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Transactions, Section on Ophthalmology, American Medical Association
854
BOOK NOTICES
material in two minutes, or 5 minutes, or 10 minutes regardless of the number of fixations, regressions, or the rate of reading. These we may define as good readers. Now as the second step, we may analyze the characteristics of these good readers. Suppose we find that executive and department heads read with the greatest amount of comprehension per unit time; that is, if given 2 minutes or 5 minutes, the total amount which they comprehend is the greatest. A priori, this is what one would expect of this group. Examination of their eye movements shows that the number of fixations and regressions is relatively large, and their rate of reading relatively slow. This, then, might be considered characteristic of good readers. This does not say that there may not be other types of good readers; for example, the 8-year-old boy who far exceeds all others mentioned and who reads both backward and forward. This, then, may be a characteristic of good reading. As the third step, we should have some means of diagnosing what constitutes serious deviations from good reading so that we do not attempt to train all alike. Fourth, we may attempt to find some means of improving reading ability. We should then devise, if possible, a method of instruction or an apparatus which will tend to promote the eye movements desired, whatever they may be; although here a serious question arises as to whether the movements would not automatically take on the desired characteristics if there could be developed in the student a general attitude toward word and sentence grouping and thought grouping that the good readers may possess. As I see it, the book "Controlled reading" fails to offer evidence (1) as to what constitutes good reading, but starts with the assumption that good reading consists of few fixations and regressions
combined with high speed. (2) It is shown that Metron-O-Scope training will decrease the number of fixations and regressions. (3) It seems to do this at the expense of comprehension, as might appear more clearly if more adequate tests of comprehension were used. (4) It offers some evidence that reading ability as measured by tests of reading ability and an increase of 1.Q. can be brought about more effectively by other means than the Metron-O-Scope. And (5) It also offers some evidence that the Metron-O-Scope trains the student in the direction of the stenographers' and away from the executives' type of reading. Elek John Ludvigh. * TRANSACTIONS, SECTION ON OPHTHALMOLOGY, AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, 1936. 332 pages. Illustrated. For practical value to American ophthalmologists these transactions probably give more for the money than any other book published within the year. In this volume the chairman's address, by Dr. John Green, is headed "The promotion of blindness," and discusses some of the most important contributing factors. The young ophthalmologist is impressed with the large proportion of cases in which blindness might have been prevented. From some of the causes, as ophthalmia neonatorum, industrial injuries, and Fourth of July explosions, the number of cases has been greatly reduced. But it still remains that cases of this kind occur, and will do so until the more general appreciation of their danger is created in the general profession and among the laity. Factors in childhood remain important because children and
* From the Howe Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Boston, Mass.
BOOK NOTICES
parents, and sometimes medical advisers, do not recognize the danger. The optometrist, with his advertising and salesmanship, is still effective in the promotion of blindness. Enough cases, from lack of recognition and early effective treatment, remain to remind us that much is still to be done to perfect ophthalmic practice. A statistical study of "Muscle tests in myopia," by Dr. A. C. Snell, throws new light on the relation of axial myopia to esophoria. Apparently convergence insufficiency does not characterize all cases of myopia and figures as an effect rather than a cause. "A study of causes of blindness in Pennsylvania," by Dr. Alfred Cowan and S. M. Sinclair, bring to us valuable statistics, which are much needed. "Iridectomy with cyclodialysis," by John M. Wheeler, seems to show that in seemingly hopeless cases of glaucoma the two operations conjoin to give more grounds for hope in apparently desperate cases. "An embryologic interpretation of malformations of the posterior segment of the eye," by Dr. Bertha Klien, brings together facts and conclusions that will be valuable for reference. The twenty other papers, not here mentioned by name, that are contained in this volume all furnish points of interest and practical importance. The illustrations help to make clear the papers in which they are used. Two of them give to the readers pictures of the scientific research medal and the Knapp medal that are, from time to time, awarded by this Section. The list of Fellows belonging to the Section for the last five years gives a convenient directory of ophthalmologists to whom one may refer a patient. Edward Jackson.
855
CATARACT, ITS PREVENTIVE AND MEDICAL TREATMENT. By A. Edward Davis, A.M., M.D. Cloth bound, 181 pages. Philadelphia, F. A. Davis Co., 1937. It is now fifteen years since Dr. Davis presented at the International Congress of Ophthalmology, in Washington, his first paper on "Serum and vaccine treatment for the prevention and cure of cataract." Since then he has published a series of papers on what he calls the "antigen treatment of cataract." It is natural and right that at this time he should publish in one volume a summary of his views on this subject, the arguments supporting them, and the results of his experience in this line of treatment. The headings of the twelve chapters into which the book is divided are: Historical, Etiology, Diagnosis, Symptoms, Pathogenesis, Spectroscopy, Treatment, Dietary treatment, Errors in refraction, Other methods of non-operative treatment, Case records, and Experience of other observers with favorable and unfavorable reports. The chapter on spectroscopy is by S. Judd Lewis, D.Sc., and the one on errors in refraction by J. Burdon Cooper, of Bath, England. There is also a foreword by F. Park Lewis, of Buffalo, N.Y. The last chapter cites a dozen reports, including those of Drs. Conrad Berens, Kirby and Giles of New York, E. C. Ellett of Memphis, Allen C. Woods of Baltimore, and the Drs. Green of San Francisco. In his comments, Dr. Davis states: "My results are better than when I first began the use of the remedy." "This percentage (81.47) of retained useful vision is only a little less than that following cataract extraction." Edward Jackson.
