226 BRITISH JOURNAL OF PLASTIC SURGERY

C l i n i c a l S u r g e r y . Genera l E d i t o r s : CHARLES ROB and RODNEY SMITH. V o l u me 4

" Plast ic Su rge ry . " Consu l t an t E d i t o r : R. J. V. BATTLE. Pp . 336, w i th 132

i l lustrat ions. ( L o n d o n : But te rwor ths . 1965. ) £4 . IOS. per vo lume, par t o f a s ixteen

vo lume major work, vo lumes no t sold s e p a r a t e l y - - a t p resen t .

Clinical aspects of plastic surgery have been divided into fourteen chapters, each written by a British author selected by the consultant editor for his special knowledge and experience of his subject. This work is a comprehensive and authoritative survey of clinical plastic surgery. Rich in description of practical considerations and amply cross-referenced to the volume on " Operative Surgery " by the same General Editors, it also provides references, 449 in all, to a wide range of current literature. It is beautifully produced in elegant binding and it is an example of excellent typography. Only one printer's error is noted : Figure lO3, on page 263, should read " Fig. IOZ." On page 256, " McGill " should be " Magill." There ought to be agreement between authors that " tracheostomy" is correct for the operation some describe as " tracheotomy." It is difficult to know which is tile length and which the breadth of a skin flap.

Some variation in the standard of presentation is inescapable where there are fifteen contributors. It is perhaps invidious to select chapters for special mention where the overall standard is so high ; some must have qualities different to others. The outstanding survey on Burns by A. J. Evans, Tumours by G. M. Fitzgibbon and D. C. Bodenham, and the chapter on General Principles and the Treatment of Scars by Michael Tempest demand special attention. The whole is written concisely but clearly, but clarity is occasionally sacrificed in the interest of brevity. Some authors wander from their subjects to introduce their views on matters covered elsewhere. The index could be more comprehensive with advantage. The uninitiated may occasionally be puzzled by what might be termed plastic jargon, for want of a better term : but the Consultant Editor prefaces that " no surgeon can become any kind of a specialist simply by reading a book." The chapter on " Fractures of the Facial Skeleton," by Richard Dawson, displays a particular emphasis on the use of skeletal pins and screws. It may be overlooked that the author observes that some of these methods are suitable for emergency use where there is not time for " proper dental silver splints to be made." On page 243 the expression " soft tissue fractures of the face " requires elucidation as a post- operative complication. This chapter has only one reference and that is to a relatively minor technical achievement : it could be enriched by wider references in conformity with the generous standard of the remainder of the book.

These constructive observations should not detract from the stature of this work : it is a great achievement and, if there is occasionally some fluctuation in opinion between contributors on the application of different methods, this is an indication of the spread of the speciality and variation of individual experiences. It is the more valuable that the Consultant Editor, seemingly, has not cloaked such discrepancies of opinion, for plastic surgery is revealed as incapable of standardisation in its application to clinical problems.

Volume 4 of this impressive work will take its place in it with a pride which is fully justified. It will prove most reliable as a guide to the better study and comprehension of all that is plastic surgery. It is indicative of the wide range of the speciality and of its vigorous response to the rapidly increasing possibilities and needs of the modern age. It is encouraging to learn from the publishers that " Volume 4 may soon be sold separately at about £4. I7S. 6d." ; that is, when the subscription issue is satisfied. All the authors, the Consultant Editor and the publisher are to be congratulated on this splendid and valuable contribution to surgery. The pioneers of British plastic surgery would have been proud indeed to have seen this book.

G. H. M.

Angewandte und Topographisehe Anatomie. By Professor D r G. TONDURY. Pp . 657,

wi th 499 i l lustrat ions. (S tu t tgar t : Georg Th i eme . 1965. ) D M . 88.

The third edition of any textbook signifies to some extent the popularity and worth of the publication. This textbook of anatomy is no exception. It is well illustrated and presents the applied and topographical anatomy of the whole body. Where advantageous, radiographs supplement the line drawings, many in colour, of dissections. The standard of all illustrations is extremely high. A comprehensive bibliography is appended. An English translation would obviously enhance the value of this book, but as there are so many excellent publications which are similar in presentation the reception of this particular book would be purely speculative. There is, however, much of interest in the scope covered and the method of presentation is extremely good.

W. D. M.