Cellular Aspects of Immunity

was later verified principally by others. One may note his theories of the relationship of viruses to cancer as an example: Viruses may cause cancer by making cells unresponsive to normal control mechanisms, or possibly, by transducing abnormal genes from one cell to another or, perhaps, the so-called cancer viruses may actually be abnormal genetic material derived from the first host. The preface to the second edition is dated November 1959 but in the text mention is made of the revision of some portions having been completed in 1958. References to studies published through 1958 are reasonably complete but 1959 references are largely confined to Australian work. Such a delay seems moderate in view of the time required for transit of journals to and from Australia. In addition to the new material in this edition, a certain amount of judicious pruning has been carried out to remove some material that was of limited importance. Like the first edition, the second is a stimulating and valuable book, yet it has fallen somewhat short of the high standard that had been set. Every chapter has been revised but the revisions tend to be superficial and occasionally incomplete. For instance, the revolutionary studies on infectious nucleic acids are only alloted one page and the unusual association of varicella virus with its host cell in tissue culture is not mentioned. The early retrospective data on congenital defects due to rubella are retained and the more recent prospective studies, which have indicated much lower incidences of abnormalities, are not mentioned. Perhaps the reason new developments have been awarded so little consideration lies in the author's attitude as expressed in the preface: "We had passed the last golden age of virology by 1959 . .. a new orthodoxy is established." Whether or not this attitude is correct, it is hardly compatible with much enthusiasm for new developments. There are few virologists who would be willing to dismiss the new field of infectious nucleic acids, the extensive new data on tumor viruses of mice and the hundreds of newly identified viruses as part of an established orthodoxy. These reservations on the present edition must be kept in proper perspective. They are criticism made on comparison of the second edition with the first. This book has no peer in its field for coherent readability and may be recommended both to scientists wanting to learn the basis of animal virology and to specialists seeking renewed inspiration.