BOOK NOTICES
material in two minutes, or 5 minutes, or 10 minutes regardless of the number of fixations, regressions, or the rate of reading. These we may define as good readers. Now as the second step, we may analyze the characteristics of these good readers. Suppose we find that executive and department heads read with the greatest amount of comprehension per unit time; that is, if given 2 minutes or 5 minutes, the total amount which they comprehend is the greatest. A priori, this is what one would expect of this group. Examination of their eye movements shows that the number of fixations and regressions is relatively large, and their rate of reading relatively slow. This, then, might be considered characteristic of good readers. This does not say that there may not be other types of good readers; for example, the 8-year-old boy who far exceeds all others mentioned and who reads both backward and forward. This, then, may be a characteristic of good reading. As the third step, we should have some means of diagnosing what constitutes serious deviations from good reading so that we do not attempt to train all alike. Fourth, we may attempt to find some means of improving reading ability. We should then devise, if possible, a method of instruction or an apparatus which will tend to promote the eye movements desired, whatever they may be; although here a serious question arises as to whether the movements would not automatically take on the desired characteristics if there could be developed in the student a general attitude toward word and sentence grouping and thought grouping that the good readers may possess. As I see it, the book "Controlled reading" fails to offer evidence (1) as to what constitutes good reading, but starts with the assumption that good reading consists of few fixations and regressions
combined with high speed. (2) It is shown that Metron-O-Scope training will decrease the number of fixations and regressions. (3) It seems to do this at the expense of comprehension, as might appear more clearly if more adequate tests of comprehension were used. (4) It offers some evidence that reading ability as measured by tests of reading ability and an increase of 1.Q. can be brought about more effectively by other means than the Metron-O-Scope. And (5) It also offers some evidence that the Metron-O-Scope trains the student in the direction of the stenographers' and away from the executives' type of reading. Elek John Ludvigh. * TRANSACTIONS, SECTION ON OPHTHALMOLOGY, AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, 1936. 332 pages. Illustrated. For practical value to American ophthalmologists these transactions probably give more for the money than any other book published within the year. In this volume the chairman's address, by Dr. John Green, is headed "The promotion of blindness," and discusses some of the most important contributing factors. The young ophthalmologist is impressed with the large proportion of cases in which blindness might have been prevented. From some of the causes, as ophthalmia neonatorum, industrial injuries, and Fourth of July explosions, the number of cases has been greatly reduced. But it still remains that cases of this kind occur, and will do so until the more general appreciation of their danger is created in the general profession and among the laity. Factors in childhood remain important because children and
* From the Howe Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Boston, Mass.
BOOK NOTICES
parents, and sometimes medical advisers, do not recognize the danger. The optometrist, with his advertising and salesmanship, is still effective in the promotion of blindness. Enough cases, from lack of recognition and early effective treatment, remain to remind us that much is still to be done to perfect ophthalmic practice. A statistical study of "Muscle tests in myopia," by Dr. A. C. Snell, throws new light on the relation of axial myopia to esophoria. Apparently convergence insufficiency does not characterize all cases of myopia and figures as an effect rather than a cause. "A study of causes of blindness in Pennsylvania," by Dr. Alfred Cowan and S. M. Sinclair, bring to us valuable statistics, which are much needed. "Iridectomy with cyclodialysis," by John M. Wheeler, seems to show that in seemingly hopeless cases of glaucoma the two operations conjoin to give more grounds for hope in apparently desperate cases. "An embryologic interpretation of malformations of the posterior segment of the eye," by Dr. Bertha Klien, brings together facts and conclusions that will be valuable for reference. The twenty other papers, not here mentioned by name, that are contained in this volume all furnish points of interest and practical importance. The illustrations help to make clear the papers in which they are used. Two of them give to the readers pictures of the scientific research medal and the Knapp medal that are, from time to time, awarded by this Section. The list of Fellows belonging to the Section for the last five years gives a convenient directory of ophthalmologists to whom one may refer a patient. Edward Jackson.
855
CATARACT, ITS PREVENTIVE AND MEDICAL TREATMENT. By A. Edward Davis, A.M., M.D. Cloth bound, 181 pages. Philadelphia, F. A. Davis Co., 1937. It is now fifteen years since Dr. Davis presented at the International Congress of Ophthalmology, in Washington, his first paper on "Serum and vaccine treatment for the prevention and cure of cataract." Since then he has published a series of papers on what he calls the "antigen treatment of cataract." It is natural and right that at this time he should publish in one volume a summary of his views on this subject, the arguments supporting them, and the results of his experience in this line of treatment. The headings of the twelve chapters into which the book is divided are: Historical, Etiology, Diagnosis, Symptoms, Pathogenesis, Spectroscopy, Treatment, Dietary treatment, Errors in refraction, Other methods of non-operative treatment, Case records, and Experience of other observers with favorable and unfavorable reports. The chapter on spectroscopy is by S. Judd Lewis, D.Sc., and the one on errors in refraction by J. Burdon Cooper, of Bath, England. There is also a foreword by F. Park Lewis, of Buffalo, N.Y. The last chapter cites a dozen reports, including those of Drs. Conrad Berens, Kirby and Giles of New York, E. C. Ellett of Memphis, Allen C. Woods of Baltimore, and the Drs. Green of San Francisco. In his comments, Dr. Davis states: "My results are better than when I first began the use of the remedy." "This percentage (81.47) of retained useful vision is only a little less than that following cataract extraction." Edward Jackson.