BOOK REVIEWS

mediates memory. When it tails, it produces devastat- ing illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. The distinctive anatomy of the hippocampus suggests clarity of structure and function, but as it curls and folds upon itself, the complexity of form and connec- tion within this structure can be overwhelming to all but the most devoted student. This slim atlas is a paean in two dimensions to the three-dimensional structure of the human hippocampus.

Throughout the book, elegant drawings are matched to schematic diagrams and low-power histological preparations to clarify the way regions disappear and reappear in serial section within the convoluted course of the hippocampal curvatures. Distinctive two-tone drawings depict hippocampal structures from almost every perspective and plane of section, and are reminiscent of classic neuroanatomic studies of the past when the eye and hand of the scientist- illustrator were of paramount importance. There are also dozens of excellent gross photographs showing views of the hippocampus from unusual angles that are not usually seen presented.

This is an atlas, so it is not surprising that the text is brief and superficial, summarizing complex issues in a few sentences, and referencing experiments with- out discriminating among data gleaned from rats, pri- mates, or humans. The discussions of connections and function would seem nearly impossible to follow unless one already knows the literature that is cited. Curiously, the low-power photomicrographs of hip- pocampal sections are almost exclusively “vascular injections,” a technique in which a combination of India ink and gelatin is used to fill the entire vascu- lature tree prior to sectioning. This technique nicely distinguishes gray and white matter in large sections, but its predominant use in this volume is unfortunate. The absence of even a single Nissl stain severely limits the utility of the atlas for moden scientists who prin- cipally use cytoarchitectonic landmarks. Thus, this book painstakingly illustrates hippocampal regions that were characterized microscopically but presents these illustrations as if the microscope had not been invented. In this manner, perhaps Professor Henri Duvemoy has followed too closely in the footsteps of his ancestor, J. G. Duvemoy, who published some of the earliest illustrations of the hippocampus in 1792. Nevertheless, this work should prove invaluable to those seeking to understand the macroscopic appear- ance and nomenclature of the human hippocam- pus.

Robert C. Green Emo y University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.

Advances in Contemporary Neurology (Contempo- rary Neurology Series), edited by Fred Plum. Phila- delphia: F. A. Davis, 1988, 211 pp. Price: $45.00.

The 29th volume of this series is divided into six chapters, which deal with acquired immune deficien- cy syndrome, the postpolio syndrome, mitochondrial disorders of brain and muscle, antianxiety drugs, tuberculosis, and the prefrontal lobe. As is obvious from the title, all topics are timely.

Each chapter is well written by experts in the field who present their material in a clear and concise man- ner. They use multiple tables and figures that are easy to understand and interpret. In most chapters, the salient features are presented more than once as if in instant review. Case histories with appropriate radio- logical studies accompany most discussions.

The chapter on antianxiety drugs discusses the benzodiazepines primarily and includes short dis- courses on their use in status epilepticus, epilepsy, sleep, and spasticity. The chapter on the prefrontal lobe includes a discussion on seizures originating from that area and presents appropriate cases.

This book should be of value to all physicians.

Robert L. Cerciello Newington, CT, U.S.A.

Current Therapy in Neurologic Diseases, 3rd edition, edited by Richard T. Johnson. Philadelphia: B. C. Decker, Inc., 1990, 433 pp. Price: $79.50.

In the competitive marketplace of medical pub- lishing, any volume that has sufficient staying power to reach a third edition must offer something of value to its readers. Richard Johnson confirms this in his skillful editorship of the new Current Therapy. His efforts in this regard were not taken without risk. Al- though the second edition had received good re- views, he took the courageous step of changing all of the authors for the third edition. The results are grati- fying. While there is no decline in the quality of the text, readers can be assured that the new volume is not a mere recapitulation of the older editions. The con- tributing authors present their own views on treating diseases within their respective areas of expertise. This personal approach lends a sense of immediacy to the discussions: the authors are to be commended for not slavishly hiding behind the passive voice and for using the personal pronoun “I,” perhaps the most neglected word in medical literature.

As the editor’s purpose is to review the treatment of all the major types of neurologic disease in a single volume, epileptologists should not expect to encoun-

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