86
REVIEW
e.g. amoeba, Balantidum coli, leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, Trichinella
spiralis, fungous diseases (including actinomycosis, sporotrichosis, ringworm,
epizootic lymphangitis, histoplasmosis in mice). Section II contains seven
chapters and deals with the following rodent infections, viz. plague, tularaemia,
leptospirosis, rat bite fever, typhus fever, Rockey Mountain spotted fever,
and relapsing fever. Section III deals wtih human diseases spread by animals
and contains four chapters, viz. the relation of human infections to animals,
septic sore-throat, diphtheria, scarlet fever. Section IV which deals with animals
as passive carriers of disease organisms, contains three chapters, viz. botulism,
tetanus and gas gangrene. Section V gives a review of the role played by each
animal in the spread of diseases described in the preceding chapters.
Each chapter is as gripping as the other, and manifestly revealing. The
descriptions of the diseases are good. The text is concise but space is not spared
where details are imperative. The historical background at the beginning of
each chapter arouses interest, the epidemiology and epizootology receive special
attention, the details of bacteriology and semiology have been wisely kept down
and the methods of prevention well presented under each disease. The sta-
tistical records given in tabular form are extremely useful. The ' items of
note' forms a very commendable close to each chapter and enables one to note
the salient points at a glance. Following the ' items of note' is a good
bibliography to guide the reader to more detailed information.
There are, however, certain omissions. Thus, under tuberculosis no refer-
ence has been made to the possible existence of filterable types. A reference
to the ancient treatise Hatyayurveda or Elephantology which dates back to
the period of the Ramayana epic and contains an account of tuberculosis in
elephants may be made in future editions. Reference to the work of Okell,
Dalling and Pugh on ' Yellows in dogs ' might have been made under lep-
tospirosis.
The illustrations numbering 45 are good and well reproduced. A few
more pictures of human beings showing affections transmitted to them from
animals would add greatly to the value of the book.
It covers a wide and comprehensive field in comparative pathology and
certainly deserves a high rank. It is only recently that workers in human and
veterinary medicine have become fully alive to the need of a spirit of collabora-
tion in handling common problems. In the United States all workers appear
to be alive to the imperative need of this collaboration. In England, Sir
Frederick Hobday's appointment as Lecturer in Comparative Medicine at St.
George's Hospital Medical School and the creation of a Section of Comparative
medicine in the Royal Society of Medicine, London, indicate progress in the
right direction. Here, in India, the spirit of collaboration is yet dormant and
it is hoped that books like Hull's will create interest amongst the medical and
veterinary professions on diseases of common interest and result in their
greater cooperation for combating such diseases.
The publishers are to be congratulated for their share of the work. Print-
ing is clear, typography pleasing, binding good and the illustrations well
reproduced.
[P. G. M.]