334 PSYCHOSOMATICS JULY-AUGUSt

viously does not approve of husbands in thedelivery rooms, it is interesting to speculate howhe found this Qut, since the common experienceas already reported has been exactly the op­posite.

Reduced to essentials, (Which is difficult to dowhat with all the vivid writing) the authorsseem to say that patients should go to classes.they may even be permitted to do the "naturalchildbirth" exercises and breathing techniques,but they should be adequately medicated anddelivered by low forceps and episiotomy. Sincethis is their basic argument, it is difficult to seewhy such a diatribe is necessary, especially sincethe authors are tilting against a concept of "na­tural childbirth" which exists only inside theirheads.

However the book does have values. A stu­dent of logic will find it an outstanding ex­ample of logical fallacies. Almost all the clas­sic examples of faulty logic are present. Any­one interested in the art of writing propaganda(used here in the invidious sense) will find thisbook to be an invaluable example of slantedwriting. These are its only virtues, however,since it is not objective, factual, or fair onchildbirth as it is currently practiced in thiscountry. Anyone who is interested in clarifi­cation of obstetrical semantics had best forgetthis book since it sheds no light on the subjectat all.

F. W. GOOdTich~ Jr.~ M.D.

THE MERCK MANUAL. Tenth Edition. CharlesE. Lyght, M.D. Editor. Merck Sharp and Oohme,Rahway, N. J., 1961. Pp. 1907. $7.50.

This book, in which over 100 authorities parti­cipated as authors or consultants, provides phy­sicians with current etiologic, physiologic, path-

ologic and therapeutic details. There is a totalof 384 chapters and 21 main sections, each ofwhich is thumb-indexed for easy reference.

Of particular interest to the reader of P8y_choso-maUcs is the inclusion in this edition ofgenetic metabolic anomalies, psychopharma.cology and a concise review of basic psychiatry.

The first edition of Merch's Manual was pub.lished in 1901. This present edition, designedto meet the needs of general practitioner, alsooffers a rapid source of information to the busyphysician of all specialties.

w. D.

ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY. W. J. Coville, T. W.Costello, and F. L. Rouke. New York: Barnesand Noble. College Outline Series, No. 94.$1.75 (paperback), 298 pages. 1960.This is an outline, describing and interpreting

in a very brief way, the field of abnormal be.havior. The classification system of The Ameri.can Psychiatric Association is used as a guide.Current theories are given but the authors ad­here to no one school of thought. They try toand do present all the theories in an objectivemanner but in outline form. Diagnostic and ther­apeutic procedures and techniques used in thefield of prevention are also well outlined.

The authors had in mind that this outlineshould be useful not only to the college studentbut to the general reader as well. Under generalreader they include persons in the fields of per­sonnel, teaching, law, social service, religion,nursing and general medicine. For all of thesegroups this outline is a ready compendium ofaccurate and up-tO-date factual material abouthuman behavior. It is enjoyable reading and animportant aid to understanding some of theproblems of mental health.

Joseph Joel Fr1edman~ M.D.

•

The Road BackFrom Mental Illnessis Easier Today!Today when the recovered men­tal patient leaves the hospital,the mental health association isby his side to help him find ajob, new friends, follow-up med­ical care. Support your mentalhealth associatioD.

GIVE at the sign of the RINGING BELL•

334 PSYCHOSOMATICS JULY-AUGUSt

viously does not approve of husbands in thedelivery rooms, it is interesting to speculate howhe found this Qut, since the common experienceas already reported has been exactly the op­posite.

Reduced to essentials, (Which is difficult to dowhat with all the vivid writing) the authorsseem to say that patients should go to classes.they may even be permitted to do the "naturalchildbirth" exercises and breathing techniques,but they should be adequately medicated anddelivered by low forceps and episiotomy. Sincethis is their basic argument, it is difficult to seewhy such a diatribe is necessary, especially sincethe authors are tilting against a concept of "na­tural childbirth" which exists only inside theirheads.

However the book does have values. A stu­dent of logic will find it an outstanding ex­ample of logical fallacies. Almost all the clas­sic examples of faulty logic are present. Any­one interested in the art of writing propaganda(used here in the invidious sense) will find thisbook to be an invaluable example of slantedwriting. These are its only virtues, however,since it is not objective, factual, or fair onchildbirth as it is currently practiced in thiscountry. Anyone who is interested in clarifi­cation of obstetrical semantics had best forgetthis book since it sheds no light on the subjectat all.

F. W. GOOdTich~ Jr.~ M.D.

THE MERCK MANUAL. Tenth Edition. CharlesE. Lyght, M.D. Editor. Merck Sharp and Oohme,Rahway, N. J., 1961. Pp. 1907. $7.50.

This book, in which over 100 authorities parti­cipated as authors or consultants, provides phy­sicians with current etiologic, physiologic, path-

ologic and therapeutic details. There is a totalof 384 chapters and 21 main sections, each ofwhich is thumb-indexed for easy reference.

Of particular interest to the reader of P8y_choso-maUcs is the inclusion in this edition ofgenetic metabolic anomalies, psychopharma.cology and a concise review of basic psychiatry.

The first edition of Merch's Manual was pub.lished in 1901. This present edition, designedto meet the needs of general practitioner, alsooffers a rapid source of information to the busyphysician of all specialties.

w. D.

ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY. W. J. Coville, T. W.Costello, and F. L. Rouke. New York: Barnesand Noble. College Outline Series, No. 94.$1.75 (paperback), 298 pages. 1960.This is an outline, describing and interpreting

in a very brief way, the field of abnormal be.havior. The classification system of The Ameri.can Psychiatric Association is used as a guide.Current theories are given but the authors ad­here to no one school of thought. They try toand do present all the theories in an objectivemanner but in outline form. Diagnostic and ther­apeutic procedures and techniques used in thefield of prevention are also well outlined.

The authors had in mind that this outlineshould be useful not only to the college studentbut to the general reader as well. Under generalreader they include persons in the fields of per­sonnel, teaching, law, social service, religion,nursing and general medicine. For all of thesegroups this outline is a ready compendium ofaccurate and up-tO-date factual material abouthuman behavior. It is enjoyable reading and animportant aid to understanding some of theproblems of mental health.

Joseph Joel Fr1edman~ M.D.

•

The Road BackFrom Mental Illnessis Easier Today!Today when the recovered men­tal patient leaves the hospital,the mental health association isby his side to help him find ajob, new friends, follow-up med­ical care. Support your mentalhealth associatioD.

GIVE at the sign of the RINGING BELL•