contributed original papers. illustrated; £4.) Clarendon Press, Oxford Uni-In a short 20 years, neurology has moved in neuroversity Press: London. 1975. scientific knowledge from basic chemistry of lipo-Dr Bickerstaff played an important part in con-proteins to detailed studies of neurotransmitters. vincing fellow neurologists of the part played by Treatment of behaviour disorders has advanced oral contraceptives in causing strokes in young from leucotomy to the use of stimuloreceivers. women

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... a time when this was being hotly con-To a clinical neurologist the glimpse we now have tested. It is a sharp reminder that statistics can be of links between structure and function is vastly used to demonstrate that a relationship is unlikely encouraging. For example, neurones destined to form to be due to chance alone but never to prove the a given pathway seem to carry molecular labels converse. Many will be unfamiliar with his observawhich allow them to be connected (or regenerate) tion that the cerebrovascular danger of the Pill is according to a plan laid down in some genetic bluelargely in women who have already had a pregnancy. print. From such a coded pathway for reflex and The exact cause-effect relationship remains obscure. instinctive behaviour, as Virgas points out, it is not Even more tantalising is the role of contraceptive a large leap to see how this system could be adapted hormones in chorea and other involuntary movefor processing acquired information. The language is, ments, papilloedema, benign intracranial hyperas might be expected, in places rather modern. One tension, migraine, and epilepsy. In such an uncerauthor comments 'one can easily intuit such a tain field all will welcome this short account of the mechanism'. The brain sciences need innovators in author's experience and the available literature. The all the teams of interdisciplinary research in order to reviewer is regularly asked for advice on the safety sustain recent momentum. of the Pill in patients with multiple sclerosis. This is The report of the conference, which was truly one area in which Dr Bickerstaff does not venture an international, was integrated with visits to laboraopinion. tories and was strictly limited in size, is likely to out-J. A. SIMPSON last in usefulness the reports of unwieldy world congresses filled with disparate and unoriginal papers IHE HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM By Murray L. Barry. which are disgorged in increasing numbers by pub-(Pp. 442; illustrated; $12.95.) Harper and Row: lishing houses each year. Hagerstown, Md. 1974. R. BANNISTER This book, which appears in paperback as a second edition, provides a useful account of the anatomy of the nervous system. The main part of the book i s ATLAS OF GROSS NEUROSURGICAL PATHOLOGY By devoted to a comprehensive account of the regional Klaus J. Zulch. (Pp. 228; illustrated; $49.) anatomy of the spinal cord, brain and special senses. Springer: Berlin. 1975. This follows an introductory section on histology and This atlas deals solely with gross neurosurgical later sections deal with the cerebral circulation and pathology. Indeed one might question the accuracy cerebrospinal fluid. The test is comprehensive withof the title since only two topics are dealt with in out being exhaustive, and is easily read, clear and detail, namely, increased intracranial pressure and concise, and there are many excellent line diagrams displacement caused by space-occupying lesions, and and half-tone illustrations. Although the emphasis is tumours of the nervous system. There is no section on morphology, there are useful reviews of the funcon head injuries-this will be the subject of a subsetions of the parts described and of relevant clinical quent atlas-while there are only short sections on disorders. At the end of each chapter there is a short cerebrovascular disease, inflammation, brain swelling but carefully selected list of references. The book has and obstructive hydrocephalus. been written primarily for students approaching the As one might expect from Professor Zulch, the neurological sciences for the first time, but posttwo major topics are dealt with superbly, an abungraduate students and practising clinicians will also dance of illustrations being accompanied by a confind it useful. It can be warmly recommended. cise, informative, and in some ways slightly pro-