658
BOOK REVIEWS
a problem for pathologists. Obviously, the details
of tissue changes needed by the pathologist are not
to be found in this book, although what is present
is reliable and well chosen. Tissue changes in this
field, however, can be understood only with some
insight into physiologic and clinical problems, and
this the book affords.
The longest and the best chapters are on congenital anomalies and on hyaline membrane disease. The latter is especially good, and the section
on "Other Conditions Associated with Hyaline
Membranes" is especially noteworthy, as it is one
often missing from even larger works.
This monograph is recommended as a welcome
addition to the working library of the pathologist.
Because of its easy and fluent style it is also recommended for consecutive reading.
Vol. 51
detailed clinical and therapeutic discussion provided in this book. Some of the neoplasms included
in this volume may surprise the reader. Multiple
myeloma is discussed because of several reports of
its occurrence in siblings. Neoplasms of the liver
are mentioned because of the association with
congential hemihypertrophy in some instances.
The author places considerable emphasis not
only on "cancer families" but also on the hereditary multiple cancer syndrome in which there is a
high familial incidence of many tumors but especially of adenocarcinomas of the endometrium and
colon. The presentation of these important concepts is somewhat weakened by the discussion of
different aspects of a specific entity in widely
scattered parts of different chapters. Another frequent theme in the book is the need for detailed
family studies in all instances of neoplastic disease
MILTON G. BOHROD
and for genetic counseling and regular examinaRochester, N. Y.
tions of members of families in which instances of
cancer have occurred.
The technical aspects of the printing of this
Hereditary Factors in Carcinoma. Recent Results in
book are in general adequate, with only a few
Cancer Research. By HENRY T. LYNCH, M.D., minor typographical errors. The absence of an
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital index, however, makes its use as a reference book
and Tumor Institute, Houston, Texas, xii and difficult, especially as any one entity is discussed
186 pp., 17 figs. New York: Springer-Verlag several times in different chapters. Of some anNew York, Inc., 19G7.
noyance is the collection of all chapter illustraThis book is Volume 12 of the series Recent tions at the end of the book and the lack of referResults in Cancer Research, under the general ence in the text to some of them.
editorship of P. Rentchnick. The title of this volIn general this volume is of considerable use for
ume is somewhat misleading because the work those who desire a relatively quick updating of
considers the genetic aspects not only of carcinoma their knowledge or who seek references on heredibut also of sarcoma, lymphomas, leukemias, tary aspects of neoplastic disease.
benign tumors, and a variety of inherited comALVTN E. RODIN
plexes which yield a high incidence of developGalveston, Texas
ment of tumors. The author has provided an allencompassing survey of this field, as is expressed
by the inclusion of over 60 different genetic entities
and 768 references. Because the information is Carcinogenesis: A Broad Critique. By The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and
presented in only 108 pages of written text, details
Tumor Institute, Houston, Texas. 93 contribuon any one entity are necessarily brief. One obtors, xiii and 774 pp., 215figs.,131 tables. $16.00.
tains the impression of reading a review of the
Baltimore: The Williams & Wilkins Company,
literature rather than a definitive treatise on the
1967.
subject. However, there is considerable merit in
having available a comprehensive collection of
This volume is an outgrowth of a symposium at
the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Hospital
references on the inherited aspects of neoplasia.
In addition to the classical examples of neo- and Tumor Institute. It covers five major aspects
plasms exhibiting a familial tendency, others are of carcinogenesis: the etiology of lymphomas and
included which may not be familiar to the general leukemias, carcinogenesis in mammary tissues, dereader, e.g., Bloom syndrome, multiple nevoid differentiation and transformation of cultured
basal cell carcinoma syndrome, and Turcot's syn- animal cells to neoplastic states, the general status
drome. Also discussed are tumors that have been of chemical and physical agents in carcinogenesis,
reported in newborns and congenital anomalies and carcinogenesis in the liver.
The separate articles are well correlated with
that may be associated with occurrence of tumors,
such as mongolism and Klinefelter's syndrome. It one another, are beautifully illustrated, and prois questionable whether the limited evidence for a vide an adequate bibliography. Several of the
familial tendency of lung cancer warrants the sections are followed by brief discussions. The
Vol. 51
BOOK REVIEWS
659
human condition. Dubos deftly states the problem
when he warns, ". . . the frontiers of technology
should be determined by the genetic frontiers of
man."
