Od.
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i
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;
1959
BOOK 'KEVIEWS
newly discovered organisms, such as Mycobacterium kansasi (yellow bacillus) are also fully
covered. This traditional German-Swiss thoroughness is perhaps in part explained by the fact t h a t
of 30 papers, 20 were written by 1 of the 2 editors,
so t h a t there is a common thread of concept. Regrettably, there is no mention of fluorescent antibodies in the general part, nor of granuloma inguinale in the special p a r t ; the book shares these
omissions with its American counterpart.
The book is, on the other hand, rather inadequate in virology. Nothing is mentioned on
adenoviral disease; little on the Echo viruses; and
in the chapter on poliomyelitis, nothing (in 195S!)
is said about the epochal outcome of t h e r a p y with
Salk vaccine. Catscratch disease is not mentioned
in the index, perhaps because the printer went on
strike against the tongue-breaking German word
used in the new edition of Kaufmann: " K a t z c n k r a t z k r a n k h c i t . " After some search, 1 line was
found on it under " P s i t t a c o s i s , " where it is mentioned as " V i r u s - K r a t z - L y m p h a d e n i t i s , " and
linked to the Psittacosis virus, which is suspected
by some, but by no means proved. Yet this discase was adequately described by C. Hedinger in
Virchow's Archives (1952).
T h e chapter on fungi is equally i n a d e q u a t e , less
in its bacteriologic aspects than in its clinical
pathology; little is mentioned on coccidioidomycosis or histoplasmosis. European blastomycosis is
mentioned only as torulosis, and the term Cryplococcus neoformans does not appear, nor its relation
to lymphoblastomas, its clinical course, and so on.
Presumably, fungal infections play little role in
Europe, and virology is little advanced.
The chapter on parasitology and protozoa
seems a d e q u a t e ; t h a t on rickettsial disease is
written by Mooser and, therefore, quite good. In
the general chapters, the discussion on antibiotics
is good. One perhaps misses warnings against
various abuses; discussion of the sensitivity reactions to penicillin and of the remarkable morphologic bacterial changes a t t r i b u t a b l e to antibiotics;
they perhaps play a lesser role in Europe. The role
of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and
cortisone in infections is only briefly mentioned;
here again, there is perhaps a significant gco-
i
graphic difference. As a whole, however, the
general chapters seem to be scholarly in this book.
The book is well supplied with charts and
graphs, but does not have a single illustration, in
contrast to the large number of excellent photographs in the American book. This is a real drawback, particularly for students, and probably has
i
economic reasons. In general, this book will be of
considerable value to German physicians, and
many of its features could be most useful to those
381
American pathologists who can read it in its original German language.
L E O LOWBEEK
Tulsa,
Oklahoma
The Borderland of Embryology and Pathology. By
R. A. W I L L I S , D . S c , M . D . , F . R . C . P . Emeritus
Professor and H o n o r a r y Research Fellow in
Pathology, University of Leeds, E n g l a n d ;
formerly Pathologist to the Alfred Hospital
and Lecturer on the Pathology of Tumors in
the University of Melbourne, Australia; Sir
William H . Collins Professor of Pathology,
Royal College of Surgeons, London; P a t h o l o gist to the Royal College of Surgeons, London;
Professor of Pathology, University of Leeds.
627 p p . , 244 figs. London: B u t t c r w o r t h &
Company, Ltd., 195S.
In the opinion of this reviewer, Willis' new book
should be looked upon as a classic. I t deals broadly
and critically with the wide borderland of the 2
interrelated fields of embryology and pathology.
I t covers both form and function and its dynamic
approach is attested by the dedication of the work
to Sir Roy Cameron, distinguished leader in the
most modern domain of pathology. Willis is widely
known for his writings on neoplasia and pathology
b u t here he appears in the light of a meticulously
careful s t u d e n t of embryology as well. N o t only
has he worked in experimental embryology, b u t
has available microsections, many of them serial,
from 60 human embryos and fetuses, supplemented
by a number from other animals.
The plan of the book follows a thoughtful sequence of topics. First there are comprehensive
discussions of experimental and human embryology, including the a n a t o m y and function of
embryonal and fetal structures. Chapters are then
devoted to genesis of malformations in general,
and also in particular organs and tissues. The
pathology of developmental vestiges and the development of heterotopic tissues leads up to
h a m a r t o m a t o u s structures, followed by a chapter
on inborn metabolic and related disorders. There
are chapters on embryonal tumors and nonneoplastic disease of the fetus. Regeneration,
repair, and metaplasia are well covered and then
there is a full discussion of t r a n s p l a n t a t i o n , auto-,
homo-, and hetero-, with consideration of cultivation of tissues in vitro. Although labeled as an
appendix, there is a comprehensive list of suggestions for further research in the fields covered in
the book.
T h e list of references at the end of each chapter
is exhaustive and catholic; there is the added
virtue of having i m p o r t a n t titles in boldface type.
