228 PSYCHOSOMATICS

Book Reviews

MAY-JUNE

TRANSVESTITISM TODAY. By Edwerd Podol·sky, M.D., end Cerlson Wede. (Published byEpic Publishing Co., Inc., N. Y.) $7.00.

An individual who derives pleasure from wear­ing clothes of the opposite sex is called a trans­vestite. He must not only dress in the clothingof the opposite sex but must have a constantimage of himself in that dress. He obtains sex­ual gratiftcation in this pretension and in allmanners and interests he feels more femininethan masculine. It is important to note that thetransvestite associates and identiftes with thewoman and not the male. However, the indi­vidual's desire for the genitals of the oppositesex is displaced to the clothing of the oppositesex. Sexual activity is confined to phantasy andauto-erotic habits.

This book is recommended to those who desirea review of the subject in a superficial manner.It is written in lay language.

Harry Perlowitz, M.D.

PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY. Stenley S. Lemm,M.D. New York: Appleton·Century Crofts, Inc.,1959. Pp. 495.

This book reftects the author's convictions that"the relationship between pediatrics and neurol­ogy is constantly growing closer." He success­fully proves this by pointing out some of the re­cent advances in both fields.

The chapter on "Mental Growth and Develop­ment" includes a good review of medical geneticsand shows the influence of environmental factors.

"Developmental Defects" includes short perti­nent discussions and bibliographical referencesfor many classical diseases inclusive of anen­cephaly, spina biftda, cranium bifiidum, Klippel­Feil syndrome, agenesis of the corpus callosum,mongolism, craniostenosis, hyperteleorism, etc.

"Inborn Errors of Metabolism" reviews phenyl­pyruVic oligophrenia, galactosemia, hepatolentic­ular degeneration, Hartnup disease, and amino­aciduria. The effect of prenatal infections suchas maternal rubella and toxoplasmosis are con­sidered in relation to their effects on the fetus.

The chapter on "Cerebral Palsy" includes clas­sification, clinical syndromes, etiology, pathology,pathogenesis, differential diagnosis and managE:­ment. The details of management include theroles of all personnel concerned in the total careof the spastic child.

Additional chapters include birth injuries, in­fections of the central nervous system, convu!­sive disorders, intracranial tumors, neurocutane­ous, heredo-familial and degenerative diseases,demyelinating diseases, polyneUritis, lipidoses, vi-

tamin deficiencies, diseases of muscle, and vascu­lar, blood, and endocrine disorders.

This book is recommened to those who wouldseek a concise review of pediatric neurology. Itswide coverage of many areas, in spite of its rel­ative breVity, in no way impairs the quality ofthe material presented.

W.D.

PSYCHOSOMATIC ASPECTS OF ORAL DIS.EASE. Public Heelth Service Publicetion No.760. Weshington, D. C.: U. S. Government Print·ing ORlce, 1959.

Workers in the research program of the Na­tional Institute of Dental Research observed thatoral diseases and psychologic stress appear to berelated. These conclusions were based on clini­cal observations, impressions, reports from theArmed Forces during periods of combat stressand reports from navy dentists observing menserving on submarine duty.

In their investigations of herpes virus stoma­titis and apthous stomatitis it was concluded thatthe latter is probably of non-viral origin. Physio­logical response to' dental stress was studied.Twenty-four adults with extensive dental carieswere studied during one course of 235 dental ap­pointments of 45 minutes duration. Prior to, andfour hours : after .each appointment, standardeosinophil countsJ'were done on capillary bloodtaken by finger puncture." ,,, ~ ."

Results showed that variation in stress be­tween individuals was greater than in the sameindividual, and variation between treatmentswas greater than during treatments. It was con~

cluded that adrenocortical activity varies directlywith the magnitUde of stress involved in d~ntal

procedures; all procedures showing significantdifferences from control appointments. It wasfurther revealed that eosinophil levels were notaffected by local anesthesia or barbiturate Pre­medication in any of the categories of treatmentexcept oral surgery, where administration 'ofbarbiturates was associated with relative increaseof the eosinophilic level.

Melvin Land, D.D.S.

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DOCTOR-PATIENTRELATIONSHIP. Richerd H. Blum, Ph.D., NewYork: McGrew-Hili Book Co., 1960, $8.50.

This book is written as a guide for physiciansand to help the doctor understand why patientsbehave the way they do. The author describesways of detecting trouble before it begins, howto talk and act to prevent dl1Iiculties, misunder­standings and friction. He stresses the "diftl-