BOOK REVIEWS

PATHOLOGY IN SURGERY. By Nathan Chandler Foot, M. D., Professor of Surgical

Pathology, Cornell University Medical College; Surgical Pathologist, New York Hospital. 500 pages, 368 illustrations in black and white, and 20 subjects in full color on ten plates. Philadelphia, London, Montreal, J. B. Lippincott Co., I945. ONE of the most interesting and important developments in American medicine during the past 20 years has been the establishment of the various Specialty Boards and the effect these have had in raising the standards of specialty education and practice. Most of the boards in the field of surgery and diagnosis require of their candidates a certain amount of training in the pathology of surgery, and include this subject in their examinations. Inevitably, this has led to a demand for postgraduate study in this topic-a demand which is becoming increasingly difficult to meet because of the dwindling number of competent teachers of pathology and the dearth of satisfactory texts of surgical pathology. Therefore, it is a pleasure to welcome this handsome volume from the pen of a leader who is known for his technical contributions and the breadth of his ripe knowledge. Doctor Foot has not attempted to cover the entire field of surgery, and those who seek to know in detail the full pathology, for example, of the skin, nervous system and organs of the special senses will not find it here but must consult special monographs dealing with those subjects. Nor does he do more than touch upon some features of general pathology, which he feels are adequately dealt with in such standard texts as Kar5ner's "Human Pathology." He wishes his monograph to be regarded as ancillary to that excellent work, and Lippincott's have used the same easy reading format in manufacturing the present volume. The medical student, the practicing surgeon and general pathologist will find this monograph a most valuable adjuvant to the study and interpretation of the pathology of the surgical diseases. As with any attempt to compress an enormous body of knowledge within the covers of a single volume, the expert will find some omissions, which he may regret, and occasional statements with which he will not be in full agreement yet, on the whole, it would be an act of invidious pejoration to single these out when the work, as a whole, is of such a high order. Most of the fundamentals will be found here and the references will serve to guide those seeking more detailed information, although some of them are not as recent as they might be. This reviewer who is well acquainted with the multiple facets of Doctor Foot's versatility is happy to be afforded the opportunity thus publicly to offer his congratulations upon the appearance of this latest example of his lucubrations.
ARTHUR PURDY STOUT, M.D.

Textbook of Obstetrics. By Henricus J. Stander, M.D. gth Edition, D. AppletonCentury Co., New York, I945. WITH THE PUBLICATION of this retitled edition, little remains of the original text which was first published in 1903 and has beeni constantly revised, rewritten, reillustrated and modernized through nine editions and 46 printings. Every effort has been made, by the authors and publishers to improve the book in each edition, to the end that it might maintain its reputation as an authoritative presentation of obstetrical principles and the most nmodern guide to conservative obstetrical practice. The final result of this truly amazing modernizing process, the gth edition, practically constitutes a new textbook-Stander's Textbook of Obstetrics. To write a worth while textbook requires that the author shall be a good teacherthe better to plan consecutively; think logically; write clearly and concisely; and where 1122