T h e illustrations include diagrams, sketches, and
photomicrographs; most of the last arc from
382
Willis' own collection. All are superbly reproduced. T h e text is well written and lucid. An
occasional drift toward dogmatism is evidently
a t t r i b u t a b l e to the desire for conciseness. I t
would be p e t t y to search for minor errors, if a n y ,
in a book of such notable excellence. It is recommended without reserve.
Radioactive
Isotopes
in
HOWARD T .
KARSNER
Washington,
D. C.
Clinical
Practice.
By
E D I T H H . QUIMBY, S C . D . Professor of Radiol-
ogy (Physics), College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York;
SERGEI F E I T E L B E R G , M..D. Director,
Physics
D e p a r t m e n t , T h e M o u n t Sinai Hospital; Associate Clinical Professor of Radiology, College
of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University,
Vol. 82
BOOK REVIEWS
New
York;
AND SOLOMON
SILVER,
M . D . Attending Physician; Chief, Thyroid
Clinic, T h e M o u n t Sinai Hospital; Associate
Clinical Professor of Medicine, College of
Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University,
New York. 451 pp., 97 figs. $10.00. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 195S.
This is the most recent publication on radioactive isotopes for use in the clinical practice of
medicine. I t is written by an outstanding a u t h o r ity in physics, D r . Edith Quimby, and 2 associates, D r . Sergei Feitelberg from the Physics
D e p a r t m e n t , M o u n t Sinai Hospital, and D r .
Solomon Silver, Chief of Thyroid Clinic, Mount
Sinai Hospital. T h e book is divided into 3 p a r t s .
"Basic P h y s i c s " was written by Dr. Quimby,
" I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n , " by Dr. Feitelberg, and
"Clinical Application," by Dr. Silver. In general
these subjects are taken up as well as possible in a
text limited to 451 pages and 97 figures.
"Basic P h y s i c s " covers the entire area of radioactive isotopes, b u t of necessity is limited. I t has
an excellent bibliography referring to texts giving
more detailed information in this m a t t e r . There
are a number of detailed areas, particularly related t o dosage and calculation, t h a t are excellent
for deriving information for new isotopes as well
as for those with which more experience has been
had.
In Dr. Feitelberg's contribution, " I n s t r u m e n tation and L a b o r a t o r y M e t h o d s , " again t h e material is limited by space b u t does take up the use
of the instruments, t h e types of instruments t h a t
are available, and something on the explanation
of the physics background relating to these instruments. This portion is somewhat skimpy on t h e
problem of collimation and does not go into any
great detail on t h e accuracy of the instruments in
relation to this particular phase of the subject.
Autoradiography is not covered in any detail.
Dr. Solomon's portion, covering t h e "Clinical
Use of Radioisotopes," a d m i t t e d l y covers thyroid
problems in some detail, whereas discussion of the
use of other isotopes is limited to very short
chapters of 1 or 2 pages. However, mention is made
of almost all of the different uses of isotopes clinically available a t the present time, b u t the discussion of diagnostic technics using iron and
chromium is quite limited and does not cover these
matters in sufficient detail to be of great, value to
the clinical pathologist. T r e a t m e n t is taken up in
a review fashion, covering most of the isotopes in
a summary fashion.
In all of the chapters excellent references are
given for each particular phase of the subject
covered. This would be of considerable help to
beginners in the field. In general, it is noted t h a t
this textbook has been produced in conjunction
with a teaching program at Columbia University,
where the 3 authors are instructing radiologists
and clinicians in the subject of radioactive isotopes. This book grew out of t h e experiences
gained in lectures, laboratory exorcises, and conferences with these s t u d e n t s . This is, therefore,
helpful to the beginner in the subject of radioactive isotopes and would serve as a reference
text, b u t is not sufficiently detailed for one interested in t h e finer points of t h e subject.
OSCAR B . H U N T E R , Jr.
Washington,
D. C.
Hone Tumors. Second Edition. By L o u i s LICHTENSTEIN, M . D . Chief Pathologist, General Medical and Surgical Hospital, Veterans Administration Center, Los Angeles; Fellow, New York
Academy of Medicine; Professor Extraordinario, National University of Mexico; Consultant
in Bone Tumors, Tumor Tissue Registry of
California Medical Association Cancer Commission; Consultant in Pathology, Los Angeles
County H o s p i t a l ; Consultant, City of Hope
Medical Center. 402 pp., 220 figs., 1 table.
S12.00. St. Louis: C. V. Mosby Company, 1959.
This textbook of 402 pages with 220 illustrations
should be in the library of every pathologist and
of every orthopedic surgeon who has a n y knowledge of, or interest in, bone pathology. T h e first
edition of this book was exceptionally well received. In this second edition t h e author has included some new concepts and has confirmed older
concepts as a result of the s t u d y of new materials
from his own laboratory and many cases sent to
him during the last 6 years by pathologists
throughout the country. Louis Lichtenstein is
Chief Pathologist at the General Medical and
Surgical Hospital, Veterans Administration Center, Los Angeles, holds many other titles, and has
received numerous honors for his contributions t o