Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation. B. B. Mil- stein, Year Book Medical Publishers, Chi- BjookFReviews cago, 1963, 231 pp. Price $7.00. i This book is important reading for everyone in the medical and dental Physics for the Anesthetist, 3rd ed., Robert fields. It is well written, has extensive Macintosh, William Mushin, and H. G. references (several hundred) and con- Epstein; F. A. Davis Co., Phila, 1963, tains an eleven page index. 378 figs., 448 pp., $14.50. Milstein, a British thoracic surgeon, i The principles of physics as applied not only draws from his exhaustive list to anesthesiology are employed of references but also cites his own cases everyday by the working anesthesiologist. and expenence where applicable. He The authors, realizing this, have at- removes the "why" of cardiac arrest from tempted to expound and correlate these the realm of the spiritual by showing principles in a readable, practical man- that every case has a cause which is ner. The authors are not physicists but usually preventable. Clinical considera- practicing anesthesiologists, and this book tions and information derived from lab- reflects their practical approach to this oratory investigations are presented, basic science. thus basing scientifically, the discussion The initial chapters are devoted to of cardiac arrest. such fundamentals as density of gases, The chapter on pathology and etiol- vaporization, latent heat of crystallization, ogy is extensive. Changes during asys- partial pressure, vapor pressure, com- tole and fibrillation are discussed from a pressed gases, gas laws and the like. physiologic and biochemical viewpoint. Their practical application in anesthesia Etiology of asystole is categorized into is discussed. The later chapters discuss depression of conducting mechanism, such things as pressure reducing valves, depression of activity of myocardium, flow of fluids in anesthesia apparatus, and inadequate circulating blood vol- flowmeters, principles of certain anes- ume. Under these subdivisions, hypoxia, thetic apparatus, explosions, etc. Refer- hypercapnia, drugs and anesthetic agents, ences follow each chapter and an index vicero-cardiac reflexes, myocardial in- closes the book. farction and hypotension are all discussed The subject of physics especially in detail. The chapter is rounded out when it is elementary, can easily be with patho-physiology of electrocution dull, but the authors have made it most (accidental), drowning, bullet and knife interesting by their choice of language, wounds to the chest and hypothermia. use of descriptive examples and constant The author asserts that little attention application of principles to the actual is paid to prevention. He lists a myriad administration of a general anesthetic. of common precautionary measures RICHARD J. LOWELL, D.D.S. which are good medical practice. Another chapter stresses the im- portance of immediate diagnosis so that Anesthesia Abstracts, Vol. 62, Edited by little time is lost before circulation is John Lundy and Florence McQuillen, Bur- restored to the brain. The signs of car- gess PubI. Co., Minneapolis, 1964, 229 pp., $4.00. diac arrest, both useful and non-reliable are reviewed. U 250 abstracts from fourteen journals An extensive, well illustrated chapter are presented in this volume. The on treatment covers the theoretical and format used in previous issues is fol- practical aspects. It includes armamen- lowed. This publication as always, re- tarium, closed chest cardiac massage' mains a useful, reference source. with contraindications and possible com. RXICcAEm J. LowELL, D.D.S. plications, methods of ventilation, thorac-

286 Journal OF THE AMERICAN DENTAL SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGY