The History of Dermatology

It is unusual to receive a book for review in which nothing can be found to criticise but, after carefully reading this History of Dermatology, it is impossible to do anything but give it unqualified praise. The book is made up of two hundred and eleven interesting pages. It covers in an accurate, clear, concise and complete manner the history of dermatology from its beginnings down to the present time not, however, including living dermatologists. The history of dermatology is considered in relation to the history of medicine in general which gives the book wider interest than if this relationship were neglected. It is well balanced and the emphasis on the different phases of the development of dermatology and of the personalities represented is well placed. There are numerous well-chosen illustrations. At the end of the book is An Historical Index of Dermatology which adds greatly to its value. In this list practically all the known skin diseases are indexed. The men who first described the diseases are indicated and wherever possible reference is made to recent literature giving information about the first description of the disease and about its describer. No other similar index exists. It is to be hoped that this index may be the start of a book, giving the original descriptions of the more important skin diseases, with brief biographies of their authors. A brief description of Noah Worcester has been included. Except for the bare mention of his name in an article by Ravogli, Worcester, who published the first book on skin diseases in the United States, has been entirely overlooked. This in itself is an important contribution to the history of American dermatology. A more complete description of Worcester will soon be published. This is the first book on the history of dermatology in the English language and there is no similar book in any language. Richter's History of Dermatology in Jadassohn's Handbuch der Haut und Geschlechtskrank-heiten, the most complete history of dermatology that has been published, is invaluable but is too detailed for easy or general reading. Bloch's chapter in Puschmann's Handbuch der Geschichte-der Medicin is an excellent brief consideration of the subject. Aside from these two histories of dermatology there is no modern treatment of the subject available except the scattered notes in various histories of medicine. This book should be read, and if read will be enjoyed, by everyone interested in …