Pediatric Neurology

The topics discussed by those concerned with amines and mental disorder are hauntingly familiar: ceruloplasmin, taraxein, plasma oxidases, epinephrine, adrenolutin, LSD-25, atropine-like psychotomimetics, tryptophan metabolism, and central cholinergic stimulants. The reader will gain insight into the competence and intent of the reported research. From the comments of a number of superbly informed discussants (and the inclusion of bibliographies), he will find a useful critique of these topics. Hoffer, Heath, and Abood present the case for elevated plasma oxidase activity in schizophrenia while the evidence for the metabolic pathways for epinephrine, an assessment of any role of such in vitro metabolites as adrenolutin, and discussion of serotonin metabolism is provided by a number of others including Elmadjian, Zeller, Axelrod, Kopin, Kety, and Hoagland. Problems of methodology and of evaluation of psychotoxic effects of serum globulins (such as taraxein is claimed to be) are briefly considered. No one acquainted with the importance of those topics to neuropharmacology will find this a dull or useless book, for the editor, unlike some of the participants, did achieve a useful covering in depth of the cardinal subjects of current interest through astute programming. Both scholar and neophyte would profit if the scientists with rolled shirt sleeves would labor towards lucid scientific summary of evidence and hypotheses. In the meantime, this work requires less parsing than other symposia of identical content. Given the complexity of the area, the book represents a source wherein one can find the crux of some important current approaches.