In the compass of 170 pages the author tries to take the reader through the early days of the pneumatic tyre, thence to consider tyres as an engineer might, dealing with the various characteristics from a vehicle or suspension designer's standpoint, and finishing with a courageous piece of crystal gazing pointing to future developments.

Altogether a brave,attempt which largely comes off and makes this a must for everyone who deals with tyres in any way.

Criticisms? Well, one reviewer at least doesn't believe that 'tire' is derived from 'attire'-altogether too tenuous. Then again it is a pity that motorcycle tyres, surely the most sophisticated tyres currently in mass production, receive less space than bicycle tyres. But these are minor niggles about an excellent book which, because of its specialist nature, will not be the best seller it deserves to be.

Because Tom French tells us how to calculate it properly, we shall, hopefully, never again hear that the burst strength of a tyre bead is equal to the tensile strength of a single wire multiplied by the number of wires, as an American jury was solemnly and recently assured by a tyre (tire) expert.

RG

A FORENSIC PALGRAVE

Paediatric Forensic Medicine and Pathology JK Mason ed (Routledge, Chapman and Hall, Andover, 1989, 528 pp, index, ISBN 0 412 29160 6, f 75.00) From the "cradle to grave" is a common catchphrase in our caring welfare society and one that would seem applicable to a text-book concerning paediatric forensic medicine. Professor Mason's book is much wider in concept, commencing with preconception genetics and encompassing the whole range of medical and legal problems involving the foetus, the infant and the child in their reaction to their environment, the medical profession, the legal profession and their carers. Professor Mason has collected around him 36 individuals of outstanding ability in the fields of forensic medicine, forensic pathology, forensic dentistry, forensic psychiatry, genet- ics, radiology, paediatrics, immuno-pathology and the law, from both sides of the Atlantic. They have put together an outstanding text which will have fulfilled a lifelong ambition of the editor-the subtle inter-relation between paediatrics, ethics, pathology and the law-merging them imperceptibly without any harsh separation into distinct and seemingly unrelated specialities. Obviously, skilled and loving editorship of a high order was necessary to achieve this goal.

The book is divided into four parts but all are intertwined and each chapter is a joy to read. In my opinion this book will become the "gold standard" against which all future paediatric forensic publications will be judged both here and abroad. This book can be heartily recommended to anyone who is working at the junction between genetics, obstetrics, paediatrics, pathology, ethics and the law. I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter and could make no serious or justified criticism. The publishers are also to be congratulated on the quality of their product. For the amount of information that is contained between the covers the price is not excessive.

Hurrah for Anglo-American co-operation at its best. DMW

JFSS 1990; 30(2): 113-115 115