THE SMEARED ARROW

Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons Louis J . Cnsarett; Jahtz Dozlll, Rds. (New lbrk, J4acmillan Publishing Co. Iuc., 1975, 74fpp., i t zhx , no price stated)

'I'his beautifully produced volume consists of thirty chapters by individual specialists grouped into four sections. The first section describes the elements of method and approach that identify modern toxicology. It includes those principles such as dosc response that arc most frcri~~cntly invoked in an under- standing of' toxicologic events. The secorld and perhaps unique section is organised according to the systemic site action of toxins. I t seeks to answer the question of what kinds of' injury are produced in specific organs or systems by particular toxic agents, and what agents might produce these effects. The third rriore conventional section groups toxic agents by chemical or use characteristics, and the final section discusses the applications of toxicology with special reference to forensic, veterinary and industrial toxicology.

The whole book is organised in such a way as to emphasise the framework of the subject and its ref'erence to other areas of human endeavour. For non- specialist readers it is possible to avoid the more technical chemical formulae and yet to achieve a reasonable understanding of the present problems which the science tackles as well as to take a look at thc aspects of the subject in which increasing stresses are likely to create the need for Surther studies and greater efforts.

The hook is thus a compromise bctwccn thc fundamental mcchanistic approach and a view ol' the broader horizons presented by the subject. As an adjunct to the more formal study of the chemical and biochemical roots of toxicology this vo1111ne is to he commcndccl.

'I.?. 1 d.

Individual Identification and The Law Enforcement Officer Donald J. Nash (SpritrgJielrl, Ill., C. C'. Thomas, 1975, 151/$., i n d e . ~ , $12.50)

In this book directed a t the police ofIicer concerned \tzitli identification or the perpetrator of crimc or the victim of disaster, Professor 'ash gathcrs togethcr an account of the biological and physical principles upon which thr various methods of identification are based.

Thcrc arc chapters on thc uniqucncss of the individual, fingcrprinr and voiceprint identification, personal appearance, forensic anthropvlugy and odontology, along with accounts of blood and other body fluids, handwriting and hair.

The hook does not uretend to be other than a peneral introduction but it L

includes a reading list of some 180 papers which supply the source material and which could with profit he read hy the interested poIice enquirer.

The book could have made more strongly than it rlnes the point that the process of identification is central to the forensic sciences and he Iegal process. The search for sameness and identity and the need fbr recognition should be understood both by police and by scientist as they sl~oulcl equally be apprr- hended by thc lawyer.

1,. 'Toan

TWO DOZEN FROM TIIE PACK

An Lnternational Pattern of Murder Ni<gel A4orLand (Ian Henry Publication.s, Hornchurch, 1977, 169#., £4.35)

This littlc compilation of 24 rnurdcr cases stretching from the 10th to the 20th centuries crisply re-tells the story, with thr benefir of additional inform-

ation glranrrl fi-orn thuse ~ ' 1 1 ~ have contributed by a lettei' or recollection to the Editor of the Criminologist. I t is a merit of the book that the accounts are bricfand unadorned. A handy reference for those interested in the well-known criminal trials, tilt. ideal occasional reading fix the busy police officer or scientist, this book on crime is of interest to everyone.

,J.K.

SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND

Crime Scene Investigation Gotklanl, K~nnelh Pt: (Kestor Publishing Co. Inc., I'irgitlia, 1977, 257@., no price stated)

'l'his hook is writtcn by a n individiial well expericncccl in his sul~ject. h4uch nfwhat he arlvises has been learned by scenes of c r i n ~ e investigators worlrl wide frorrl t h y 1i;lrd school of trial, error and proven need. Each chapter is a basic lesson in itself, huilding up into a logical and sequential approach to any scene nf crime invest igaiion. 'I'he reacler is lerl without frills or padrling from the equipment required to the collection and packing of crime and control samples. This is the kind of hook that any young police officer will benefit fiom reading. I t is a t!,ook ~nlhich will provicle a basic foundation of knowledge for the scriles of crimrs investigator to build upon. The questions posed a t the end of each chapter r r q ~ ~ i r c s c r i n ~ ~ s sturly of the text if thcy are to be answered.

AK.I.HI.K C:HAP~IAN

RULE OF THE R0.411

Wilkinson's Road Traffic Offences 91h Ed. Patrick Halnajz (Qyez Puhlishitlg, I,ot~dntz, 1977, N85@., indt-x, LIH)

When the late George Wilkinsc~ri set out 25 years ago to write a practical textbook on road traffic offences he provided a slirr~ volurne whicli in one fo~*m or another has been the practising solic.itor's coinpanion throughout a quarter of a century. Sucressivr erlitinns however, latlt.r*ly urider [lie autl~or%ship oI' Patric:k Halnan, have necessariIy grown in size as statutory changes have followed one another and casc law has clahorated the sometimes confusing or obscure direc- tions or llle legisla~oi-s. Tlie eighth edition contained a specially re-written chapter on drinkldriving offences which represented the fastest growing section of the work, and thc ninth cdition now contains a fresh re-writing of ' that important c l~apter under the pen of llavid I,atham, Barrister. Nnt only in scicntific tcxts is the 1veaIth of subject matter bcginninq to outstrip the capa- bilities of even the most accomplished alithor. I t is a tributc to thc skill of thc autllor and coinpiler that the (crtal size ol' the present volume is within a few pages of the size of its predecessor.

Renders of this Journal may wondcr how solicitors handlc the science-based drirlk/driving o fenc r evirlenre will1 al~solutcly no guidancc on or rcfcrcncc to the scientific litcraturc. Nevertheless no solicitor can afford to be without h i s practical guide to road traffic law.

ATJSTAIR 12. KKUWNI.I~

SLlGHTLY OFF TARGET

Ballistic Science for the Law Enforcement Officer C,'/LO~LPS G. lVilbc? (C. C. Thomas, Sprzngjield, Ill., 1977, 309bfi., ,614 up pro.^.)

Ballistic science i~ a tcrm often misapplied to the forensic examination of firrarrns or of firrd 1)ullets or cartridge cases. I n t h r titlc of tt~iq Imok thr tell11 is c.orrectlv LIVXI ancl it accords ~vi th ;1 quoted LT.S Arrr~v drfinitinn: " thr

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