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Functional anatomy of the digestive system
I“4
BRITISH JOURNAL OF ORAL SURGERY
nor club-shaped ramifications could be perceived in the plates intended to illustrate actinomycosis (Figs. II and 12), and delicate fibrils characteristic of nerve tissue could not be distinguished from collagen fibrils in Fig. 132, illustrating a neurofibroma. A scattering of typographical errors and idiosyncrasies of idiom mar an erudite text, and it is hoped that these would be eliminated in a future edition, together with incorrect numbering of plates. Condensation of the text has been carried out sensibly, and no gross omissions were discovered, although it would have been nice to see abnormalities of the pituitary fossa included among the features of the multiple basal cell naevi syndrome. Presumably condensation has also resulted in the omission of captions to the plates, so that it is necessary to refer to the text to identify features in the illustrations. Perhaps italicisation of the relevant parts of the text might be considered in future editions. The reviewer began with admiration, and continued with criticism. He concludes by repeating his admiration, and recommending this book as of great assistance to postgraduate students, particularly those reading for special diplomas in oral surgery. JOHN RAYNR
Operating Theatre Technique. By R. J. BRIGDEN. London: Pp. 698. 1974. Price E12.50.
Churchill
Livingstone.
This book is intended as a reference manual for all personnel concerned with modern operating theatres, and their day-to-day running and organisation. It falls into three parts. The first and most valuable section deals adequately with the practical aspects of modern techniques of sterilisation; the principles of anaesthesia; and the care and maintenance of electrical and surgical equipment. Nursing and technical staff will find much valuable information in these chapters. The remaining sections of the book are less helpful. The centre section is devoted to brief descriptions of operative procedures together with lists of the appropriate instruments. Although a useful reference source for a newly-appointed theatre nurse, no allowance is made for the individual preferences of a surgeon, and certain chapters are very inadequate. The third and final section consists of 107 pages illustrating surgical instruments. These can be found in all instrument manufacturers catalogues and with present production costs could well have been omitted. A useful colour appendix The chief appeal of the book will be to illustrates the coding of medical gas cylinders. operating theatre technicians. Its merits are not sufficient to warrant an individual purchase, but it should find a place in all theatre superintendents’ reference libraries. J. F. TOWERS
Functional Anatomy of The Digestive System. By R. M. H. MCMINN and M. H. HOBDELL. London: Pitman Medical. Pp. 239 1974. Price ;lIz.go. The authors preface this book by stating ‘Our aim has been to establish some correlation between gross anatomy, structure, and function by including in this basically anatomical volume some account of structure and function’. The authors, one being a Professor of Human and Comparative Anatomy to the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the other a Senior Research Fellow in the Experimental Dental Care project of The London Hospital Medical College, have combined their interests well. The result is a readable, inexpensive, but well-presented book. The authors cover the anatomy, development and the basic physiology of the Each section, preceded by a useful summary, digestive system in a very clear manner.
