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REVIEW OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY—Twelfth Edition

Article  in  Western Journal of Medicine · October 1977


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Demosthenes Pappagianis
University of California, Davis
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BOOK REVIEWS
REVIEW OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY-Twelfth Edition-Ernest The foregoing criticisms are far outweighed by the
Jawetz, PhD, MD, Professor of Microbiology and Chairman, De- benefits provided by the Reiew of Medical Microbiol-
partment of Microbiology, Professor of Medicine, Lecturer in
Pediatrics, University of California School of Medicine, San Fran- ogy. Drs. Jawetz, Melnick and Adelberg, and Lange
cisco; Joseph L. Melnick, PhD, Distinguished Service Professor of Medical Publications have sustained the high quality
Virology and Epidemiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston;
Edward A. Adelberg, PhD, Professor of Human Genetics, Yale work which continues to yield a fine, practical, up-to-
University School of Medicine, New Haven. Lange Medical Publi- date and reasonably priced textbook.
cations, Drawer L, Los Altos CA (94022), 1976. 542 pages, $10.00.
DEMOSTHENES PAPPAGIANIS, MD, PhD
The new "Jawetz" maintains the familiar format of Department of Medical Microbiology
the previous issues. It commences with a useful and ap- University of California, Davis
propriate discussion of basic microbiology including School of Medicine
the relationship of microorganisms to other groups of * * *
living organisms, structure and physiology, genetics, RECENT ADVANCES IN RHEUMATOLOGY-Part 1: Underlying
antimicrobial substances including disinfectants, germi- Mechanisms of Disease-Part 2: Clinical Features and Treat-
cides and antibiotics. A chapter on bacteriophage is also ment-Edited by W. Watson Buchanan, MD, FRCP, Professor
included in the first quarter of the book. Three concise, of Medicine, Centre for Rheumatic Diseases and University De-
partment of Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow; and W. Carson
well-done chapters are devoted to immunology: host- Dick, MD, MRCP, Honorary Clinical Lecturer, Department of Medi-
parasite relationships, antigens and antibodies, and anti- cine, University of Glasgow, Consultant Physician, Centre for
Rheumatic Diseases and University Department of Medicine, Royal
body- and cell-mediated immune reactions. These are Infirmary, Glasgow. Churchill Livingstone - Medical Division, Long-
followed by ten chapters specifically devoted to patho- man, Inc., 19 West 44th St., New York City (10036), 1976. Part
1: 214 pages, $24.50; Part 2: 218 pages, $24.50.
genic bacteria, one on normal microbial flora of the
body, one on pathogenic fungi (and actinomycetes), a In this attractive brace of volumes, the editors have
chapter on diagnostic medical microbiology, 14 chapters conveniently divided recent basic developments in cer-
on virology, and an appendix on medical parasitology. tain rheumatic diseases from clinical features and treat-
In this 12th edition of the Review of Medical Micro- ment. No attempt has been made to review the entire
biology is once again seen the fine updating characteris- field of rheumatology, as has been done in Volume 19,
tic of its predecessors. I have found this to be an No. 6, Supplemental, of Arthritis and Rheumatism.
extremely useful book but have some recurring con- Rather, the focus has been directed at certain of the
cerns. In some parts, especially in the treatment of most significant advances. Utilizing the skills of a pres-
virology (202 pages), the term "review" in the title is tigious group of contributors, particularly from the
somewhat of a misnomer. While Chapter 27 "General United Kingdom and the United States, the editors
Properties of Viruses" is especially helpful, laying es- have achieved an international flavor.
sential groundwork on classification, replication, patho- In part one, "Underlying Mechanisms of Disease,"
genesis and immunology, and the currentness of infor- chapters are devoted to osteoarthrosis as a state of al-
mation is exemplary; for example, in the chapters on tered physiology (a departure from the hallowed "wear
hepatitis and orthomyxo (influenza) virus, the depth and tear" concept), amyloidosis, dermatomyositis and
of coverage in chapters 30 through 40 is excessive and polymyositis, SLE in man and animals, experimental
out of keeping with the concept of a "review." A evaluation of immunosuppressive drugs in the context
greater selectivity in dealing with the virology would be of connective tissue diseases, pathogenesis of autoim-
appropriate. Occasional other examples of this need can mune diseases, and the role of inflammatory mediators
be cited; for example, there seems little justification in joint inflammation.
for enumerating the alpha through delta hemolysins of Highlighting part two with an excellent selection of
Staphylococcus aureus. plates and figures, the authors and editors discuss the
The section on Pasteurellae (including Yersinia and recent advances in the clinical features and treatment
Francisella) could be improved by dealing separately primarily of rheumatoid arthritis. Chapters are devoted
to drug evaluation, including the latest nonsteroidal
with each specific organism and corresponding disease. antiinflammatory agents as well as those of earlier vin-
Also, it is time for the "Appendix: Medical Parasitology" tage. Two chapters describe the various surgical pro-
to be accorded full status as a chapter. Reduction in cedures available for joints. Ocular hazards in connec-
the number or sizes, or both, of the illustrations of tive tissue disease, including keratoconjunctivitis sicca,
protozoa and helminths (they occupy 11 pages) so that uveitis and scleritis, are discussed with clarity. Of par-
diagrams of some life cycles could be included would ticular importance is the final chapter, which concerns
improve this section. the relationship of the seronegative spondylarthritides
Other minor suggested changes can be offered; for to one of the most exciting developments in rheuma-
example, excision of the actinomycetes from the chapter tology-the histocompatibility antigen HLA-B27.
on pathogenic fungi, inclusion of Bacteroides in Table Both of these volumes are well organized and written.
3-1 (principal groups of bacteria), placement of spec- Although basic research scientists might find the dis-
tinomycin (an aminocyclitol) nearer the somewhat re- cussions rather simplified, those engaged primarily in
lated other aminocyclitol (aminoglycoside) antibiotics; clinical rheumatology will welcome this approach. Part
and the connection between metachromatic granules of two should prove especially rewarding also to general
corynebacteria (p. 192) and polyphosphate (volutin) physicians, orthopedic surgcons and students. Minor
(p. 9) should be made. and unimportant negative criticisms would include the
One concern expressed to me by medical students is presence of fairly frequent typographical errors and the
that the Review of Medical Microbiology is difficult to practice of some of the authors liberally to intersperse
read perhaps because of inclusion of so much informa- their sentences with the names of all cited references.
tion squeezed into a relatively small space and print. In their zeal to give full credit, the contributors some-
Careful editing with attachment of an appendix as a times impair the free flow of syntax. In sum, however,
repository of the detail such as that cited above in con- these volumes are highly recommended.
nection with the virology section could enhance its use- RALPH W. SCHAFFARZICK, MD
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine
fulness and readability. Stanford University School of Medicine

368 OCTOBER 1977 * 127 * 4

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