137

Rtanimation et Mkdecine d’Urgence, by G. Franqois, M. Poisvert, P. Boucetreau and Cl. Grauthil, Masson, Paris, 1985, 336 pp., FF 94.00.

This short book belongs to a series of ‘p&is de mtdecine,’ dealing with medical specialities. It consists of 3 parts (pathophysiology of main functions, general techniques and therapeutics for intensive care, current emergencies) with chapters written by different authors. Such an extensive review of physiology, diagnosis and treatment of emergencies in so a short book cannot be very detailed and complete. This approach makes the book especially valuable as an introduction to intensive care, to general practitioners, medical students, nurses and technicians in respiratory care.

It is reasonably up to date. The chapters vary in quality, and it lacks a chapter dealing with serious infections and sepsis. It cannot be used as a practical guide for diagnosis and treatment because these chapters are not detailed enough, but it can help readers to understand the pathophysiology of critical states and what a general practitioner can do, and when and where to hospitalize critically ill patients.

Sabine Bergeret Dept. of Anesthesiology,

HZpital Rothschild, 75.571 Paris Cedex I2 (France)

Antidromic Vasodilatation and Neurogenic Inflammation, edited by L.A. Chahl, J. Szolcsanyi and F. Lembeck, Akademiai Kiado, Budapest, 1985, E31.00.

This volume, the proceedings of a satellite symposium of the 29th International Congress of Physiological Sciences, brings together contributions from many of the world’s leading authorities on antidromic vasodilatation and neurogenic inflamma- tion. It is a field seemingly dominated by a single compound, capsaicin. Indeed, almost half of the 23 contributions include capsaicin in their titles and it receives some mention in the text of most of the others. However, this does not mean that their authors have all succumbed to the temptation of following a fashion. On the contrary, a recurring theme is the desire to clearly establish the selectivity and mode of action of the compound in order to define its usefulness as a pharmacological tool.

Lembeck’s introductory paper provides some definitions and sets the scene for subsequent contributions. Szolcsanyi, in two papers, gives a useful historical over- view of the discovery of capsaicin, the description of its effects on chemically and electrically evoked neurogenic inflammation, and then goes on to consider the concept of dual sensory-efferent function for peripheral terminals of capsaicin-sensi- tive primary afferent neurones.

Several contributions consider the effects of capsaicin, administered in various ways, on the electrophysiological properties of sensory neurones in relation to their roles in nociception and plasma extravasation. In an interesting and provocative chapter, Fitzgerald and Woolf reflect on some of the difficulties experienced by