Basic Clinical Science: Dsrcrlbinga rose with 8 ruler by Nic Rowley. Hodder 6 Stoughton Educationel. London. 1991 (ISBN 0 340 62035 8). 739 pages. IHUJ. €24.99.

The author of this book aims to produce a ready reference text which will ‘provide a basis for understanding the general patho- logical processes that underlie orthodox Western concepts of disease and treatment’. In this I believe he has been eminently suc- cessful. Although written primarily for practitioners of complementary medicine, the style of presentation of the book makes it a useful addi- tion to a physiotherapist’s library, giving, as it does, thumbnail sketchea of many disease prooesees that are seen in clinical practice.

Particularly useful are those Bec-

tiow that are not strictly pathology, but understanding of which influ- epcas a therapids patient ma nag^+

ment strategy. The development of drugs used in orthodox pharma- cology, pre- and poet-licensing requirements and description of how drugs achieve their effkts, fall into this category. The rest of this section deals with specific drugs and it was in the text dealing with steroids that 1 felt the approach altered slightly with a dispropor- tionate amount of detail being given to this class of drugs. This was inconsistent with the style of the rest of the book, but may be due to the fresuency of use of this class of medication.

Physiotherapists wi l l probably find the clear exposition of psychi- atric disease, psychiatry and the law and the text on page 430 relat ing to the sectioning of a patient, of particular value.

The book is well written, with occasional flaws which appear to be proof-reading mietahea rather than errors that have a fundamental

effect on the integrity of the text. It is written in plain note form with wide margins for the addition of personal notes by the reader. This is useful ifthe reader can bear to desecrate boob in this way. Page presentation is pleasing and the chapter divisions appear to be appropriate with clearly identified subsections which are indicative of content. Cartoons appear a t the start of

each chapter and these are both amusing and relevant to the follow- ing text. Most people involved in health care would find this book useful for readily accessible infor- mation concerning a comprehensive range of medical conditions. I t is a good book to read or just to dip into. It is large book and sound in con- struction with the exception of the cover which is decidedly flimsy. The indexing is direct and relevant.

Marian E Tidswell MA BA FCSP ONC DipTP

-Urn-- A manual on thdr design and fabricaion bvJwmeRellendG*WestEkrttemwlh H e h e m e m ~ ~ , l ~ ( I s B N O o 7 5 0 6 2QBl). 133pagea

The main targets for this book are therapists working with burns patients and it is an eaaential book for them to buy and goad value for the prie. Both authora are OCCU~IL- tional therapists who have had experience of working with these patienta in the past.

chaptere,beginningwitbthehistory and rationale of preesure therapy, followed by stages in garment con- struction. Subsequent chapters deal in detail with how to measure and make garments for the different parts of the body. The layout and presentation of the book is very pleasing with good diagrams and helpful summaries in highlighted boxes throughout. There are also four useful appendices containing suppliers, addresses, an advice sheet for patients. measurement

The text is divided into seven chartsandtemplatee.

chart showing how to take rneasmments for a mask and an illlrstmtion of the completed mask fmm ‘Reseure Garments - A manwl of their design and fabrication’

Some of the book will be of inter- est only to therapista working with lymphoedema patients. In the man- agement of lymphoedema off-the- shelf high-compression garments are more appropriate but occasion- ally when these are not suitable a made-*measure one is needed.

Lydia Gillham BA MCSP DipTP

video A Gulde to Measurement for Camp Prr#uurre Ganncnts: The helping hand to bums recovery pmducul by Caw LM, Notbnghem Road, Long Eaton, Notthgham NO10 1JW. 20 minutas. Fmofdnqp.

Camp Ltd makes custom-made pressure garments. This video has been professionally made, is clear and of good quality. It has been pro- duced for use alongside the Camp order form. When to take measure- ments and how to fill in the form are explained. The majority of the video ie taken up with a demon- stration of how to take the measurements of various parts of the body. This video is useful for therapists

working with burns patients, but of little use for those dealing with lymphoedema.

Lydia Gillham BA MCSF DipTP