COMMON SKIN DISEASES (Second Edition). General Practice Series

G. B. D.
1934 Sexually Transmitted Infections  
THIS short work on dermatology has deservedly reached a second edition within the brief space of two years. It has achieved success probably for several reasons, among which not the least important is that some of the principal faults in text-books in general, and in works on dermatology in particular, have been to a large extent avoided-Many of those who have attempted to read through a full-sized work on dermatology, or even in many cases a short work, have been obliged to give up the task in
more » ... despair. Why this should be the case in dermatology especially is not easy to say, possibly among other reasons because great importance is usually attributed to the details of pathological anatomy which to the ordinary reader are about as. intelligible as Chinese calligraphy. Dr. Roxburgh's book can be read from cover to cover with profit and without very much difficulty. It is written in a frank and breezy style which the reader will enjoy and will probably judge to be characteristic of the author's personal outlook on his work. He also appears to have appreciated the desire of the students and practitioners to have some kind of peg upon which to hang the signs of symptoms of disease. No doubt he has found it necessary to cogitate a good deal on the various obscurities of dermatology, and he appears to have given the reader the benefit of his thoughts. Another fault which is not peculiar to books on skin diseases and which may be difficult to eliminate altogether is a tendency to nebulous generalisation regarding etiology and treatment. The problems of dermatology are numerous and difficult, and writers on this subject of the speculative type are occasionally prone to give full rein to the imagination; Dr. Roxburgh's work, on the other hand, is characterised by a refreshing candour, in which, while current opinions are quoted without bias and with due emphasis upon their value or shortcomings, no attempt is made to cover up our many deficiencies in precise know-ledge. The clinical descriptions of the diseases are clear, accurate and simple. No alteration in the general arrangement of the book has been made, except for the addition of four chapters dealing with subjects for which no space could be found in the first edition. As the author points out, it is not intended to be a complete text-book, and deals mainly with the relatively common or important diseases found in Great Britain. However, in order to remedy as far as possible this. unavoidable deficiency, a kind of index to differential diagnosis has been included, which the reader may use as a reference to the book itself, or in the case of diseases which are not included in the book to larger works on dermatology. The first three chapters are concerned with general considerations in relation to etiology, pathology, signs, symptoms and treatment. This enables the student or the practitioner with little knowledge of the subject to approach dermatology rationally and methodically, and moreover gives him an insight into the author's own methods of going about his work. 289 on 24 July 2018 by guest. Protected by copyright.
doi:10.1136/sti.10.4.289 fatcat:zddmhjks7vdbnez2fms7pfczly