Vistas in Connective Tissue Diseases

each excellent paper there is a discussion by the very distinguished members of the study group. The reviewer is, as might be surmised, in favor of disease-orientated research, believing that the application of basic science to clinical problems is the essence of modern medicine. He also believes that conferences such as this provide an opportunity for a valuable exchange of ideas. Unfortunately , however, the mechanically recorded transcript of such a conference does not, even after editing, necessarily lead to the production of a coherent book. The material presented here could be, and generally has been, more effectively presented in various specialty journals. The discussions contain many penetrating remarks, a number of unamplified references to other research, a few rash statements, a few non sequiturs, and very little continuity. Anyone not actively involved in current research in the field would find these discussions difficult to follow. While the reviewer found the book both entertaining and instructive, he would hesitate to recommend it to a medical student or a physician who simply wanted to learn something about cystic fibrosis. This book is a collection of eleven papers dealing with selected topics related to rheumatology. The authors are clinical and laboratory investigators who discuss their own areas of research. The intent of this monograph is clever-stimulation of bright young physicians with an investigative bent to evaluate the field of rheumatic disorders as a possible future career in research. A standard method of proselytizing is for a rheuma-tology center (or any sub-specialty center) to sponsor appropriate lectures and symposia. Generally such programs are only local or regional affairs and influence only local individuals. In order to reach the largest pool of bright potential rheumatologists, it is a very sound idea to publish a symposium or a series of lectures such as the present one. The editor and authors have accomplished their first goal with this book: "to acquaint young physicians with the educational and research opportunities.. .. in the broad area of connective tissue diseases. . A second aim of the editor's was "to transmit .... some of the enthusiasm in the intellectual pursuit of this area." This is a most difficult feat to accomplish with the written word, but I believe McCarty succeeded in Chapter 9 where he deals with his quest to unravel the mechanism by which urate crystals produce inflammation in gout. Each essay begins with a concise historical survey …