Indian Medicine of early operation (JAMA 226:1008,
History of Science and Technology in India,
vol 3: Folk Medicine; vol 4: Indian System of
Medicine, by O. P. Jaggi, 228, 260 pp, 20, 37
illus, $12, $16, Atma Ram & Sons (POB 1429,
Kashmere Gate, Delhi-6, India), 1973.
Dr. O. P. Jaggi, a distinguished In-
dian physician and medical research-
er, is the author of a series of impor-
tant volumes dealing with the history
and philosophy of Indian medicine.
These two volumes speak highly of
Dr. Jaggi's work. Volume 3, dealing
with folk medicine, actually tells us of
the type of medicine that is most
widespread in India. It is fanciful,
and might, in Western terms, be de-
scribed as "primitive," and therefore
offers new and different insight into
Indian thought on health and disease.
Dr. Jaggi's volume 4, dealing with
the Indian system of medicine, gives
an excellent presentation of the sci-
ence of Ayurveda, which assures
health and prolongs life, and is based
on the writings of India's scholar-
physicians Charaka, Sushruta, and
Vagbhata.
The translations and analyses of
their texts are excellent and highly
literate, and, like the previously dis-
cussed volume on Indian folk medi-
cine, this volume can be highly recom-
mended to the cultural and medical
historian and the anthropologist.
Ilza Veith, PhD
University of California
San Francisco
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal Cord Injuries: Comprehensive Man-
agement and Research, by Sir Ludwig Gutt-
mann, 694 pp, 273 illus, $56, Blackwell (F. A.
Davis Co.), 1973.
This book is based on 30 years' ex-
perience with more than 4,000 para-
plegics and tetraplegics treated at
the Stokes-Mandeveille Spinal Cen-
tre. Sir Ludwig opened this center in
1944, with one patient and 26 beds.
His new concepts were that parapleg-
ics should not only live, but have a
purpose in life, that treatment should
be comprehensive and include reha-
bilitation. Only recently has there
been a surge of interest in the United
States in helping civilian paraplegics,
and Guttmann's book will prove in-
valuable to the staff of such centers,
or, indeed, to any concerned person
who deals with patients having spinal
cord injuries.
The meat of this book starts with
chapter 12, on the management of
spinal fractures. Guttmann's conserv-
atism and advocacy of traction for
cervical injuries are in considerable
contrast to Cloward's recent espousal
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There have been major changes in
1973). He does, however, advocate
early debridement of gunshot and
stab wounds.
About two thirds of the book is de-
voted to neurophysiological and clini¬
cal aspects of spinal cord injuries. The
varieties of spinal syndromes, com¬
plete and incomplete, at various cord
levels, are well described, with special
reference to spinal shock, hyperre-
flexia, autonomie disturbances, and
function of bowel and bladder. Treat¬
ment of the disturbed urinary tract
emphasizes the benefits of "no touch"
intermittent catheterization by phy¬
sicians. An unusual amount of infor¬
mation on the sexual problems of
male and female paraplegics (includ¬
ing married life, child-bearing, and
divorce) makes a unique contribution
to medical knowledge. Bed sores,
spasticity, and psychological prob¬
lems of paraplegia are dealt with in
a rational manner. Physical therapy,
transport, education, and sports are
emphasized as essential parts of med¬
ical treatment. Occupational therapy
and work resettlement are also in¬
cluded, backed by legislation dating
from 1944.
The references are in the back of
the book, arranged by chapters, caus¬
ing some duplication of titles. The in¬
dex is somewhat meager (six pages,
double columns). Many of the figures
not reproduced from other sources
have no legends.
The book does fulfill the promise
implied in the subtitle—"Comprehen¬
sive Management and Research"—
and will be a standard for years to
come. It is essential for anyone who
wants to understand or treat patients
with spinal cord injury, no matter
what the field of specialization.
Oscar Sugar, MD, PhD
University of Illinois College
of Medicine
Chicago
Radiotherapy
Textbook of Radiotherapy, by Gilbert
Fletcher, ed 2; 816 pp, 427 illus, Lea & Febiger,
1973.
In the second edition of the Text-
book of Radiotherapy, the author has
continued the presentation of the
practices utilized in radiation therapy
at the M. D. Anderson Hospital. This
is being done within the context of a
definite outlook, with the hope that
more value would result. The author
does not imply that this represents
the only practice in radiation therapy,
but he does develop the principles and
practices currently utilized by his
staff.
the exposition, related to the data ac-
cumulated from treatment in cancers
of the head and neck, breast, and
gynecologic tract. More emphasis has
been placed on an integrated pro-
gram for the management of cancer,
utilizing not only radiation therapy
but also surgical and chemotherapy
techniques. Expanded sections have
been added, relating to radiation
physics, other high-energy photon
beams as well as electron beams, and
other specialty areas associated with
cancer therapy.
The author has been extraordi-
narily successful in bringing together
outstanding practitioners in the vari¬
ous fields to contribute to the text. Of
particular note are the presentations
in basic physics and radiation biology,
as well as those clinical presentations
in head and neck cancer, breast can¬
cer, and cancers of the female pelvis.
The Textbook of Radiotherapy rep¬
resents a substantial and important
addition to the field and should be
available to all specialists in cancer
care.
Luther W. Brady, MD
Hahnemann Medical College and
Hospital
Philadelphia
Neonatology
Neonatology: Diseases of the Fetus and In-
fant, edited by Richard E. Behrman, 698 pp, 215
illus, $39.50. C. V. Mosby Co., 1973.
Neonatology is a vigorous young
specialty that is rapidly developing
its own body of knowledge. In this
book, Dr. Behrman has undertaken to
provide in a single volume a detailed
description of the diseases that affect
infants in the early weeks of life. It
is aimed at the needs of physicians,
nurses, and special nursery assistants
involved in caring for the neonate.
The rapid accumulation of knowledge
in this field and its great diversity
provide a real challenge for a text-
book, and the authors of this work
H. have been successful in meeting it.
There are 29 contributors to the
book. Most chapters are organized by
body systems in the traditional medi-
cal textbook fashion. They include an
introductory section on anatomy and
physiology, which is followed by a dis-
cussion of the diseases common or un-
common to the neonate. The diseases
are described in terms of cause, pa-
thology, symptoms, signs, complica-
tions, diagnosis, treatment, and prog-
nosis. Each chapter is followed by a
bibliography arranged by topic, which
enables the reader to enlarge on each
subject presented. There are in addi-