The Genetics of Bacteria and their Viruses

have been shown to develop in children during convalescence from measles. Rinderpest in cattle presents as a febrile illness followed by the appearance of mucosal lesions in the mouth, and diarrhea. Infected tissues (and tissue culture cells) contain multi-nucleated giant cells with cytoplasmic inclusions and syncytia formation similar to that seen in measles-virus infected cells. Lumpy skin disease virus, reviewed by Dr. K. E. Weiss, was first recognized as an infection in 1945. The disease is prevalent in cattle in Africa. There are many unresolved questions as to its manner of spread, the possible role of mosquitoes, and the way in which the virus maintains itself in nature. The agent belongs to the pox group: it is a DNA virus, morphologically similar to vaccinia. Stained preparations of infected cells reveal characteristic cytoplasmic inclusions. The disease is manifest in cattle by circumscribed skin nodules, and marked enlargement of superficial lymph nodes. The mortality is low but the disease is of economic importance because of temporary or permanent cessation of milk production, infertility of bulls, and permanent damage to hides. A live attenuated virus vaccine has been used with success. This volume constitutes an authoritative reference work on the three diseases covered. It will serve as a valuable addition to the virologist's book shelf. Research series, is an excellent historical review of the diagnosis and treatment of lymphomas. Since the author is a radiologist, he is especially keyed to the X-ray therapy of lymphomas, which are indeed often best treated by this method. The first half of the book discusses Hodgkin's disease; the second half subdivides the discussion of lymphosarcomas into reticulum type of lymphoma. As a fourth year medical student I found the book short enough to be read at one sitting, yet complete enough to give a history of each disease as well as the most recent methods of diagnosis and treatment for each. This is an immensely valuable book. In a logical, clear, and straightforward fashion, the author surveys the discoveries of the golden age of molecular biology. The book is a little more than 900 pages long. It is neither a summary nor a catalogue. It has a clear and critical point of view based firmly on experimental data. The book contains well-written introductory accounts of the basic laws of genetics, the elements of genetic analysis and the bio-120