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Towards a measure of medical care
BOOK
REVIEWS
55
THE BURDEN ON THE COMMUNITY. THE EPIDEMIOL O G Y OF M E N T A L ILLNESS. A symposium. (Pp. x i v + 1 3 1 . Price 5s.) London, for the Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust, Oxford University Press, 1962. In his introduction to this symposium, Professor Denis Hill emphasizes the necessity of the study of social organization, social roles and social attitudes as these bear upon illness; and notes that the intensive study of the individual as a psychophysiological entity gives way to the broader view of him as a member of a unit-be it family or community. Various aspects of this change of viewpoint were discussed by workers in the psychiatric and sociological fields at a symposium held in November, 1960, of which this book is a report. As Professor Carstairs says in a concluding chapter, the conference showed that interest in research on the epidemiology of mental disorders is very much alive in Britain to-day. It is likely that such interest will be increased by recent legislation, with a view to reducing the burden on the community. TOWARDS A MEASURE OF MEDICAL C A R E . Operational Research in the Health Service. A Symposium. (Pp. xiv + 91, Price 5s.) DENTAL HEALTH AND DENTAL SERVICES. An Assessment of available data. (Pp. 64. Price 5s.) London: for the Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust: Oxford University Press, 1962. These two books give evidence of the work which is being done by the Nuffield Provincial Trust in furthering investigation and research into problems presented by the National Health Service; and not least into the methodology of such research, which involves administration as well as clinical medicine (or dentistry). And whereas the methods used in clinical procedures depend in large part on those evolved and tested in the basic sciences, the administrative side involves concepts which pertain not only to statistics but also to sociology--a discipline of comparatively recent origin. It is not surprising, therefore, to find workers in this field searching for standards by which to measure the results whose value they wish to assess. Both books provoke thought, and give useful guidance to other workers. FOOD POISONING. Symposium by W. C. C O C K B U R N , M.B., M.R.C.P., D.P.H.; J O A N T A Y L O R , M.B., B.SC., D.P.H.; E. S. A N D E R S O N , M.D., DIP. BACT., and B E T T Y C. H o B B S, D.SC., PH.D., DIP. M.D., F.R.C.P., D.P.H. (Pp. 59. Price 15s.) London: Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, 1962. The importance of food poisoning as a problem in public health needs no emphasis. Sir Graham Wilson, in his introduction to this book, describes the increase in incidence of the condition as one of the most striking changes in public health during the past two decades--and, with that has gone a no less striking increase in our knowledge of the factors responsible for it. This book is based on a symposium held at the 1960 Congress of the R.S.H. The contributions have been brought up to date, and provide a valuable survey of the field in a form convenient for reference. The contributors are all active research workers, and are well known to the public health service. They speak with authority born of long experience.
REVIEWS
55
THE BURDEN ON THE COMMUNITY. THE EPIDEMIOL O G Y OF M E N T A L ILLNESS. A symposium. (Pp. x i v + 1 3 1 . Price 5s.) London, for the Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust, Oxford University Press, 1962. In his introduction to this symposium, Professor Denis Hill emphasizes the necessity of the study of social organization, social roles and social attitudes as these bear upon illness; and notes that the intensive study of the individual as a psychophysiological entity gives way to the broader view of him as a member of a unit-be it family or community. Various aspects of this change of viewpoint were discussed by workers in the psychiatric and sociological fields at a symposium held in November, 1960, of which this book is a report. As Professor Carstairs says in a concluding chapter, the conference showed that interest in research on the epidemiology of mental disorders is very much alive in Britain to-day. It is likely that such interest will be increased by recent legislation, with a view to reducing the burden on the community. TOWARDS A MEASURE OF MEDICAL C A R E . Operational Research in the Health Service. A Symposium. (Pp. xiv + 91, Price 5s.) DENTAL HEALTH AND DENTAL SERVICES. An Assessment of available data. (Pp. 64. Price 5s.) London: for the Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust: Oxford University Press, 1962. These two books give evidence of the work which is being done by the Nuffield Provincial Trust in furthering investigation and research into problems presented by the National Health Service; and not least into the methodology of such research, which involves administration as well as clinical medicine (or dentistry). And whereas the methods used in clinical procedures depend in large part on those evolved and tested in the basic sciences, the administrative side involves concepts which pertain not only to statistics but also to sociology--a discipline of comparatively recent origin. It is not surprising, therefore, to find workers in this field searching for standards by which to measure the results whose value they wish to assess. Both books provoke thought, and give useful guidance to other workers. FOOD POISONING. Symposium by W. C. C O C K B U R N , M.B., M.R.C.P., D.P.H.; J O A N T A Y L O R , M.B., B.SC., D.P.H.; E. S. A N D E R S O N , M.D., DIP. BACT., and B E T T Y C. H o B B S, D.SC., PH.D., DIP. M.D., F.R.C.P., D.P.H. (Pp. 59. Price 15s.) London: Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, 1962. The importance of food poisoning as a problem in public health needs no emphasis. Sir Graham Wilson, in his introduction to this book, describes the increase in incidence of the condition as one of the most striking changes in public health during the past two decades--and, with that has gone a no less striking increase in our knowledge of the factors responsible for it. This book is based on a symposium held at the 1960 Congress of the R.S.H. The contributions have been brought up to date, and provide a valuable survey of the field in a form convenient for reference. The contributors are all active research workers, and are well known to the public health service. They speak with authority born of long experience.