Abstract
Dr. Alan Gregg, Rockefeller Foundation, in his interest- ing preface says: "Living creatures possess three basic char- acteristics or capacities growth, adaptation and reproduc- tion. In human biology, the reproductive function has been the least and last studied, scientifically. To the National Research Council's Committee for Research on Problems of Sex belongs the credit for sponsoring a more significant series of research studies on sex that has been accomplished perhaps by any other agency. Among these studies the find- ings of Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey and his associates at Indiana University deserve attention for their extent, their thorough- ness, and their dispassionate objectivity. Doctor Kinsey has studied sex phenomena of human beings as a biologist would examine biological phenomena, and the evidence he has secured is presented from the scientist's viewpoint with- out moral bias or prejudice derived from current taboos. "Certainly no aspect of human biology in our current civilization stands in more need of scientific knowledge and courageous humility than that of sex. The history of medi- cine proves that in so far as man seeks to know himself and face his whole nature, he has become free from bewildered fear, despondent shame or arrant hypocrisy. As long as sex is dealt with in the current confusion of ignorance and sophistication, denial and indulgence, suppression and stimu- lation, punishment and exploitation, secrecy and display, it will be associated with a duplicity and indecency that lead neither to intellectual honesty nor human dignity. "These studies are sincere, objective, and determined ex- plorations of a field manifestly important to education, medicine, government and the integrity of human conduct generally." This book contains the most extensive and most signifi- cant study of human sexual behavior ever to be made. It answers or clarifies an almost innumerable number of sex behavior questions that have been asked for centuries past. It is of interest to everyone in the medical field. Diseases of the Joints and Rheumatism. By Kenneth Stone, D.M. (Oxon.), M.R.C.P., Honorary Physician, B.R.C.S. Clinic for Rheumatism, Peto Place, London; Physician, B.R.C.S. Clinic for Rheumatism and Physical Treatment, Kensington. Formerly Senior Demonstrator of Pathology and Rose Research Fellow, St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Cloth. Price, $6.50. Pp. 362, with 57 illustrations. Grune and Stratton, 381 Fourth Avenue, New York 16, 1947. The subject matter in this book is presented in two parts: the first dealing with diseases of the joints, and the second with the so-called "non-articular rheumatic diseases an ill-defined group of painful somatic disorders, denoted by the word 'rheumatism,' when used as a word of common speech." There are three chapters on vagotonic muscular rheumatism and chapters on fibrositis and some painful disorders of the back and limb girdles. In the three chapters on muscular rheumatism facts are woven together by a hypothesis not yet experimentally verified, one indeed of which the experimental testing would involve very difficult experiments. Although many joint troubles are local manifestations of a general disease, diagnosis and treatment are largely guided by examination of the joint itself. A painful knee is a very different problem from a painful shoulder even if caused by the same pathological process. The later chapters of Book I are devoted to a consideration of the several joints of the body giving essential details of anatomy, describing 93 how to examine the joint, and reviewing, from the aspect of differential diagnosis and local treatment, the disorders from which it is apt to suffer. Several chapters present points of great interest to physi cians. This is shown in the following statement in the chapter on "How to Examine Joints": "If every movement is restricted we are most probably dealing with arthritis or with some gross mechanical interference with movement; if even one movement is perfectly free, the joint is almost certainly free from arthritis." The chapter "Rest and Movement" should be read by every physical therapist. The headings will indicate its interest: Sprain of the ankle joint, pathology, orthodox treatment, modern treatment by novacaine injection and immediate weight bearing, treatment of residual stiffness. The author says: "A blend of rest and movement is the basis of treatment for all inflammed joints and for all peri- articular inflammation with but one or two exceptions. All other local treatment is of secondary importance." A con- tinuation of the headings will continue to show the chap- ter's interest: When rest must predominate, when movement must predominate, joint stiffness after immobilization, treatment by exercise-three degrees of active movement, danger of uncontrolled passive stretching, controlled passive stretching permissible, difference between passive stretch- ing and manipulation, applications of the principle of rest and movement. The observations on massage are interesting. "There is no evidence that massage alone will permanently improve the nutrition or increase the power of a muscle. There is, in fact, no scientific evidence that massage does anything which were not better done by muscular activity; although many efforts have been made to determine its biological effect. Apparently there are none which can be revealed in the laboratory, other than some increase in lymph and capillary circulation. But we cannot be unconcerned by the testimony of hundreds of thousands of patients, that mas sage relieves stiff sore muscles, relaxes spasm, brings a sense of comfort and improves voluntary effort. It has indeed been shown, with Mosso's ergograph, that massage tempo- rarily increases the power of a muscle to do work. And, in practice, any masseuse will have noticed instances of lower limb muscles being so weakened that the patient is just unable to lift the heel from the bed, whereas after ten to fifteen minutes of massage he can do so with comparative ease, maintaining the raised posture for an appreciable: time." Elementary Physics. By Howard O. Stearns, Associate Pro- fessor of Physics, Simmons College. Cloth. Price, $4.75. Pp. 354, profusely illustrated. The Macmillan Company, 60 Fifth Avenue, New York 11, 1947. As the author states this is an elementary text on Medical Physics. While the author presents a rather limited field of physics as related to the field of medicine, it is a step in the right direction and forward. The book should be of value especially to nurses, physical therapists and to those medical students who wish to review their physics with a minimum of effort. The subject matter is well presented and easily read, and there is no lack of diagrams to aid in clarifying the subject matter. The book is divided into six parts. Part one deals with mechanics; part two with heat; part three with wave motion and sound; part four with electricity and magnetism; part five with X-Rays and atomic phenomena; while part six is devoted to a discus- sion of light. There is an excellent appendix of useful information and a good bibliography for further study. The author has done a limited but a good job, and one hopes he will be encouraged to make further progress in this direction in the near future.
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