204 BRITISH JOURNAL OF PLASTIC SURGERY

Surgery in the M a k i n g . By GORDON MURRAY, M.B . , F . R . C . S . Pp. 236. ( L o n d o n : J o h n s o n Pub l i c a t i ons L td . 1964.) 2 i s .

I t is seldom an easy task for any author to write a medical book designed principally for the lay reader. Dr Murray has avoided many of the pitfalls and has produced a book which will be both interesting and fascinating to such readers, especially perhaps in the description of his early work on heparin, and more recently in the field of cardiac surgery.

While appreciating that this book was not intended for members of the medical profession, those who do read it may find the explanations of medical terminology rather irksome. It is also unfortunate that Dr Murray should record, in a book of this nature, the differences he had with his colleagues and parti- cularly with the physicians at the Toronto General Hospital, however sceptical they may have been of his work.

A. B. S.

The L a w s o f Bone Structure. By H. M . FROST, M . D . Pp . 167, w i th 38 i l lus t ra t ions .

(Spr ingf ie ld , I l l inois : Cha r l e s C. T h o m a s . 1964.) $7.50.

The ordinary surgeon, like the reviewer, will not find this an easy book to read, and in his preface the author recognises that his readers will have to work even to keep in touch with him ; but this effort cannot but be rewarding even if there is a great deal which escapes the average reader as beyond his present comprehension. The biophysical reactions of bone, so much more readily detectable and demonstrable by reason of the semi-permanence of bone in relation to normal and abnormal growth processes and reaction to stress and disease, are applicable also to other tissues, such as skin and its scarring, and are thus of interest also to the plastic surgeon. The mathematical sections will be fully understood by only a few but are not essential to a reasonable understanding and enjoyment of the other parts of the book, amongst which the present reviewer found the glossary of specialised terms one of the more interesting features. The simple diagrams and the few well-chosen radiographs of clinical conditions amplify and explain the text very adequately. The book is produced to the expected high standards of its publisher.

F. H. R.

Accident Prevention and L i f e S a v i n g . Paper s g iven at a c o n v e n t i o n o f t he Royal Col lege

o f Su rgeons o f E n g l a n d , M a y 1963. E d i t e d b y J. H. HUNT, M . A . , D . M . , F . R . C . P . ,

ass is ted b y MARY MARKS, S .R .N . , O . N . C . Pp. viii + 315, w i th i l lus t ra t ions . ( E d i n b u r g h :

E. & S. L i v i n g s t o n e L td . 1965. ) 35 s.

All medical men should be both interested and actively engaged in accident prevention and life saving. This publication gives wide coverage--accidents in the home, on the road, in industry and in sport. Authoritative views are fully expressed. The individual items are easy to read and on the whole essentially practical. The reviewer found the chapter on Remedial Action and Citizenship most stimulating, and the papers by Dr Claxton and the Bishop of Norwich very challenging. The final chapter on conclusions rounds off a book which should appeal and be most helpful to the medical profession.

A. B. W.

Tumori Primitivi non Odontogeni delle Ossa Maseellari. Relaz ione al X X X V I Congres so

N a z i o n a l e del la Associaz ione M e d i c i D e n t i s t i I ta l iani . Pp. i , i o o , w i th 297 i l lus t ra t ions .

(Mi l ano : Pol igraf ica I n d u s t r i a l e L o m b a r d a . 1965.)

This is a book devoted entirely to non-odontogenic turnouts of the facial bones. There are three sections--the granulomas, the bony dysplasias, and the primary bone tumours which are sub-divided into simple and malignant. In each section the lesions are discussed macroscopically, microscopically, and radiographically and are freely illustrated. Many of these are in colour which enhances their value to the reader. While the classification which is submitted is fairly comprehensive it is doubtful if all the lesions described could be considered as true tumours of bone. With this reservation there is much material under discussion and of undoubted interest to the reader. The treatment of individual lesions is somewhat sketchily dealt with, such techniques as are described portraying an element of dogmatism and not always reasoned judgment for uniform acceptance. The bibliography which is appended embraces i , i5o articles and is comprehensive without being in any way complete. The print and standard of illustration are adequate but the absence of a firm binding and covers detracts from the overall presentation of this useful publication.

W. D. M.