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Tuberculosis in New York City 1962
Tubercle, Lond., (1964), 45, 286
286
BOOK
REVIEWS
Pulmonary Tuberculosis. W. PAGEL, F. A. H. SIMMONDS, N. MACDONALD, and E. NASSAU. 4th Edition, Oxford University Press, London, 1964. Pp. 520. s
5 0.
it is twenty five years since the first edition of this book appeared. The prominent place which it has since held in medical libraries is likely to be retained by the latest edition. As the authors remark in the preface, the decade which separates the last two editions is incomparably more significant in the combat against tuberculosis than that which separated the first two. This is certainly true ira tlae realm of treatment, though fewer changes have occurred ira our concept of the pathology and epidemiology of the disease. Indeed, the careful and detailed descriptions of bacteriology and pathology so clearly set out in the earlier edition of this work have remained of continuing value. The present work, written by a group of specialists in various aspects of the subject, has been considerably re-written. It has benefited much thereby, particularly in the chapters on clinical aspects of tuberculosis, and on what is tile most important present problem of tuberculosis-chemotherapy. The work is divided into four parts: Bacteriology and Pathology, Diagnosis, The Management of Tuberculosis, and Epidemiology and Prevention. Each is written from many years of personal experience of the disease. The book gains immeasurably by the perspective which this has lent to the writing. The extensive list of references which follow each chapter and which are further supplemented by 'Additional References' are relevant and up-to-date and will provide a most valuable list for anyone concerned with a particular aspect of the disease. The references include almost all the important papers appearing in the world literature. The last decade has seen great acceleration in the decline in tuberculosis in this country, effective use of chemotherapy and the consequent relegation of thoracic surgery to a small place in treatment. It has seen the intensifying of the fight against a disease which is a world problem and from which eighteen thousand people a day still die. It has fortunately seen the turning of numerous skilled brains in this country from considering the national to the international duty which we all share. One hopes that as tuberculosis comes under closer control in this country, our contribution to the world problem will be maintained; and this book is an excellent contribution. It is written by a group of physicians working near London; but it will help the campaign against tuberculosis throughout the world.
Tuberculosis in New York City 1962. A Compilation and Review by R. S. Merchant, New York Tuberculosis and Health Association, New York, 1964. Pp. 177. This Annual Report, which is as compendious this year as ever, is of added interest for rather depressing reasons. The slight increase in the tuberculosis death rate is probably alone not very significant. Although there has been a general decline in this rate there were small increases in 1957 and 1960, as well as in 1962. In contrast, the new case rate has declined steadily until 1962, when the rate rose from 56 per 100,000 in 1961 to 57 in 1962 (the numbers of new cases being 4,360 and 4,437). The preliminary figures for 1963 indicate a further increase of 12%. The depressing trend is completed by a rise in the percentage positive amongst pupils insecondary schools (1960-61: 9-4%; 1961-62: 12-5%).
BOOK REVIEWS
287
There seems general agreement that the rise is due to the emergence of drug resistance, but apart from one reference to the paper by Chaves and his colleagues, on the prevalence of drug resistant strains amongst new cases in 1960, no further details are given. Drug resistance has been recognized for some time as a major epidemiological problem, and Public Health Authorities should publish standard indices about the problem. The Public Health Department of the City and Port of Cardiff for instance publish this sort of table: NUMBER OF K N O W N SPUTUM POSITIVE CASES 1N CARDIFF AT THE END OF
1962 xvtxH CORRESPONOINGFmURESVOR 1959, 1960 AND 1961 Persistentl)" positive !; f o r one year or more ii
Recently diagnosed Year St:s.si,f,'ve i Resistant _ _ . .
1959 1960 1961 1962
16 16 6 zl
I i ;
~
)
3 --
; i
Sensitive
Resistant
10 6 9 5
40 33 22 26
i/ I tt I
Total
66 55 40 42
This gives the maximum information in the minimum space. It is also of interest for other reasons. Cardiff, from the point ofview oftuberculosis, is very similar to New York City. The death rate is about 10, and the new case rate just over 50 per 100,000. In Cardiff, in spite of a slight rise in the number of persistently positive resistant cases, the number of new cases has continued to decrease, it would be interesting to know what the magnitude of the increase is in New York to account for the turn-up in the new case rate.
Chronic Bronchitis in Great Britain.
L. H. CAPEL and M. CAPLIN. Chest and Heart Association, London, 1964. Pp. 56. 7s. 6d. This small book is an attempt to set out in simple terms the known facts about cl3ronic bronchitis in this country and the social services available to those who suffer from it. It succeeds in its purpose and will be found helpful to doctors and others 'who do not necessarily possess a specialist knowledge of diseases of the chest, yet whose duty brings them into contact with this group of patients'. Drs. Capel and Caplin have done well to set out in such straightforward terms the results of numerous investigations over the last ten years and to emphasize that the social care of those incapacitated by bronchitis still leaves much to be desired. The list of references should be useful to those wishing to approach the public health and social aspects of this problem as well as those more especially concerned with bronchitis as a field for research.
The Lung and its Disorders in the Newborn Infant.
MARY ELLEN AVERY. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia & London, 1964. Pp. 224. s
12 6.
