in pigmentary degeneration of the retina." No comment. David Shoch. THERAPEUTIC
HEAT.
Edited
by
Sidney
Licht, M.D. Baltimore, Waverly Press, 1958. 466 pages, 127 figures, chapter bibli ographies, author and subject indices. Price: $12.00. This is a symposium by 23 contributors. The jacket correctly states: "Here, under one cover, the reader will find authoritative discussions on the physics, biophysics, and physiology of heat, as well as descriptions of the apparatus and methods used in the hos pital, office, and home." Louis Daily and Ray K. Daily have writ ten the chapter relating to diseases of the
eye. All relevant material is reviewed. Infra red radiation is more efifective than the heating pad in elevation of ocular tempera ture, and diathermy is more effective than either. Microwaves appear particularly suited to the eye since they can be brought to a focus by a metallic reflector. Unlike short waves, the microwaves do not produce an unpleasant sensation of heat when the lids are moist or covered with ointment. The authors properly emphasize that the applica tions of any form of heat are only supple mental to other and more specific therapeutic agents. James E. Lebensohn. T H E RHINOGENOUS DISEASES OF THE ORBIT.
By R. Herrmann, M.D., Tubingen. Fasc. 2 of Informal Treatises in the Field of OtoRhino-Laryngology. Stuttgart, George Thieme, 1958. 83 pages, 42 illustrations, bibliography. Price: $4.30. Herrmann discusses the rhinogenous dis eases of the orbit from the point of view of the otorhinolaryngologist. In three separate chapters he considers inflammatory proc esses, orbital complications resulting from mucoceles and tumors of the accessory sinus, and orbital complications due to injuries. The fairly adequate descriptions of the clinical symptoms are accompanied by very well-reproduced illustrations of typical cases. Diagnostic problems and the discussion of the gross and histologic pathology are treated only in a vague and general manner. The same approach is evident as far as conserva tive and surgical therapy is concerned. How ever, such an attitude may be justified by the author's plea for close co-operation be tween the ophthalmologist and the otorhino laryngologist, where only the latter should be familiar with technical details. It would seem that the majority of the inflammatory conditions under discussion are mostly of historic interest. In this era of anti biotics, most of the diseases, if recognized early and treated adequately, have lost the
BOOK REVIEWS stigma of horror and fear formerly attached to them. This is attested by the author's ob servation of 6,000 patients with sinusitis in the clinic of Tubingen: only 32 cases showed involvement of the orbit or lids, and 15 of these responded to conservative treatment. Only 10 percent of the some 200 titles ap pearing in the bibliography refer to nonGerman publications. Stefan Van Wien. PREVAILING PROBLEMS IN THE CROSS-EYED
By R. Bruckner, M.D. Basle and Stuttgart, Benno Schwabe & Co., 1958. 68 pages, 17 illustrations. Price: sFr 6.00. This brochure, written by an ophthalmolo gist, is addressed to the parents of cross-eyed children, to social workers, and to nursery and public school teachers. Be it stated that every ophthalmologist will profit greatly by reading this marvelous little volume from cover to cover, so that he may never lose sight of the psychologic problems of those "on the other side of the fence." There is an erudite explanation for the correlation between accommodation and con vergence, normal and abnormal correspond ence, amblyopia (including its treatment by means of occlusion and pleoptics), and the surgical indications. It should become clear to every reader why each case of strabismus has to be approached individually, and why CHILD.
915
there is not one method as a cure-all in every instance. Most of all, the parents are encouraged to co-operate with the physician and orthoptist. The mother who emphatically declares in the presence of the child that she will never agree to him wearing glasses cannot expect him to accept them once it has been established that glasses are a necessary part of the procedures to be carried out. The parent who shows his unhappiness over the prospect of prolonged occlusion of one eye will create an emotional problem in a child who otherwise would be perfectly adjusted to such a measure. An excellent chapter deals with the be havior of the general public in contact with children who have to wear glasses or occlu sion. Unfortunately there is no motive for most people to become interested in these problems. Wouldn't it be a splendid idea to hand a copy of this pamphlet to the child's parents on the first visit? All the many questions which must be on their minds are anticipated and answered in much greater detail than would be possible in the surroundings of a busy office or clinic. The material is treated in a very general manner and does not in any way encourage the parents to start their own treatment or modify the treatment outlined by the physician or orthoptist. Stefan Van Wien.
