A Laboratory Handbook of Blood Transfusion Techniques

figs. 113. 37s. 6d.) Edinburgh and London: E. & S. Livingstone, 1960. BONE and joint tuberculosis in children has almost disappeared, and perhaps we may now expect a similar fall in the incidence of paralytic poliomyelitis. The relative importance of congenital deformities must therefore inevitably rise, and it may even be that, with a falling neonatal mortality, there will be a rise also in the absolute incidence of major congenital defects. Consequently any new book which by its title promises to advance our knowledge of the rtiology and therefore the treatment of congenital deformities must attract the attention of all orthopxdic surgeons; and for this same reason I have found Mr. Gordon's monograph a great disappointment-and an even greater puzzle. It is basically the exposition of a very personal theory centred round a detailed and careful study of congenital dislocation of the hip, and leading on by connecting links of thought which are by no means clear to a discussion of the mechanics of McMurray's osteotomy, the treatment of acute osteomyelitis, the causation of Perthes' disease and slipped upper femoral epiphysis, and the aetiology of cerebral palsy. The book has a dream-like, will-o'-the-wisp quality which leads the reader on through a maze of fact and fancy, always with the promise of a clear conclusion and a practical application, and then-having got him deep into the wood-suddenly disappears. I cannot say that I enjoyed reading it. G. W. B.