Doctors and slaves. A medical and demographic history of slavery in the British West Indies, 1680—1834

and design to publication, together with the system of Home Office licensing and inspection, is described. The latter, it is pointed out, is considerably more rigorous and effective than monitoring of other activities, such as inspection of factories, where considerable human hazard may exist, or other situations where pain and suffering by humans or animals occur. Finally, the author discusses the way in which the balance should be struck between benefit reaching into the future on the one hand and the suffering that may be entailed on the other. In the climate of change and growth that characterizes an open system such as science this point of balance will continually be revised. Perhaps the point chosen, which justifies animal experiments to establish the safety of cosmetics and toiletries, may not be acceptable to all, even though it represents a very small number of experiments. The arguments used in its favour are the perceived blurred margin between preparations prescribed for dermatological use and the large-scale voluntary use of cosmetics and toiletries, together with society's need to protect the careless and foolish. Presumably, the non-lethal Draize test applying these substances to the eye of the rabbit could be translated to (suitably rewarded) human volunteers? The book is to be applauded for its fair and balanced presentation of these important issues, even if the reader may not share all the conclusions drawn. A minor irritation is the system of referencing used, which makes it necessary to look in two separate places to find the original source. History deals with change, sometimes with development; not only should it record facts, but also provoke discussion and stimulate investigation in new areas. Since, as E.H. Carr writes, "History is a social process", the historian seeks to unravel, reveal, and comprehend human behaviour and to share this knowledge with his readers. Medical history must combine this purpose with that of presenting and discussing scientific information. Professor Sheridan has deftly combined the two to produce an important and impressive work. The subject of slave medicine in the American colonies has been receiving well-merited attention; however Doctors and slaves deals with what has long been required-a general picture of slave medicine and demography in the British West Indies between 1680-1834. Professor Sheridan pays particular attention to conditions in Jamaica as the largest and economically most important island, but the other islands and correlating conditions in the American colonies have …