A User's Guide to the Diagnostic Virology Laboratory

reports do not differentiate between rarely used woods which commonly cause irritation and commonly used woods which irritate only a small portion of users. The author describes various symptoms and signs which may arise following wood contact and gives a concise explanation of cell-mediated delayed hypersensitivity. Wood chemistry of terpenes, catechols, quinones, alkaloids, and other toxic compounds (commonly found in woods desired for their resistance to termites or marine borers) is reviewed, with a good description of testing skin for sensitivity to sample extracts. The author makes no attempt to provide a comprehensive manual for botanical identification, but nevertheless includes an adequate number of botanical and common names. The best part of the book is a systematic listing of 77 wood groups which summarizes common uses, chemistry, and associated disease manifestations. In this well-referenced section, ebony was associated with " . . . a case of very severe irritation of the nose mucosa produced by sawdust put into the snuff of a worker as a joke." Concerning mansonia, "In Switzerland, 400 pigs died due to severe skin lesions and other symptoms after being kept for some weeks on bedding of mansonia wood shavings." (Whether dead Swiss pigs are capable of having "symptoms" is a minor point.) The word "toxic" is derived from "taxus," which is the genus name for yew wood and its associated terpene chemicals. I personally became interested in harmful woods when I came into contact with exotic imported lumbers as a custom knifemaker. Other woodcraftsmen would relay rumors of the toxicity of my rosewood, cocobolo, or desert ironwood handles, but I could find little information of the subject. Therefore, this book would be very helpful to the woodworker or lumber salesman. It is a valuable resource for natural product chemists, foresters, pulp engineers, doctors, and immunologists.