The Autonomic Nervous System

This is a very good volume and is one of the most im- portant additions to the proliferating literature on muscle diseases.It has none of the disadvantages that has so often marred the publication of proceedings of inter- national congresses.It is especially commendable that it has appeared soon after the meeting, which was held in Milan in May 1969.The communications are concise, well written (in English even though this was not the native language of some contributors), and brimming with sound and enthusiastic investigative activity.Just under 120 papers from close on 240 authors are contained in the volume.Many of the acknowledged leaders in the multifarious aspects of muscle research from many parts of the world are represented.The majority describe new and outstanding research work and there are also a few distinguished authoritative reviews of particular subjects.Perhaps the most remarkable feature is the uniformly high standard of the illustrations, which must reflect the quality and care of the writers, and one suspects the overriding skill of the editors.It is refreshing to be able to pore over the lavish number of ultramicroscopic photographs and easily identify what is tagged below in the figure legends.The opening chapter is by Professor Walton who in an excellent way analyses the cardinal signs and symptoms of muscle disease and describes their value in differential diagnosis.This is a realistic beginning, for so often the importance of precision in bedside diagnosis, as far as that is possible, is overlooked and then even the most basic work on diseased muscle may lose some of its validity.The second chapter is a very lucid and com- prehensive account of current knowledge on myasthenia gravis by Professor Simpson.There follow sections on histology and histochemistry, electron microscopy, electrophysiology, biochemistry, pathology, genetics, endocrinology, and clinical studies.The volume ends with contributions to a round table discussion on correlations between -morphological, metabolic, and functional aspects of developing muscle.Reading through the individual papers is an ex- hilarating and humbling experience.Some very good work,indeed is being carried out all over the world by careful and dedicated people who have also the facility and willingness to communicate their ideas to others.It would be invidious and unjust to single out scientific papers for special comment, but purely from personal interests we found many of the papers on biochemical changes in diseased muscle, on carrier detection, and on steroid myopathy very valuable and provocative.This elegantly produced, expensive (but good value for money) book should be studied with care by all who are engaged in muscle research.The editors deserve our gratitude for bringing an international congress with so many of the world's brains, so quickly onto the laboratory benches of those who could not attend.