R E V I E W S A N D N O T I C E S O F B O O K S 235 Smooth-muscle tumours of the alimentary tract are

rare tumours, yet they are not so rare as to deserve neglect by the medical profession.

The commonest place to find smooth-muscle tumours is the stomach and the small intestine, although these tumours may arise in any portion of the alimentary tract. I t is interesting to note that 60 per cent arise outside the stomach. These tumours are found most commonly during middle age.

The authors consider that the great majority of leiomyosarcomas arise de nouo and not from pre-existing leiomyomas. It is unfortunate that from one-quarter to one-third of leiomyosarcomas have metastasized by the time of operation. Quite 5 to 7 per cent of the tumours which occur above the rectum recur. These tumours should be dealt with as any other malignant tumour of the gut-namely, by wide excision.

The authors have certainly performed a great service to the medical profession by making their studies on this subject available.

An interesting reference volume.

Tumours of the Breast. By MAX CUTLER, M.D. 10 x 7 In. Pp. 482, with 236 illustrations. 1962. London: Pitman Medical Publishing Co. Ltd. E7 10s.

IT was just over thirty years ago that Dr. Max Cutler collaborated with Sir Lenthal Cheatle in the publication of a book called Tumours of the Breast. This book was widely read and most surgeons of to-day still have it in their library for ready reference.

Dr. Max Cutler’s new book, although on the same subject, contains over thirty years’ careful study of over ten thousand clinical records of diseases of the breast. Surely few surgeons can produce such an extensive survey of clinical material. As one would expect, the illustrations in this volume are excellent and well chosen.

The bibliography is extensive and complete and the index of authors comprehensive.

In this book the author has tried to give the reader a better understanding of the natural history of cancer of the breast.

The Middle Years. By ALBERT SHARMAN, M.D., D.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.C.O.G. 7 f x 4 f in. Pp. 72. 1962. Edinburgh: E. & S. Livingstone Ltd. 6s. 6d.

IN the preface Dr. Sharman states that “the objects of this book are to give an account of the whole subject of the menopause and the ‘change of life’ in language which should be easily understood by women of reasonable intelligence and education”. He has succeeded in his task and his little book should be of help to intelligent women passing through that particular physiological period. Possibly a simple diagram might make the anatomical description (p. 7) clearer to a lay person.

Diagnosis in Clinical Obstetrics. By G. GORDON LENNON, Ch.M., F.R.C.O.G., M.M.S.A., Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Bristol. With a Section on “The Newborn” by A. V. NEALE, M.D., D.P.H., F.R.C.P., Professor of Child Health, University of Bristol. 8 f x 5 Q in. Pp. 366, with 187 illustrations. 1962. Bristol: John Wright & Sons Ltd. 45s.

IN every branch of medicine the two things which really matter are diagnosis and treatment, and treatment may be of little real value if the diagnosis is not correct.

Professor Gordon Lennon is to be congratulated on this excellent book, which should prove of real value to students for it provides a very definite help in their study of clinical obstetrics. To-day there seems to be a lack of clinical acumen which was present in our clinical teachers of half a century ago. The author has tried to correct this, and, as a result of his experience in examining

students, he appreciates that there is a lack of knowledge of normality shown by students in ordinary obstetric practice. This book, written in a lucid, simple style, will prove of real value to students and midwives.

Professor Neale has written an interesting chapter on “The Newborn”. The book is very well produced, and illustrations are excellent. The price is most moderate for these days.

Injuries of the Knee Joint. By I. S. SMILLIE, O.B.E.,Ch.M., F.R.C.S. (Ed.), F.R.F.P.S., Lecturer- in-Charge, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of St. Andrews. Third edition. 9% x 64 in. Pp. 536, heavily illustrated. 1962. Edinburgh: E. & S. Livingstone Ltd. k 4 10s.

THE third edition of this well-known monograph has been considerably rewritten and some new illustrations make their appearance.

The author speaks with authority on the subject of miniscectomy, for he has the records of 5000 operations.

The conservative treatment of osteochondritis dissecans is well described and many useful pictures showing the operative procedure of nailing the bony plaque into position are included in the text.

There is an excellent chapter on the treatment of the stiff knee.

Smillie on the knee-joint will continue to be as popular as ever with both students and practitioners.

Diseases of Muscle. By RAYMOND D. ADAMS, M.D., D. DENNY-BROWN, M.D., D.Phil., LL.D. (Hon.), F.R.C.P., and CARL M. PEARSON, M.D. Second edition. 9 f x 6 in. Pp. 736, with 438 illustrations. 1962. London: Henry Kimpton. A;8 5s.

THE second edition of this large and important work will be welcomed by a large proportion of the medical public because to-day muscle injury is all too common; muscular dystrophies, muscle tumours, muscle atrophies, and congenital defects of skeletal muscles are of interest to all clinicians.

This work was first published less than ten years ago and was at once acknowledged to be the world reference volume on muscle pathology. This new second edition has been very thoroughly revised and in part rewritten and it contains a wealth of information. The illustrations, especially the photomicrographs, are excellent.

Not only will the students of neurology and pathology find this work of value, but all pathologists, neurologists, and orthopaedic surgeons will require it as a reference volume. An excellent production.

Les Thromboses Splkno-Portales. By ANDRI! PARAF and JACQUES CHALUT. 1osx7f in. Pp. 198, with 35 illustrations. 1962. Paris : L‘Expansion Scientifique Francaise. 28 N.F.

THIS text is an excellent monograph on the problem of spleno-portal thromboses. The authors present a total of 106 cases, wherein 54 of them are from Dr. Caroli’s service at Saint-Antoine Hospital in Paris. After a brief preliminary discussion of the anatomy of the portal system and its radiological findings in the diseased, a thorough presentation is made of the aetiology of the spleno-portal thromboses. This discussion consists of 15 chapters, making the main bulk of the book.

The book ends with a short chapter on the treatment and prognosis of spleno-portal thrombosis.

The editing of the book is meticulous, with illustrations printed on glossy paper. The paper binding, however, lacks durability which a cloth binding would have provided.

This treatise is of great value as a reference on the clinical study of the aetiology of spleno-portal thromboses and should interest the internist and the abdominal surgeon as well.