Farquharson's textbook of operative survery. Seventh edition. R. F. Rintoul. 250 × 190 mm. Pp. 658. Illustrated. 1986. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. £45.00
✍ Scribed by H. B. Devlin
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1987
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 163 KB
- Volume
- 74
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0007-1323
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Back pain is a highly readable book, which is interesting throughout, and is sustained by the author's enthusiasm. My criticisms are minor irritations which do not detract from what is overall an excellent book. For example, too many case histories for each condition are given and thechapters on pain are separated whereas they naturally go together. It is also irritating to find symphysis misspelt in consecutive sentences, including the phrase 'public symphysis'. The book aims to stimulate interest rather than provide a definitive text and in this it succeeds. The basic sciences are well covered and include unusual but exciting facts such as the possible significance of birth injury in the aetiology of pars defects. The sections on investigations are adequate although magnetic resonance imaging is, perhaps understandably, only briefly mentioned. It would be valuable to have more on alternative treatment. The hostility of the medical profession is sometimes based on ignorance and we may be better placed to advise patients if books such as this told us something about these practitioners. Otherwise I have no hesitation in recommending this as a book which will stimulate what may be your fading interest in back pain.