In recent years an increasing amount of research has concentrated on the respiration of the newborn infant, the problems associated with tile start of air breathing and the frequent disorders of respiration in the newborn. There can be no period of life in which respiratory insufficiency is as
286
BOOK
REVIEWS
Pulmonary Tuberculosis. W. PAGEL, F. A. H. SIMMONDS, N. MACDONALD, and E. NASSAU. 4th Edition, Oxford University Press, London, 1964. Pp. 520. s
5 0.
it is twenty five years since the first edition of this book appeared. The prominent place which it has since held in medical libraries is likely to be retained by the latest edition. As the authors remark in the preface, the decade which separates the last two editions is incomparably more significant in the combat against tuberculosis than that which separated the first two. This is certainly true ira tlae realm of treatment, though fewer changes have occurred ira our concept of the pathology and epidemiology of the disease. Indeed, the careful and detailed descriptions of bacteriology and pathology so clearly set out in the earlier edition of this work have remained of continuing value. The present work, written by a group of specialists in various aspects of the subject, has been considerably re-written. It has benefited much thereby, particularly in the chapters on clinical aspects of tuberculosis, and on what is tile most important present problem of tuberculosis-chemotherapy. The work is divided into four parts: Bacteriology and Pathology, Diagnosis, The Management of Tuberculosis, and Epidemiology and Prevention. Each is written from many years of personal experience of the disease. The book gains immeasurably by the perspective which this has lent to the writing. The extensive list of references which follow each chapter and which are further supplemented by 'Additional References' are relevant and up-to-date and will provide a most valuable list for anyone concerned with a particular aspect of the disease. The references include almost all the important papers appearing in the world literature. The last decade has seen great acceleration in the decline in tuberculosis in this country, effective use of chemotherapy and the consequent relegation of thoracic surgery to a small place in treatment. It has seen the intensifying of the fight against a disease which is a world problem and from which eighteen thousand people a day still die. It has fortunately seen the turning of numerous skilled brains in this country from considering the national to the international duty which we all share. One hopes that as tuberculosis comes under closer control in this country, our contribution to the world problem will be maintained; and this book is an excellent contribution. It is written by a group of physicians working near London; but it will help the campaign against tuberculosis throughout the world.
Tuberculosis in New York City 1962. A Compilation and Review by R. S. Merchant, New York Tuberculosis and Health Association, New York, 1964. Pp. 177. This Annual Report, which is as compendious this year as ever, is of added interest for rather depressing reasons. The slight increase in the tuberculosis death rate is probably alone not very significant. Although there has been a general decline in this rate there were small increases in 1957 and 1960, as well as in 1962. In contrast, the new case rate has declined steadily until 1962, when the rate rose from 56 per 100,000 in 1961 to 57 in 1962 (the numbers of new cases being 4,360 and 4,437). The preliminary figures for 1963 indicate a further increase of 12%. The depressing trend is completed by a rise in the percentage positive amongst pupils insecondary schools (1960-61: 9-4%; 1961-62: 12-5%).
BOOK REVIEWS
287
There seems general agreement that the rise is due to the emergence of drug resistance, but apart from one reference to the paper by Chaves and his colleagues, on the prevalence of drug resistant strains amongst new cases in 1960, no further details are given. Drug resistance has been recognized for some time as a major epidemiological problem, and Public Health Authorities should publish standard indices about the problem. The Public Health Department of the City and Port of Cardiff for instance publish this sort of table: NUMBER OF K N O W N SPUTUM POSITIVE CASES 1N CARDIFF AT THE END OF
1962 xvtxH CORRESPONOINGFmURESVOR 1959, 1960 AND 1961 Persistentl)" positive !; f o r one year or more ii
Recently diagnosed Year St:s.si,f,'ve i Resistant _ _ . .
1959 1960 1961 1962
16 16 6 zl
I i ;
~
)
3 --
; i
Sensitive
Resistant
10 6 9 5
40 33 22 26
i/ I tt I
Total
66 55 40 42
This gives the maximum information in the minimum space. It is also of interest for other reasons. Cardiff, from the point ofview oftuberculosis, is very similar to New York City. The death rate is about 10, and the new case rate just over 50 per 100,000. In Cardiff, in spite of a slight rise in the number of persistently positive resistant cases, the number of new cases has continued to decrease, it would be interesting to know what the magnitude of the increase is in New York to account for the turn-up in the new case rate.
Chronic Bronchitis in Great Britain.
L. H. CAPEL and M. CAPLIN. Chest and Heart Association, London, 1964. Pp. 56. 7s. 6d. This small book is an attempt to set out in simple terms the known facts about cl3ronic bronchitis in this country and the social services available to those who suffer from it. It succeeds in its purpose and will be found helpful to doctors and others 'who do not necessarily possess a specialist knowledge of diseases of the chest, yet whose duty brings them into contact with this group of patients'. Drs. Capel and Caplin have done well to set out in such straightforward terms the results of numerous investigations over the last ten years and to emphasize that the social care of those incapacitated by bronchitis still leaves much to be desired. The list of references should be useful to those wishing to approach the public health and social aspects of this problem as well as those more especially concerned with bronchitis as a field for research.
The Lung and its Disorders in the Newborn Infant.
MARY ELLEN AVERY. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia & London, 1964. Pp. 224. s
12 6.
In recent years an increasing amount of research has concentrated on the respiration of the newborn infant, the problems associated with tile start of air breathing and the frequent disorders of respiration in the newborn. There can be no period of life in which respiratory insufficiency is as