BOOK REVIEWS
105
deals with individual parts of the tract. The chapters deal with each region from the mouth to the large intestine, and the last three chapters include good summaries of the liver, biliary tract and the pancreas. The illustrations are produced in line form with no colouring, which must have helped to reduce the cost. They are generally of a high standard. Sometimes, however, the authors have overlabelled diagrams. One particular diagram which appears formidable is Fig. 2.18, showing a horizontal section at the level of the ascending ramus of the mandible. This half-page diagram is covered by no less than thirty-eight labels. To be noted are the nerve tract diagrams, which are very well presented. The photomicrographs are of a reasonable standard for the price of the book. This book, which could form the first of a very useful series, is to be recommended. It is an excellent introduction to the subject for preclinical undergraduates and as a revision book for all. E. S. NASH
Restorative Procedures for the Practising Dentist. Edited by F. J. HARTY and D. H. ROBERTS. Bristol: Wright. 1974. Pp. 458. Price k11.00. This is the first edition of a new book on all branches of restorative dentistry. All the contributors are full or part-time members of the Institute of Dental Surgery or the Eastman Dental Hospital in London. This volume really consists of twenty-nine separate articles by these contributors, and in this respect follows a parallel format to the well-known series ‘Dental Clinics of North America’. It is, however, a much larger book and on a much more practical basis than the usual ‘Dental Clinics’ articles. The title of Restorative Procedures for the Practising Dentist is in some ways a misnomer for one could be misled into believing that this was a book on what is commonly called restorative dentistry. The word restorative here is taken in a much wider context and includes surgical endodontics, implants, partial and full dentures. Aspects of childrens dentistry, periodontal and orthodontic procedures having an application in restoring the dentition are also included. This is really a first class revision book for all dentists, especially those in general practice. Its aims are to concentrate on recent advancements in each field and to detail changes in technique which might modify chairside practice. Each chapter has a list of references for further reading. In any book of this kind there is of course a tendency for each individual author to stress his own pet system which obviously works best in his own hands but omits other methods which are in well known current use. The chapter on post crowns for instance devotes nearly six pages illustrating the Wiptam technique largely developed by the author. This is a good and inexpensive method of making posts but only a few lines are devoted to screw retained post crowns. These are presumably the Kurer posts but are not mentioned as such, and no reference at all is made to the Mooser and Shenker systems which are probably the best now available. It is a pity, too, that there could not have been continuity of reporting on commercially available products by name. Mr John McLean gives most helpful comparative details on dental materials, but a few chapters further on in an article on pulp preservation a liquid cement is the subject of a paragraph and there is no means of knowing what it is. However, the only real fault of this volume is that some chapters are far too short. To cover occlusion in thirteen pages for both crown and bridgework and dentures is an impossible task. An outstanding chapter is perhaps the one by Dr L. W. Kay; it is a succinct guide to dental pain and its possible cause and treatment compressed into twenty five pages. This chapter and the majority of the book is immensely useful and no dentist whether
BRITISH JOURNAL OF ORAL SURGERY
nor club-shaped ramifications could be perceived in the plates intended to illustrate actinomycosis (Figs. II and 12), and delicate fibrils characteristic of nerve tissue could not be distinguished from collagen fibrils in Fig. 132, illustrating a neurofibroma. A scattering of typographical errors and idiosyncrasies of idiom mar an erudite text, and it is hoped that these would be eliminated in a future edition, together with incorrect numbering of plates. Condensation of the text has been carried out sensibly, and no gross omissions were discovered, although it would have been nice to see abnormalities of the pituitary fossa included among the features of the multiple basal cell naevi syndrome. Presumably condensation has also resulted in the omission of captions to the plates, so that it is necessary to refer to the text to identify features in the illustrations. Perhaps italicisation of the relevant parts of the text might be considered in future editions. The reviewer began with admiration, and continued with criticism. He concludes by repeating his admiration, and recommending this book as of great assistance to postgraduate students, particularly those reading for special diplomas in oral surgery. JOHN RAYNR
Operating Theatre Technique. By R. J. BRIGDEN. London: Pp. 698. 1974. Price E12.50.
Churchill
Livingstone.
