Journal of the
152 Book reviews
sorption. Within these sections limited space is
devoted to the important issue of animal models,
and an all-too-brief discussion of diffusion theory
is given.
Much of the remainder of the book is devoted to
the pharmaceutical aspects of absorption (vehicle
design, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynam-
ics). There is limited discussion of topical therapy
and disease states as well as a section devoted to
the absorption of specific toxicologic agents (her-
bicides, pesticides, solvents, etc).
In the presentation of topics, heavy emphasis is
placed on the considerable work done by the au-
thors in which absorption is assessed by determin-
ing drug concentration in skin slices rather than
total absorption or the rate of absorption. This will
present some problems for the American reader
more used to dealing with permeability coefficients
or rate data. However, all in all the book is an
excellent compilation of permeability data and all
workers in the field will want to have it in their
library.
Thomas J. Franz, M.D.
Seattle, WA
Dermatologic formulations: Percutaneous
absorption
Brian W. Barry, New York, 1983, Marcel Dekker
Inc. 484 pages. $55.
This is a banner year for students of percutane-
ous penetrations--first Schaeffer and associates
and now Barry. All students of the field will be
pleased to own this volume. It is a strong personal
statement of those aspects of the field that most
relate to the formulation chemist.
Although some of the material is covered in the
Schaeffer monograph, two chapters are quite dif-
ferent: formulations of dermatologic vehicles and
rheology of dermatologie vehicles. These repre-
sent the personal experience and interest of Dr.
Barry.
The author index justifies the cost of the book
alone. It gives an extensive listing of the basic
references, so that one can quickly identify the
pages on which a given author's work is discussed.
The book is highly recommended to all derma-
American Academy of
Dermatology
tology libraries and to dermatophamaacologists,
dermatotoxicologists, research pharmacists, and
investigators in the field.
Howard 1. Maibach, M.D.
San Francisco, CA
Principles and methods of toxicology
A. Wallace Hayes, New York, 1983, Raven
Press. 764 pages. $68.
The term dermatotoxicology often brings to
mind skin--and the study of abnormalities such as
cutaneous irritation and allergic contact dermati-
tis. As our pharmacopeia expands and we utilize
more potent (and often more toxic) drugs and
chemicals, dermatologists are often dismayed at
their inability to cope with the expanding literature
in the field of general toxicology. Medical schools
rarely provide even a rudimentary basis for un-
derstanding principles and methods of toxicology,
let alone provide sufficient information on which
one can build further knowledge.
Dr. Hayes has done a skillful and admirable job
in defining the field for us. The chapters are well
organized, allowing the reader to go directly and
easily to the area of interest. For instance, what
does an investigator's brochure that refers to a
segment one reproduction study really mean?
Dr. Hayes' book is highly recommended for all
dermatology libraries and for all interested in der-
matopharmacology and dermatotoxicology.
Howard I. Maibach, M.D.
San Francisco, CA
Handbook of dermatologic treatment
R. Kenneth Landow, M.D., Greenbrae, CA,
1983, Jones Medical Publication. 219 pages.
$13.95.
Being asked to review this little text was a
pleasant surprise, since I have not had the pleasure
of meeting Dr. Landow, am unfamiliar with Jones
Medical Publications, and was intrigued by a med-
ical textbook dedicated to Frank Sinatra. Both
Dr. Landow and his publishers have performed
well. The author has brought together an amaz-