Br. J. Surg. Vol. 64 (1W7) 762764

Reviews and notices of books A Colour Atlas of Human Anatomy R. M. H. McMinn and R . T. Hutchings. 305 x 250 mm. Pp. 352. Illustrated. 1977. London: Wore Medical. €15.00. AMBROISE PARE, that sixteenth-century surgical father, kept a dissected body at his side for 27 years ‘so when I wanted to make some incision, seeing the parts afresh made me more sure in my work’. Few of us today follow his example, yet many surgeons, and particularly candidates working for their primary FRCS, must wish they had Par& dissection by them for constant reference. Professor McMinn, the Sir William Collins Professor of Anatomy at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, together with his senior technician, have produced the next best thing; a magnificent colour atlas of life-sized photographs of dissections, together with osteo- logical, surface and radiological anatomy, which will prove of immense help in supplementing textbook studies when anatomical specimens are not immediately available. The anatomy course at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences at the Royal College is already internationally renowned and has done much to spread anatomical knowledge among surgeons in training. This superb volume will add lustre to its already high reputation and to its teachers, Professor McMinn and his colleagues. It can be recommended warmly to medical students and practising surgeons but will un- doubtedly be of particular value to candidates for the various primary Fellowship examinations.

HAROLD ELLIS

Endocrinology of Pregnancy Edited F. Fuchs and A . Klopper. Second edition. 240 x 155 mm. Pp. 387+xi. 1977. London: Harper & Row. f16.90. THIS is a valuable and timely second edition of a book which provides a wealth of information on the endocrinology of pregnancy. It is edited by two distinguished scientists-one from North America, the other from Aberdeen. This certainly has advantages, for it ensures that the British and European contributions to the subject receive proper recognition. The disadvantage, however, is seen in the expression of hormone measurements largely in traditional units whereas we, on this side of the Atlantic, now use the SI system exclusively.

In their foreword the editors say that the book ‘deals with the effects of pregnancy on all the endocrine glands’. It is therefore surprising that the adrenal medulla receives no mention and adrenaline and noradrenaline (epinephrine and norepinephrine) are not mentioned in the index. Phaeochromo- cytomas, their dangers and complex management in pregnancy, deserve mention. Other subjects omitted include pituitary tumours, Addison’s disease, the adrenogenital syndrome and insulinomas.

Parts of the book seem to be a IittIe out of date. This may be an indication of the excessive slowness of book production in these modern times or to incomplete revision of the original sections. For example, in the chapter on the ‘Renin Aldo- sterone System in Pregnancy’ two-thirds of the 21 references are to articles before 1970 and only 7 refer to articles pub- lished after 1970, 2 of which {the most recent) were dated 1973. It is perhaps also surprising in 1977 to read that hypo- thyroidism in pregnancy should be treated with thyroid extract. Bromocriptine receives the briefest mention and a single reference dated 1972. The importance of clinical obser- vation of patients who become pregnant after treatment with bromocriptine needs emphasis in a book of this nature.

It is always easy for a reviewer to be critical of individual sections, but a work of this nature stands as a whole and as such it provides an excellent survey of the subject. Apart from the few omissions mentioned, it provides an authoritative and wide-ranging review and it can be wholeheartedly recom- mended’for all who are concerned with the pregnant woman and her endocrine function in health and disease.

D. A. D. MONTGOMERY

Arthritis Surgery Leonard Marmor. 250 X 180 mm. Pp. 548+x. Illustmted. 1976. London: Kimpton. f31.55. LEONARD MARMOR has extensive teaching experience on the west coast of the United States. His courses are popular amongst orthopaedic surgeons in practicc in the States al- though they have not so far been run in association with the Academy. The present book reflects this general thrust in the author’s teaching effort. In Britain the book will be of some interest to both consultants and senior registrars in training in orthopaedic surgery but one suspects that it will be most popular amongst surgeons pursuing private practice in general orthopaedic surgery in the United States. The book does not have a strongly ‘academic flavour’ although references are given by which the reader may find his way into the relevant literature.

The text is mainly concerned with the operative technique and the pre- and postoperative management involved in the treatment of all those joints in the body which may be affected by the arthritic process and treated surgically. Within these chapters there is (sensibly) little space devoted to a historical review of those procedures which are no longer in day-to-day use and (less sensibly) very little mention of detailed reviews of the outcome of the procedures described as current in so far as they have been reported in the literature. The casual reader might therefore be forgiven for thinking that all the procedures described here in fact work.

The pathology of rheumatoid arthrosis and osteoarthrosis is dealt with but in a somewhat cursory fashion, as is reason- able in a book deliberately devoted to the surgery of these diseases. Similarly the physical signs and the investigation of the arthritic process are not given a great deal of space.

In summary, this book may not be widely read in this country; it is perhaps not suiliciently authoritative and academic for those surgeons who are heavily committed to the subject whilst for the occasional practitioner of this branch of orthopaedic surgery it suffers from the weakness that the reader cannot easily judge which of the procedures described is really satisfactory. The subject covered is, how- ever, now an enormous one and in a book of this size it is difficult to see how the author could satisfactorily nave met both of these demands.

M. A. R. FREEMAN

General Surgery for Nurses Harold Ellis and Christopher Wastell. 215 x 190 mm. Pp. 584. Illustrated. 1976. Oxfurd: Blackwell Scientific. f5.80. THIS is a comprehensive textbook for nurses written by five surgeons from the Westminster Hospital. Three of the authors have been involved with the successful ‘Lecture Notes’ series for medical students and this is the corresponding book for the nursing profession. Apart from general surgery there are chapters on orthopaedics, ENT and ophthalmology.

One of the most impressive features is the superb illustra- tions, both photographs and line diagrams. The book is spaciously arranged and easy to read. I particularly liked the chapter on tumours, packed with information in a highly digestible form. However, I was a little disappointed to find no references to the currently used methods for prevention of deep vein thrombosis, some of which are clearly here to stay. I was also able to find little information or discussion on the important topic of fluid balance. Generally, however, this book is highly informative and will prove of value to the nursing world.

In summary, this book has achieved its aim of being a clearly written surgical guide, admirably suited to nurses both before and after qualification. It is excellent value at 55.80.

IAN MCCOLL