THE CHURCH, THE UNBORN AND THE FATHERLESS

Abortion, an Ethical Discussion (Church Information Ofice, London, 1965 ; 70 pp ; 416)

This pamphlet prepared by the Board for Social Responsibility of the Church of England covers in a reasonably succinct way the problems involved in attempting to stem the toll of illicit abortion. I t would seek to do this by per- mitting abortion in certain cases where after consultation with a board of specialists the physician felt in the light of the welfare of the mother that termination of pregnancy was essential. Cases in which termination was refused would then be referred to agencies who could provide a source of help and encouragement. This is a useful guide to the thinking behind modem legis- lative attempts to relieve the problem.

Fatherless by Law (Church Information Oflce, London, 1966 ; 44 p$ ; 316)

This pamphlet also prepared by the Board for Social Responsibility states the development and present state of the law relating to the illegitimate child. In recognising the possibilities of advance it sees the modern means of establishing paternity as a help in approaching the question of what is for the welfare of the child. The law's gradual approach to equating the rights of the natural father to those of the legitimate father is described, including the value placed on the "blood tie". A note by Dr. Alan Grant briefly describes the place of blood tests in affiliation proceedings and the possibilities of extending their use. Since the note was wri~ten the Courts have given judgment in two cases indi- cating a new acceptance of the help which blood group serology can give in questions of paternity, and to by-pass this scientific evidence would now surely be unthinkable.

MORE FORENSIC HISTORY Dead Men Tell Tales Jurgen Thorwald (Thames & Hudson Ltd., London, 1966 ; 198 $@ ; 31 i l lust~ations, list of sources ; index ; 251-)

The second in the "Century of the Detective" series, this beautifully produced volume contains the results of much research and enquiry. In nineteen chapters the author describes some of the triumphs and some of the failures of scientific medicine from the end of the nineteenth to the middle of the twentieth century. The cases chosen are partly Continental and partly British. Several chapters describe progress in selected branches of forensic medicine. The book though translated from German is well written in a uniformly pleasant style. I t is not encumbered with the apparatus of scholarship yet it is firmly based upon reliable sources which are gathered in a final section of references and suggested readings.

The third volume "Proof of Poison" will be eagerly awaited if i t follows the same high standard as its predecessors. Richard O'Brien

LAW AND THE HUMAN BODY Les Droits sur le Corps et le Cadavre de I'Homme R. Dierkens (Masson & Cie., Paris , 1966 ; 198 p$ ; bibliog. & index ; 40F)

In this methodical French exposition of the law touching the human body in life and death many topical and controversial subjects find their rightful place. Boxing, prostitution, tissue transplantation, artificial insemination, medical examination and experimentation, autopsy, cremation, and bequest of tissues are considered with other topics. The attitude of Continental law is stated while references, where they exist, to English and American law demon- strate that similarities greatly exceed differences. The whole work is sane, scholarly and systematic and provides an admirable basis for study of the

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