Arthur Gerard DeVoe

Fibrous Histiocytoma of the Tarsus

A 21-year-old white man had an asymptomatic eyelid mass that had slowly enlarged for one year. On clinical examination the lesion was well circumscribed; it appeared subconjunctivally but provoked no conjunctival inflammation, and had a consistency suggestive of cartilage. Microscopic examination showed it was matted and composed of elongated fibro-histiocytes and an evenly distributed population of xanthoma cells and Touton giant cells. The lesion was easily removed by local excision because of a pseudocapsule formed by remnants of the tarsus; there has been no recurrence during a 12-month follow-up.

Proceedings of the Centennial Symposium Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, vol 1, Ophthalmology.

This volume represents the contributions of 71 authors at the Centennial Symposium held by the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in June 1968. Although the material will be 2 years old by the time this review appears, most of the material is still fairly up to date. The chief areas presented were concerned with new techniques in medical and surgical management, pediatric ophthalmologic problems, plastic surgery, and complications of intraocular surgery.

Manual of Diseases of the Cornea.

The many confusing disorders which afflict the cornea can be most troublesome not only to the beginning resident but to the clinician who has had experience with the keratopathies. As frequently happens when etiology is obscure, the cornea is particularly susceptible to eponymic classification. The authors, in a valiant attempt to bring some order out of this confusion, have tabulated and briefly described all of the common and most of the uncommon afflictions of the cornea. No attempt has been made to produce an encyclopedic volume and there is little emphasis on therapy, which is planned for another volume. The manual should be most helpful to all clinicians.

Surgery of Ptosis.

I found this a clearly written, well illustrated compendium of ptosis surgery which deserves perusal by all surgeons who try to repair this notoriously unpredictable defect. The authors 30 years of experience in ophthalmic reconstructive work make his remarks worth heeding. The beginning resident will find the surgical drawings particularly helpful as he begins his experience in the operating room, where more often than not his supervisory assistant will have had relatively little experience with the procedure and its complications.

Atlas of External Diseases of the Eye, vol 2, Orbit, Lacrimal Apparatus, Eyelids, and Conjunctiva.

Volume 2 of Dr. Donaldsons comprehensive atlas of stereophotographs of external eye disorders contains 16 reels of full color transparencies effectively demonstrating congenital anomalies, inflammatory diseases, trauma, and neoplastic conditions of the orbit, lacrimal apparatus, lids, and conjunctiva. A short textual description and black and white photograph of each stereo pair greatly enhances the value of this reference volume. Residents and students, particularly, will find the atlas of great value and will envy the photographic skill of the author.

Fractures of the Facial Skeleton

This book is designed primarily for the oral and maxillofacial surgeon, those sections relating to the eye being inserted to describe to such surgeons how the eye and adnexa can be involved in multiple injuries. Chapter 17, however, treats in some detail fractures of the Zygomatico-Maxillary Complex. The ophthalmic surgeon who is interested in trauma will find points of importance, although he may not agree with the authors dislike of alloplastic materials in the repair of orbital floor fractures.

Wolff's Anatomy of the Eye and Orbit.

In the past, anatomy has been considered a rather static discipline, not requiring frequent revisions of textbooks. The rapid advance of electronmicroscopy, however, has altered this concept completely. Although the chief difference between the present edition and the fifth, published in 1961, is the inclusion of electron micrographs, there have been a number of alterations and additions to conform with modern thinking. The basic format of the previous edition has been retained. This book is recommended without reservation for students, residents, and those seeking an anatomical source book.

Atlas of Cryosurgical Techniques in Ophthalmology.

The final status of cryoextraction of the lens and the application of cryotechniques to other forms of ophthalmic surgery is not yet clear. Therefore we welcome comments from those who have had experience. Dr. Kelman, one of the pioneers in this country, has provided an excellent atlas of his own techniques. It should be studied by all attempting cryoextraction for the first time and is worth review even by those who have had considerable experience. Reference is almost entirely to the authors own instrument which many operators find clumsy to use. A comparative analysis of the good and bad features of currently available instruments would have been helpful. Whether or not the use of cryoextraction significantly reduces the number of complications in cataract surgery can not be stated. Dr. Kelman discusses complications which may occur at the operating table but I know of no longterm comparative studies between this and

Cecil-Loeb Textbook of Medicine.

The 12th edition of this textbook, originally edited by Cecil in 1927, then in collaboration with Loeb, and now edited by Beeson and McDermott, maintains its high standards. One hundred and sixty-nine authorities have contributed to this edition, which should be on every ophthalmologists book shelf. Not only are there multiple references to ophthalmic complications of systemic disease, and even rather extensive discussions of such eye diseases as trachoma and inclusion blennorrhea, but also the book serves as a ready reference for current information on most systemic disorders likely to be encountered by the ophthalmologist. A helpful table of normal laboratory values concludes the volume.

Atlas of External Diseases of the Eye: Vol 50. Congenital Anomalies and Systemic Diseases.

Most ophthalmologists, either at meetings or on visits to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, have had occasion to marvel at Dr. Donaldsons beautiful stereoscopic slides of clinical disorders. In the first of a series of volumes, he has assembled an explanatory text and miniaturized reproductions of representative external diseases of the eye. These are colored stereo-transparencies to be seen in a collapsible viewer incorporated in the volume. Although these reduced copies cannot compare with the originals either in detail or color quality, we are delighted to have Dr. Donaldsons beautiful and instructive photographs made more generally available. We are looking forward to the publication of additional volumes.