Physiological Pharmacology

In the foreword to this book, the first of a proposed ten-volume series, the editors state that "Physiological Pharmacology is designed to be an authoritative account of the effects of drugs on physiological systems;" that a need exists for such a work cannot be denied. Volume 1 forms the first of a three-part account of the nervous system and embodies the contributions of thirteen authors. It deals exclusively with depressant drugs (to be concluded in Volume 2), under the headings of (A) general anesthetics, (B) alcohols, (C) sedatives and hypnotics, (D) analgesic and antipyretic drugs, (E) tranquilizers and (F) physiological aspects of tolerance and physical dependence. Generally speaking, the authors have dealt competently with their specialized aspects of pharmacology although one may detect a distinct lack of uniformity in their treatment of their subjects. This is, unfortunately, almost an inherent characteristic of such a collaborative treatise. It is unlikely that any attempt at a rigid classification of drugs will meet with complete success but in this particular volume the attempt has been notably unsuccessful; this is a pity for it detracts from the undoubted merit of the book. Thus, drugs have been classified on the bases of their physical, chemical and pharmacological properties in not quite random order. In a few instances the classification is misleading; for example: Section A is headed "General Anesthetics" and the opening chapter by J. Adriani reputedly deals with their "Absorption, Distribution and Elimination" whereas, in fact, it is restricted to inhalation anesthetics with virtually no mention of the intravenous anesthetics. Although a few pieces of information on the thiobarbiturates may be gleaned from subsequent chapters in this volume, nowhere is a complete account of them given. The existence of the steroid anesthetics is not even acknowledged; clinically their importance may not yet be great but pharmacologically they constitute a most interesting group of substances. The mechanics of anesthesia are more than adequately dealt with in the first chapter but the brief paragraph on page 8, entitled "Mode of Action" is so inadequate that it would be better omitted. The statement therein that "the drug becomes attached to receptors within the cell through some type of bonding," although delightfully vague, still conflicts with the generally-held view that, in the case of the volatile anesthetics, biological activity is quite unrelated to chemical structure. It is disturbing to find that no mention is made, in either of the two chapters on anesthetics, of the work of Ferguson, Pasternak or Mullins in correlating anesthetic potency and thermodynamic activity. The profilic use of phrases such as "embodies current concepts," "present knowledge of their mechanisms," "interpretations receiving serious con-