Rodney C. Jung

Antibiotics and Chemotherapy. Volume 30: Antiparasitic Chemotherapy

This is the 30th volume of Antibiotics of Chemotherapy, the 27th through 29th having been on Virus Chemotherapy, Cancer Chemotherapy and Kaposis Sarcoma, respectively. In an introductory statement the volume editor explains that the present volume is intended to serve as a source of information on human parasitoses which have received inadequate attention. In fact, the 11 chapters deal with the more important human parasitoses and include, as one might expect, the parasitoses which are usually among those discussed in any symposium with similar limitations as to available space. The topic conspicuous by its absence is schistosomiasis. The editor explains that the papers to cover schistosomiasis and distome fluke infections were not submitted in time and will appear in forthcoming issues of the journal “Chemotherapy.” This is unfortunate since there have been important recent developments in the treatment of fluke infections. Each topic appears as a separate article by distinguished authors known to be expert in their respective fields.

Snake Venom Poisoning: by Findlay E. Russell. 576 pages, illustrated. Published by J. B. Lippincott, East Washington Sq., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19105. 1980.

This is an interesting book designed for physicians and written in a humorous style by a physician. Every conceivable aspect of the topic is covered, most of practical value, but some merely of interest. As in other books on poisonous snakes there is a discussion of the phylogeny, structure and identification of poisonous snakes. This is aided by an excellent collection of black and white photographs of the North American species, with maps to show the distribution. Reproduction of these photographs is very clear although the offset method of printing results in lack of resolution in photographs of scenes. More unusual in a book of this type is a chapter on the behavior of North American venomous snakes. This could be of practical value in some instances by providing information helping to prevent exposure to poisonous snakebite, but mostly it is just interesting background information.

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In the tropics one is impressed with the great variety of living things. This remarkable characteristic applies not only to plant and animal species but also to skin diseases. While the medical practitioner or researcher in the tropics might like to have conveniently nearby a dermatologist for consultation, rarely is one available, and one must depend instead on a search, usually vain, for specific etiologic agents in culture or section and on a much thumbed textbook of dermatology with plenty of pictures. How difficult it sometimes is to be sure that the selected picture really represents the disease presented by the patient. Cutaneous Medicine is a textbook designed for the beginner in dermatology. It stresses the basic mechanisms and broad classifications of skin diseases. It thus impresses the reviewer as being just as useful to the physician dabbling in dermatology as to the embryo dermatologist.In clear, concise fashion it provides a guide not only to the understanding of skin disease but also to the information which the amateur should obtain for satisfactory identification.