Weatherall, with a masterful coverage of the
thalassemias, demonstrates the contribution that
genetically oriented biochemists have made to
clinical hematology. The vagaries of hemoglobin
synthesis are neatly related to current concepts of
gene function. Much of the confusion and contradiction so characteristic of the literature of the
thalassemias give way to this remarkably lucid
exposition.
Waldenstrom and Haeger-Arosen unravel the
remarkable complexity of the porphyrias while
illustrating afineinterplay of population genetics
and elegant biochemistry. They reward the reader
with a fresh and practical vantage point from
which to investigate the patient suspected of
having porphyria.
Sheila Sherlock considers genetically determined hepatic disease associated with jaundice.
She clearly defines the clinical and laboratory
SHIELDS WARREN
variables in this group of diseases. Conspicuously
Boulon, Mass.
absent, however, is the precise genetic and physiochemical delineation that characterizes the consideration of the other diseases discussed in this
series. This deficiency reflects the relatively primProgress in Medical Genetics. Vol. V. Edited byitive state of the knowledge of the genetic and
AiiTHun G. STEINBERG, PH.D., Professor of
molecular aspects of disease of the liver.
Biology, Department of Biology, and Associate
Emery and Walton in their discussion of the
Professor of Human Genetics, Department of muscular dystrophies clearly indicate the imPreventive Medicine, Western Reserve Univer- portance of knowing the genetic characteristics of
sity, Cleveland, Ohio; AND ALEXANDER G. the various forms of these diseases. Certainly the
BEAUN, M.D., Professor and Chairman, De- "pathology" of the muscular dystrophies cannot
partment of Medicine, Cornell University be considered complete until the relationship to
Medical College, and Physician-in-Chief, The genetic mechanisms is also known. This facet of
New York Hospital, New York, N. Y. 5 con- these diseases must be understood for effective
tributors. With a foreword by A. G. S. and
A. G. B. vii and 151 pp., 26figs.,6 tables. $9.00. management of the individual patient and his
family.
New York: Crune & Stratton, Inc., 1967.
The only negative reaction to this volume conThe literature of every specialty reflects the
growing importance to medicine of the contribu- cerns quantity rather than quality. The number of
tions of the molecular biologists, biochemists, and articles in the previous volumes has ranged from
classical geneticists. This trend is nowhere more six to nine and the number of pages from 259 to
apparent than in pathology. The complete 365. The current volume contains five articles in
understanding of most diseases clearly requires 145 pages. Why has the number of contributions
knowledge of their genetic implications. Exem- dropped so abruptly? The importance of the subplifying this fact is the latest volume of Progress in ject matter would dictate that more, not fewer,
Medical Genetics in which a most impressive array articles of quality be published in this excellent
series.
of authorities continues a distinguished series.
RAYMOND J. CAFFREY
The provocative remarks of René Dubos on the
Kansas City, Mo.
perennial "nature versus nurture" dialogue replace
a somewhat dreary polemic. He cites the growing
body of evidence that supports the interdependence of environment and genetic endowment. An The Use of Antibodies in The Study of Blood
appreciation of this interdependence is of immense
Coagulation. Ed. 1. By K. W. E. DENSON,
importance to all who are concerned with the
D.PHIL. (OXON.), The Medical Research Coun-
authors chosen for the several papers are masters
in their fields and have presented valuable material. The text will be of interest particularly to
those engaged in cancer research. The volume
suffers somewhat from the inevitable unevenness
of presentation inherent in such a work.
Of particularly timety interest are the sections
on leukemia and lymphoma and that dealing with
the transformation of cells in tissue culture to the
neoplastic state. Excellent summaries of important
aspects of thefieldare provided by Upton on radiation carcinogenesis, by Latarget and colleagues
on the relationship of radiation to oncogenic
viruses, and by Rapp and colleagues with regard to
the interaction of unrelated viruses. Much emphasis is placed on the newer technics of special value,
including those of viral serology and of electron
microscopy.
Perhaps the limitation is due to the nature of
the subject, but one is disappointed that there are
not more references provided to work being done
in European countries and particularly those behind the Iron Curtain.