BOOK REVIEWS 225

P L A S T I C S U R G E O N S O F T H E M E D I T E R R A N E A N

Organised by the Sociedad Espafiola de Cirugia Plfistica y Reparadora (Spanish Society o f Plastic and Recons t ruc t ive Surgery) under the Pres idency of D r B. Vi lar -Sancho, the " Pr imera Reun i6n de Cirujanos Plfisticos del Med i t e r r aneo " (Firs t Mee t i ng o f Plastic Surgeons o f the Medi t e r ranean) will be he ld in Valencia be tween 9th and Io th June 1965, and all plast ic surgeons o f the Med i t e r r anean countr ies are cordially invi ted to this meet ing.

Fo r in format ion in this connect ion please wri te to the Delegate o f the Meet ing , D r Vicente Mi rabe t Ippol i to , Cal le de Isabel la Cat61ica, No . 19, Valencia, 4, Spain.

BOOK REVIEWS

Dupuytren's Contraeture. By J. T . HUESTON, M.S . , F . R . C . S . E . , F .R .A.C .S . Pp. viii + 123, wi th 62 i l lustrations. (Ed inburgh and L o n d o n : E. & S. L iv ings tone

L td . 1963. ) 32s. 6d.

Dupuytren's contracture has been a surgical and pathological enigma since the condition was first recognised over one hundred and fifty years ago. Many aspects remain obscure and the results of treatment often fall short of what the surgeon would like to achieve. This book reviews the advances in our understanding of Dupuytren's contracture since Skoog's well-known monograph was published in 1948. The author includes an analysis of his own cases and presents his views on pathology and treatment. The pathological aspects are discussed in considerable detail and the author supports the concept that the primary lesion is in the fibro-fatty tissue immediately anterior to the palmar aponeurosis. Many patients will be grateful for the excellent chapter on the principles of management in which sound advice is given on the selection of the right operation for the right patient. A limited fasciectomy is regarded as the operation of choice except for those patients in whom a fasciotomy is desirable. The emphasis is placed on the correction of the deformity and only the obviously abnormal tissue is removed. The operative technique is described in detail for the common types of contracture but further information would be helpful in the more complicated and extensive forms of the disease. A large number of up-to-date references are given.

The production of the book and the quality of the illustrations are well up to the high standard expected from the House of Livingstone. This book should be read by all surgeons concerned with the treatment of Dupuytren's contracture and it should be available in the library of all general hospitals.

A. C. B.

Intersexuality in Vertebrates including M a n . By C. N. ARMSTRONG and A. J.

MARSHALL. Pp. 479. (London and N e w York : Academic Press. 1964.) 9os.

Technical developments in the field of cytogenetics during the past few years have been responsible for major advances in our knowledge and to some extent in our understanding of the problems of intersex~ in man especially. This book provides a timely review of many aspects of the subject, bringing together a vast amount of new facts and fresh interpretations.

The editors, who themselves each contribute a chapter, are supported by nine other authors, British, American and Australian. Dr Armstrong writes with authority and from very extensive experience on Intersexuality in Man. The largest chapter, however, is that devoted to Chromosome Deviations and Sex in Vertebrates, written by R. A. Beatty. In this he provides a comprehensive and detailed description of the disorganisation of chromosomal mechanisms suspected or known to be responsible for the state of intersex in many species, including man. Fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are each considered in separate chapters, and a final chapter is devoted to psychiatric aspects of intersexuality. This will be particularly welcome to many, both within and without the field of psychiatry, who are confronted by the necessity for reaching decisions and giving advice to patients with problems of behaviour bearing on their sex.

The scope of the book is so relatively wide that few individuals will find a use for all of it, but most doctors, and many others working in the biological and social sciences and even in law, will find it invaluable as a work of reference.

J. S.