BOOK REVIEWS

Hamilton Bailey's Demonstration of Physical Signs: Picture Tests 
JSP Lumley, S Chan, H Harris and MOM Zangana 
Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford
£14.99, 198pp

This slim volume has been produced to accompany Hamilton Bailey's Demonstration of Clinical Signs and is designed as a self-assessment test. The cases are not presented in any systematic manner and the authors deliberately mix up the questions as presumably the book is aimed at those revising for either under-graduate or post-graduate surgical examinations, rather than those learning the material for the first time.

As I flicked through the 288 case scenarios, radiographs and diagrams I found myself ensnared by the addictive qualities of such a book. After each exercise, quickly turning the page to check my answers, my responses varied. Yes, I got the venous gangrene! No surely that cannot be! Or what is Madura Foot (page 123) - I would have thought frostbite more common in the current inclement weather. The cases vary from the exotic (Old World leishmaniasis and Ainhum) to the common place (plantar warts and varicose veins) but the balance is generally good and covers all branches of surgery including paediatrics. Thus, one’s attention is ensured while at the same time reinforcing important revision points. I was, however, surprised by the large number of worms, mites and insects that cropped up in this book - fortunately I cannot remember seeing that many in any of the surgical exams I have been involved with. Along these lines it may have been useful to have included a compound fracture, a hydrocele, a colostomy and examples of osteoarthritis in view of the commonness of these conditions in both practice and examinations. That being said, the illustrations are uniformly of high quality and the questions are well devised to test one’s understanding and knowledge. I would have no hesitation in recommending this book as a useful and enjoyable revision aid for those preparing for surgical finals or College examinations.

Mr K Park, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

Recent Advances in Surgery 23 
Edited by CD Johnson and I Taylor 
Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh
£32.95

This book follows the now well established format of a series of expert reviews with an additional chapter looking at what is new in surgery.

The chapters range between a masterly review of gastric cancer from the Japanese perspective to revisiting previous topics such as bariatric surgery. The latter builds on an earlier chapter and provides a useful laparoscopic update together with an algorithm for how to treat these patients. For anyone who is not an expert in the field of bariatric surgery (which must be most of us) it is a very worthwhile chapter.

As with any series of reviews such as this, some chapters are less thorough than others. The chapter on sentinel node biopsy fails to mention axillary node sample as an alternative to axillary clearance for breast cancer. It might have been helpful to discuss radiation protection issues, the concept of omitting lymphoscintigraphy preoperatively and the advantages of an angled probe for detecting the sentinel node. Indeed, the comprehensive review by Mackintosh and Purushotham referred to in the final "What's New in Surgery" chapter is perhaps better structured and more comprehensive.

A review of a previous issue suggested that recent advances should be read by all surgeons whether studying for examinations or establishing practice. This comment is clearly applicable to the current volume which is easy reading and informative. Looking to the future, increased use of website addresses could point the reader to those sites which the expert reviewers feel to be most worthwhile.

Mr A.M. Thompson, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School

©2001 The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, J.R.Coll.Surg.Edinb.