914
In the fifth section on pathology there is an interesting article on conjunctival capil lary fragility in diabetes. The authors show that in diabetics with retinopathy, the con junctival capillaries are more easily ruptured by an applied suction cup. In these cases the author advises the use of vitamin C, vitamin P, and others, and concludes with proper conservatism "one can sometimes avoid the severe hemorrhagic complications of diabetic retinopathy." An excellent experimental study on heal ing of the cataract wound is reported by Duque Estrada. He concludes on the basis of histologic examination of dogs' eyes at vary ing intervals after surgery that catgut pro duces far more reaction and infiltration than silk unless the suture is entirely corneal. The final article illustrates the pitfalls in herent in clinical research and the athletic phenomenon of "jumping to conclusions." Twenty-four eyes (12 patients) with pig mentary degeneration received "retinal il lumination" according to a specified tech nique. Of these 24 eyes, 10 showed no change, nine improved "one-tenth," and five improved "two-tenths." The author con cludes that " l i g h t . . . is able to improve, in a notable number of cases . . . the visual acuity . . . in pigmentary degeneration of the retina." No comment. David Shoch. THERAPEUTIC
HEAT.
Edited
by
Sidney
Licht, M.D. Baltimore, Waverly Press, 1958. 466 pages, 127 figures, chapter bibli ographies, author and subject indices. Price: $12.00. This is a symposium by 23 contributors. The jacket correctly states: "Here, under one cover, the reader will find authoritative discussions on the physics, biophysics, and physiology of heat, as well as descriptions of the apparatus and methods used in the hos pital, office, and home." Louis Daily and Ray K. Daily have writ ten the chapter relating to diseases of the
eye. All relevant material is reviewed. Infra red radiation is more efifective than the heating pad in elevation of ocular tempera ture, and diathermy is more effective than either. Microwaves appear particularly suited to the eye since they can be brought to a focus by a metallic reflector. Unlike short waves, the microwaves do not produce an unpleasant sensation of heat when the lids are moist or covered with ointment. The authors properly emphasize that the applica tions of any form of heat are only supple mental to other and more specific therapeutic agents. James E. Lebensohn. T H E RHINOGENOUS DISEASES OF THE ORBIT.
By R. Herrmann, M.D., Tubingen. Fasc. 2 of Informal Treatises in the Field of OtoRhino-Laryngology. Stuttgart, George Thieme, 1958. 83 pages, 42 illustrations, bibliography. Price: $4.30. Herrmann discusses the rhinogenous dis eases of the orbit from the point of view of the otorhinolaryngologist. In three separate chapters he considers inflammatory proc esses, orbital complications resulting from mucoceles and tumors of the accessory sinus, and orbital complications due to injuries. The fairly adequate descriptions of the clinical symptoms are accompanied by very well-reproduced illustrations of typical cases. Diagnostic problems and the discussion of the gross and histologic pathology are treated only in a vague and general manner. The same approach is evident as far as conserva tive and surgical therapy is concerned. How ever, such an attitude may be justified by the author's plea for close co-operation be tween the ophthalmologist and the otorhino laryngologist, where only the latter should be familiar with technical details. It would seem that the majority of the inflammatory conditions under discussion are mostly of historic interest. In this era of anti biotics, most of the diseases, if recognized early and treated adequately, have lost the
BOOK REVIEWS stigma of horror and fear formerly attached to them. This is attested by the author's ob servation of 6,000 patients with sinusitis in the clinic of Tubingen: only 32 cases showed involvement of the orbit or lids, and 15 of these responded to conservative treatment. Only 10 percent of the some 200 titles ap pearing in the bibliography refer to nonGerman publications. Stefan Van Wien. PREVAILING PROBLEMS IN THE CROSS-EYED
By R. Bruckner, M.D. Basle and Stuttgart, Benno Schwabe & Co., 1958. 68 pages, 17 illustrations. Price: sFr 6.00. This brochure, written by an ophthalmolo gist, is addressed to the parents of cross-eyed children, to social workers, and to nursery and public school teachers. Be it stated that every ophthalmologist will profit greatly by reading this marvelous little volume from cover to cover, so that he may never lose sight of the psychologic problems of those "on the other side of the fence." There is an erudite explanation for the correlation between accommodation and con vergence, normal and abnormal correspond ence, amblyopia (including its treatment by means of occlusion and pleoptics), and the surgical indications. It should become clear to every reader why each case of strabismus has to be approached individually, and why CHILD.
915
there is not one method as a cure-all in every instance. Most of all, the parents are encouraged to co-operate with the physician and orthoptist. The mother who emphatically declares in the presence of the child that she will never agree to him wearing glasses cannot expect him to accept them once it has been established that glasses are a necessary part of the procedures to be carried out. The parent who shows his unhappiness over the prospect of prolonged occlusion of one eye will create an emotional problem in a child who otherwise would be perfectly adjusted to such a measure. An excellent chapter deals with the be havior of the general public in contact with children who have to wear glasses or occlu sion. Unfortunately there is no motive for most people to become interested in these problems. Wouldn't it be a splendid idea to hand a copy of this pamphlet to the child's parents on the first visit? All the many questions which must be on their minds are anticipated and answered in much greater detail than would be possible in the surroundings of a busy office or clinic. The material is treated in a very general manner and does not in any way encourage the parents to start their own treatment or modify the treatment outlined by the physician or orthoptist. Stefan Van Wien.