Number 6

Volume 123

BOOK REVIEWS

illustrations are to be employed, illustrate intelligently. This volume with its I,287 pages of written text and nearly i,ooo illustrations, many in color, demonstrates the validity of these statements. The general physical plan of this present edition differs quite radically from the previous editions of the William's Obstetrics in that the various subjects are presented in sections and subheadings instead of chapters. This idea seems reasonable because by this system there should be no confusion to either teacher, student or practitioner who wishes to utilize basic principles, didactic instruction or clinical procedures-singly or in combination. Furthermore, in order to facilitate and simplify reading matter, smell type is employed to more sharply separate historical or purely theoretical considerations from the main text-a time-saver for the busy practitioner or the hard pressed undergraduate student. Likewise, the indexing system has been improved-made more readily workable. It has been very aptly said that the illustrations in a textbook either make it a "best seller" or relegate it to the bookseller's shelf. This, it seems to this Commentator, is particularly true of obstetrical textbooks; and for two very good reasons: (i) basic obstetrical facts, e.g., anatomy, embryology, physiology, pathology, etc.-can better be elucidated through good illustrations; and (2) obstetrical operations can be demonstrated much more satisfactorily through the medium of graphic drawings, made by a competent artist. Stander's illustrations are distinctly superior. They are the work of well-recognized niedical artists; they are of sufficient size to give real instructional detail; and are so numerous as to almost constitute in themselves an obstetrical atlas. Those by the late Max Broedel, the master medical illustrator, deserve special mention. Indeed, the author of any textbook containing Broedel illustrations-father or daughter-is most fortunate. Throughout this gth edition, the author has kept the undergraduate student, as well as the practitioner in mind, deleting and adding such material as would make for completeness, readability and up-to-the-minute information. Among the outstanding sections might be mentioned those on the management of normal pregnancy with particular emphasis on the adequate antenatal care; the conduct of normal labor; the pathology of pregnancy; abnormal pelves; particularly the sections on clinical and morphologic classifications and clinical and roentgenologic pelvimentry; the management of obstetrical difficulties; and the pathology of the puerperium. The importance to the obstetrician of anesthesia; the toxemias of pregnancy; the management of hemorrhage, both ante- and postpartum; clhemotherapy in the presence of acute infection; and the prevention and proper treatment of asphyxia neonatorum, cannot be over emphasized. These subsections are particularly well discussed, and if the practitioner and student, especially the former, would follow explicitly the information herein given, our present maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality rates could be still further reduced. Bibliographic references are a necessity for the modern textbook. Stander's book is outstanding in this respect. However, this Commentator wonders whether the Author has not overburdened this portion of his book with quite a number of outdated references. There are a total of io6 pages of references, some old; some "middle-aged," and literally hundreds that are strictly up to date. The latter, without question, being indispensable in usefulness and value. On the other hand, would it not be more in keeping with the general modernization plan of the volume to sift out a goodly number of these old referernces? For example, there are I47 references on the Anatomy and Physiology and Development of the Ovum; 209 for the physiology of pregnancy; and 297 on the toxemias of pregnancy. It seems reasonable that not a few of these particular references might be deleted without detracting from the completeness of the section to which they pertain. The same comment could be applied to other sections of the book. However, it is without doubt true that if one prefers a well-nigh complete bibliography following every section of any given textbook, this gth edition of Stander's Obstetrics is "tops." It unquestionably gives ready access to a veritable mass of obstetrical information, as well as many allied subjects, which may or may not be indispensably useful depending upon the requirements of the reader and the whim of the publishers. 1123

REVIEWS BOOK BOOK REV7IENNIS

Annals of SurgerY u n e, 1 9 4 6 ~~~~~~J

IncidentalIy, the publishers of this volume have performed an excellent job. Under wartime conditions, it required much planning and "architectural" skill in bookbuilding to add all the necessary new material to the book and keep within the government's regulations and limitations on paper, ink, printing and binding-not to mention labor costs. It was no simple task to publish a textbook of this character and size, containing nearly i,ooo illustrations, many in color, and keep the selling price at a reasonable figure. All this, the publishers have accomplished in a commendable manner. In conclusion, it may be well said that Stander's Obstetrics is distinctly outstanding. No one except a logical thinker and an experienced teacher could have performed such an exacting task. In it the undergraduate and postgraduate student; the general practitioner or the specialist has a readable; modern; conservative; authoritative; and splendidly illustrated textbook; which is offered at a price that does not unduly "strain" anyone's budget. It's popularity should continue at an ever increasing rate, which in turn will serve to promote better obstetrics and thus help to continue the downward trend in our maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality rates. HARVEY B. MATTHEWS, MI.D.

EDITORIAL ADDRESS Original typed manuscripts and illustrations submitted to this Journal should be forwarded prepaid, at the author's risk, to the Chairman of the Editorial Board of the ANNALS OF SURGERY. Walter Estell Lee, M.D. 1833 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Contributions in a foreign language when accepted will be translated and published in English. Exchanges and Books for Review should be sent to James T. Pilcher, M.D., Managing Editor, 121 Gates Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. Subscriptions, advertising and all business communications should be addressed ANNALS OF SURGERY East Washington Square, Philadelphia, Pa.

1124