Forensic Neuropathology: by Jan Leestma, Raven Press, New York, 1988. US$211.50
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Forensic Science International, 39 (1988) 209 - 210 Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd. !209 BOOK REVIEWS Forensic Neuropathology by Jan Leestma, Raven Press, New York, 1988. USS211.50 This is an impressive book and one which will find a ready niche in the forensic pathologist’s library, assuming that he can afford it. It is a textbook of neuropathology with strong forensic overtones but the reader is con- stantly aware that the contributing authors, apart from one lawyer, are all primarily neuropathologists, rather than forensic practitioners. The excellent text constantly slides into purely clinical and neurophysiological discussions, to be jerked back at frequent intervals onto the medico-legal tracts. The production is excellent, with a paper and print quality that is a pleasure to experience. The profuse illustrations are some of the best the reviewer has ever seen, both for their choice, definition and clarity of reproduction. The text is exhaustively referenced and is up to date. The book begins with a chapter on the generalities of forensic testimony and the place of neuropathology in legal medicine. This is of most use for those who are not already in the business and to be frank, is set out much better elsewhere. Then the meat comes in chapters on general neuropathol- ogy (which has rather too much on topics which are rarely of forensic signifi- cancel, followed by excellent sections on cerebral oedema, raised intracranial pressure, the respirator brain, etc. Impact injuries of the brain is a major chapter and is extremely valuable. The only criticism is that the mechanics of skull fracture are rather skimped, considering that this is a major text- book devoted to forensic neuropathology: one would have hoped that every possible facet of this vital topic would have been explored. As expected in an American book, gunshot injuries earn their own chapter, then the authors go into the neuropathology of foetal, perinatal and infant conditions. There is a whole chapter on child abuse, excellently done from the “neuro” aspect, although why they were tempted into descriptions and pictures of rib frac- tures seems odd, as the general pathology of child abuse is provided for in far greater detail in a dozen other books. Neurotoxicology and neurodys- function such as epilepsy round off the volume and these are very valuable. One very strange omission spoils this book and is rather symptomatic of American insularity to outside advances. In this, the most recent and ambi- tious of the world’s very few English language textbooks of forensic neuro- pathology, there is not a mention of - nor a single literature reference to - one of the most topical and important traumatic lesions associated with neck and head injury. The common condition of traumatic sub-arachnoid haemorrhage due to vertebral artery damage in the upper cervical spine is totally ignored and no mention is made to any of the seminal papers of
Transcript of Forensic Neuropathology: by Jan Leestma, Raven Press, New York, 1988. US$211.50
Forensic Science International, 39 (1988) 209 - 210 Elsevier Scientific Publishers Ireland Ltd.
!209
BOOK REVIEWS
Forensic Neuropathology by Jan Leestma, Raven Press, New York, 1988. USS211.50
This is an impressive book and one which will find a ready niche in the forensic pathologist’s library, assuming that he can afford it. It is a textbook of neuropathology with strong forensic overtones but the reader is con- stantly aware that the contributing authors, apart from one lawyer, are all primarily neuropathologists, rather than forensic practitioners. The excellent text constantly slides into purely clinical and neurophysiological discussions, to be jerked back at frequent intervals onto the medico-legal tracts. The production is excellent, with a paper and print quality that is a pleasure to experience. The profuse illustrations are some of the best the reviewer has ever seen, both for their choice, definition and clarity of reproduction. The text is exhaustively referenced and is up to date.
The book begins with a chapter on the generalities of forensic testimony and the place of neuropathology in legal medicine. This is of most use for those who are not already in the business and to be frank, is set out much better elsewhere. Then the meat comes in chapters on general neuropathol- ogy (which has rather too much on topics which are rarely of forensic signifi- cancel, followed by excellent sections on cerebral oedema, raised intracranial pressure, the respirator brain, etc. Impact injuries of the brain is a major chapter and is extremely valuable. The only criticism is that the mechanics of skull fracture are rather skimped, considering that this is a major text- book devoted to forensic neuropathology: one would have hoped that every possible facet of this vital topic would have been explored. As expected in an American book, gunshot injuries earn their own chapter, then the authors go into the neuropathology of foetal, perinatal and infant conditions. There is a whole chapter on child abuse, excellently done from the “neuro” aspect, although why they were tempted into descriptions and pictures of rib frac- tures seems odd, as the general pathology of child abuse is provided for in far greater detail in a dozen other books. Neurotoxicology and neurodys- function such as epilepsy round off the volume and these are very valuable. One very strange omission spoils this book and is rather symptomatic of American insularity to outside advances. In this, the most recent and ambi- tious of the world’s very few English language textbooks of forensic neuro- pathology, there is not a mention of - nor a single literature reference to - one of the most topical and important traumatic lesions associated with neck and head injury. The common condition of traumatic sub-arachnoid haemorrhage due to vertebral artery damage in the upper cervical spine is totally ignored and no mention is made to any of the seminal papers of
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Simonsen, Cameron and Mant, Gee or Contostavlos. Though this is hard to forgive, the book’s 430 pages have much of considerable value to the forensic pathologist.
B.K.
A Colour Atlas of Human Anatomy (second edition 19881 R.M.H. McMinn and R.T. Hutchings. Wolfe Medical Publications Ltd, London.
A Colour Atlas of Human Dissection CC. Chumbley and R.T. Hutchings. Wolfe Medical Publications Ltd, London.
These two companion books are magnificent full-colour atlases in a large style format, the pages of both being 12 x 10 inches (31 x 25 cm) in size. In the Human Anatomy book, the illustrations are life-size and the general clar- ity and colour rendering leave nothing to be desired. It is not surprising that since the First Edition was produced in 1977, over 600,000 copies have been sold, as in purely pictorial and descriptive terms, this has to be the best anatomy tutor available. The main book is hard-back, the dissection manual a substantial soft-cover volume. Both have a sophisticated labelling and num- bering system so that the legends for the photographs are immediately comprehensible. A system of line boxes carries the key to the structures in the illustrations, whilst extra concise notes are given nearby to explain the local anatomy; in addition, lists of additional facts in a different type-face are offered as a bonus. Whether the two books could totally replace the more conventional discursive texts altogether may be debatable, but any student who knows his way around these books would hardly need anything extra. The osteology is done beautifully through pictures, though naturally hand- ling the bones whilst referring to the book is necessary.
The dissection manual is complementary, being a step-by-step directory of each cut and stripping. The photographs are superb, though smaller than the main atlas, and system of coloured panels separates the dissection instructions from the study commands. There is page cross-reference with the other atlas and adequate surface anatomy instruction as well as dissection.
The forensic pathologist often has need of an anatomy book, both to brush up on his fading recollection of more obscure structures and to get more detail before embarking on some unusual dissection for a specific purpose. The main atlas would be an admirable source of information and the dissection book a useful reminder of how best to approach the particular task. The osteology is also a potentially useful source for the identification and nomenclature of bone remains.
B.P.
