Diagnostic Medical Mycology

In this fine little book, Dr. Haley tells hospital technicians how to get pathogenic fungi out of specimens and how to identify them. She begins with a good general classification of fungi and gives general directions for collecting and treating materials from patients. Then she discusses each fungus and gives the key points for its recognition. Technicians should welcome this handy manual because it is accurate, up-to-date, and practical. The drawings and photographs show clearly what is to be seen in the microscope. I have only a few suggestions for a future edition. Directions for collecting and handling specimens are often duplicated and cover a number of situations that are too exceptional for a concise manual; the space might be used instead for an illustrated outline of common contaminants that would cause confusion through their similarity to pathogenic fungi. It also seemed to me that the gram strain is neglected as a valuable means of recognizing cryptococcus, candida, and aspergillus. Otherwise, I have only praise for this new undertaking.