Tredgold's Mental Retardation

The change of name of this latest edition of 'Mental Deficiency' is welcome, though it hides a confusing inconsistency of terminology throughout the book. Inevitably it is patchy. Best are clinical descriptions of specific pathologies, and contributions on mental development , and, in its own terms, on counselling the family. Useful too are chapters on aetiology, brain development, examination and diagnosis , treatment and training, and educational subnormality. Unfortunately it is very unbalanced. The revision does not always acknowledge changes during the last decade and uses some very old case illustrations. It is written from a hospital base and bias. There seems little awareness of community work and local authority advances. Mental Welfare Officers' work is ignored, though most subnormals live at home and social workers are the foundation of a modern mental health service. (and none contributes) though recent advances have placed diagnosis, assessment, prevention and clinical treatment of mental handicap in children, in his hands. Prevention, and the practical handicaps that cripple many families get little attention.