The Craft of Surgery

neurosurgery peripherally such as general house officers, neuroradiologists, neurologists, and pathologists. He admittedly does not attempt to be comprehensive but does cover all important aspects of the subject and provides a capsule view of conditions encountered frequently. Important areas are given expanded and up-to-date treatment, and modern trends in diagnosis including brain scanning and neuroradiology are amply covered. Points of practical interest to nonsurgeons such as diagnostic and postoperative problems are also stressed. Neurosurgical emergencies and other urgent procedures are presented in enough detail to be of value to other physicians who encounter such problems in a general surgical or emergency unit. Principle physiological processes useful in understanding signs and symptoms of intracranial problems are presented in a lucid and concise fashion. The treatment of more common conditions such as intracranial infection and other compli¬ cations encountered in neurosurgery are well covered. Not enough atten¬ tion is paid to other situations that may be confused with postoperation hemorrhage or edema such as water intoxication, toxi-metabolic encepha¬ lopathy, and subclinical seizures. As a survey for the nonneurosurgeon this is a successful book and will be appreciated by its readers for its clear style. For neurosurgeons in training it would be of greater value with a more extensive bibliography, not only of current approaches but of older basic works. The book compares favorably with similar available texts but is more current and easi¬ ly readable. NICHOLAS T. ZERVAS, MD Boston