Book Reviews

Electron Microscopy of Cardiovascular Sys- clusion that ischemic pain results from their
tem, by Bruno Kisch, translated from German stimulation by substances conveyed by the
by Arnold I. Kisch. Charles C Thomas, blood stream rather than by products of
Springfield, 1960, pp. 180, $7.50. metabolism, for which there is also considerable
When a new monograph appears, written by evidence.
an author who has distinguished himself by None of these quibbles over interpretation
zealous explorations in many fields, one expects detracts from the basic intent of the mono-
the very best. One is not disappointed in graph, which is to supply the ultra-architecture
this latest monograph excellently translated underlying functions that must be finally
from the German. The present treatise con- established by other means. This English
tains some new material made available through edition with its clear descriptions and superb
steady improvements in the still difficult appli- illustrations should serve to simulate further
cation of electron microscopy to the circulatory interest in the application of electron micros-
system. Therefore, as the author points out, copy to the cardiovascular system in health
this volume does not pretend to be a definitive and disease.
monograph on a well defined subject but CARL J. WIGGERS, M.D.,SC.D.,F.A.C.C.
rather a summarizing presentation of work
Missbildungen des menschlichen Herzens-
done to date.
Entwicklungsgeschichte und Pathologie, by
The book follows the German text which it
H. Barthel. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart,
was the privilege of the present writer to review
1960, pp. 240, DM 188, $44.75.
favorably (Circulation Res., 5: 693, 1957). It
deals basically with the ultramicroscopic struc- The ever increasing importance of congenital
ture of cardiac muscle fibers, cardiac nerve malformations of the heart makes the appear-
terminals and capillaries. The volume should ance of this book on the normal and pathologic
be useful to physiologists and cardiologists embryology of the heart most welcome. The
interested in correlating various aspects of combination of a lucidly and comprehensively
cardiac function with ultra-architecture. written text, amply supplied with 215 excellent
The author of the monograph is aware of the illustrations and a superb printing job, makes
danger of drawing functional inferences from Barthels book required reading for cardiolo-
static pictures of electron micrographs; hence, gists, cardiac roentgenologists and cardiac sur-
one will expect some difference of opinion in geons.
this area. For example, some will wish for more The predominantly diagrammatic approach
chemical and metabolic evidence that the tre- to the normal development of the heart is
mendous capacity of the heart for sustained particularly convenient to the nonanatomist and
work is solely determined by the number and nonembryologist who merely wants to learn of
types of sarcomeres present. Also, if so-called the predominant present day concepts and the
axon reflex effects are indeed operative in facts, as known, without getting too deeply in-
the heart-of which the reviewer is not con- volved with the prevalent controversies. The
vinced-it appears that more distant fibers pathologic embryology of cardiovascular mal-
must be excited by transaxonal stimulation of formations is presented in a masterly fashion.
adjacent nerve filaments rather than by re- The abundant use of colored illustrations makes
current impulses at bifurcations which do not for an easy identification and classification of all
exist. However, electron microscopic studies the known congenital malformations. Dis-
must be extended to epidermal structures cussions are concise but adequate and the bibli-
before the classical concept of axon reflexes can ography provided is extensive. The superb
be regarded as invalid for the entire body. quality of Miss I. Schamburgs illustrations have
Furthermore, one wonders whether the ob- greatly contributed to the success of the book.
served proximity of many nerve filaments to It is highly recommended.
capillaries is sufficient evidence for the con- ARTHUR GRISHMAN, M.D.

JULY 1961 159