This book is intended as a reference manual for all personnel concerned with modern operating theatres, and their day-to-day running and organisation. It falls into three parts. The first and most valuable section deals adequately with the practical aspects of modern techniques of sterilisation; the principles of anaesthesia; and the care and maintenance of electrical and surgical equipment. Nursing and technical staff will find much valuable information in these chapters. The remaining sections of the book are less helpful. The centre section is devoted to brief descriptions of operative procedures together with lists of the appropriate instruments. Although a useful reference source for a newly-appointed theatre nurse, no allowance is made for the individual preferences of a surgeon, and certain chapters are very inadequate. The third and final section consists of 107 pages illustrating surgical instruments. These can be found in all instrument manufacturers catalogues and with present production costs could well have been omitted. A useful colour appendix The chief appeal of the book will be to illustrates the coding of medical gas cylinders. operating theatre technicians. Its merits are not sufficient to warrant an individual purchase, but it should find a place in all theatre superintendents’ reference libraries. J. F. TOWERS
Functional Anatomy of The Digestive System. By R. M. H. MCMINN and M. H. HOBDELL. London: Pitman Medical. Pp. 239 1974. Price ;lIz.go. The authors preface this book by stating ‘Our aim has been to establish some correlation between gross anatomy, structure, and function by including in this basically anatomical volume some account of structure and function’. The authors, one being a Professor of Human and Comparative Anatomy to the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the other a Senior Research Fellow in the Experimental Dental Care project of The London Hospital Medical College, have combined their interests well. The result is a readable, inexpensive, but well-presented book. The authors cover the anatomy, development and the basic physiology of the Each section, preceded by a useful summary, digestive system in a very clear manner.
BOOK REVIEWS
105
deals with individual parts of the tract. The chapters deal with each region from the mouth to the large intestine, and the last three chapters include good summaries of the liver, biliary tract and the pancreas. The illustrations are produced in line form with no colouring, which must have helped to reduce the cost. They are generally of a high standard. Sometimes, however, the authors have overlabelled diagrams. One particular diagram which appears formidable is Fig. 2.18, showing a horizontal section at the level of the ascending ramus of the mandible. This half-page diagram is covered by no less than thirty-eight labels. To be noted are the nerve tract diagrams, which are very well presented. The photomicrographs are of a reasonable standard for the price of the book. This book, which could form the first of a very useful series, is to be recommended. It is an excellent introduction to the subject for preclinical undergraduates and as a revision book for all. E. S. NASH
Restorative Procedures for the Practising Dentist. Edited by F. J. HARTY and D. H. ROBERTS. Bristol: Wright. 1974. Pp. 458. Price k11.00. This is the first edition of a new book on all branches of restorative dentistry. All the contributors are full or part-time members of the Institute of Dental Surgery or the Eastman Dental Hospital in London. This volume really consists of twenty-nine separate articles by these contributors, and in this respect follows a parallel format to the well-known series ‘Dental Clinics of North America’. It is, however, a much larger book and on a much more practical basis than the usual ‘Dental Clinics’ articles. The title of Restorative Procedures for the Practising Dentist is in some ways a misnomer for one could be misled into believing that this was a book on what is commonly called restorative dentistry. The word restorative here is taken in a much wider context and includes surgical endodontics, implants, partial and full dentures. Aspects of childrens dentistry, periodontal and orthodontic procedures having an application in restoring the dentition are also included. This is really a first class revision book for all dentists, especially those in general practice. Its aims are to concentrate on recent advancements in each field and to detail changes in technique which might modify chairside practice. Each chapter has a list of references for further reading. In any book of this kind there is of course a tendency for each individual author to stress his own pet system which obviously works best in his own hands but omits other methods which are in well known current use. The chapter on post crowns for instance devotes nearly six pages illustrating the Wiptam technique largely developed by the author. This is a good and inexpensive method of making posts but only a few lines are devoted to screw retained post crowns. These are presumably the Kurer posts but are not mentioned as such, and no reference at all is made to the Mooser and Shenker systems which are probably the best now available. It is a pity, too, that there could not have been continuity of reporting on commercially available products by name. Mr John McLean gives most helpful comparative details on dental materials, but a few chapters further on in an article on pulp preservation a liquid cement is the subject of a paragraph and there is no means of knowing what it is. However, the only real fault of this volume is that some chapters are far too short. To cover occlusion in thirteen pages for both crown and bridgework and dentures is an impossible task. An outstanding chapter is perhaps the one by Dr L. W. Kay; it is a succinct guide to dental pain and its possible cause and treatment compressed into twenty five pages. This chapter and the majority of the book is immensely useful and no dentist whether