The Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases of the Peripheral Arteries

Within recent years serious attempts have been made to classify and differentiate the various forms of peripheral arterial disease and to clarify the confusion thatexisted in regard to the terminology and pathology of these conditions. In accordance with the opinions of modern workers, Dr. Samuels has given a simple classification: there are two main forms of peripheral arterial disturbance?(1) organic obstructive diseases including thrombo-angiitis obliterans and arteriosclerosis obliterans and (2) vasomotor imbalance comprising conditions such as Raynaud's disease and erythromelalgia. The author begins with the symptoms and signs.. of occlusive arterial diseases in the extremities and then devotes a chapter to oscillometry with practical hints and illustrations. The oscillometer has been preferred to the palpating finger in the examinations of the peripheral arterial pulsations. Next, he has devoted about 150 pages on thrombo-angiitis obliterans with case reports. This is followed by chapters on arteriosclerosis, Raynaud's disease, erythromelalgia and essential thrombophilia. The last-mentioned condition, also known as thrombosing disease, is a new syndrome and is characterized by sudden widespread thrombosis of major arteries and veins of previously healthy subjects. Lastly, the medico-legal aspects of peripheral arterial disease have been briefly discussed. The author has laid stress upon the minute details of treatment especially in connection with thromboangiitis obliterans, but six pages to emphasize thai, smoking is distinctly harmful in peripheral arterial disease appear to be too much for a small monograph, while the relation of tobacco to the disease remains unproved. Paravertebral injection of alcohol as a possible alternative to sympathectomy in the treatment of