Fullness of life

Indeed if there is a criticism of the new edition with its expanded information base, it is that it is becoming more readable and is in some danger of turning into a textbook. It is clearly acknowledged in the introduction that many of the protocols described should not be considered unique or exclusive. This point is reiterated on occasions in the text where specific therapies are noted to be theoretical and unproven in practice. This is a positive feature in a book of this size. Unfortunately if the topics were developed further the increased size of the text would detract from its usefulness. This problem is partly overcome by the references at the end of each chapter giving fairly up. to-date source information on most of the topics covered. In the general layout the use of frequent lists and tables imparts a lot of information economically and needs no other justification. The line drawings are excellent. More would be welcome. Ultrasonic scanning is a very important bedside technique in neonatology. The text and diagrams for cerebral scanning are excellent. A few simple diagrams of the ultrasound findings in some of the commoner forms of severe congenital heart disease would be a welcome addition. In conclusion this book has held a difficult position, contains a vast amount of well presented information and yet is still small enough to be a pocket book. Wherever and whenever Jack Pritchard is mentioned among gatherings of medical and dental students from Queen's, there will be stories, laughter and fond recollections. Indeed, the great temptation after reading this book, rather than reviewing it, is to be sidetracked into adding mentally to its pages by recalling the good days-and there were many of them-of Jack Pritchard's reign in the Anatomy Department. But even those of us who worked with Jack in the Department can only have known half the man. Fortunately, Muriel Pritchard kept the family diary/scrapbook, including a portrait of Jack drawn by their daughter, Phillipa, which appears on the jacket and which is lovingly correct down to the last detail of the badly knotted tie. Using these, plus a number of Jack's speeches and contributions from friends and former staff of the Department as the 'bones', Muriel has painted a fuller portrait, not unlike the carefully constructed blackboard diagrams for which Jack himself was so well known. The result is a fascinating and eminently readable …