EXTENSILE EXPOSURE

IT is always stimulating, and sometimes very enlightening, to look at an old subject in a new way; and when a person has the gift of making others do so he is indeed a teacher. Professor Henry has this gift, to which is added a command over our language, and an evident love of it which almost defeats its own ends. There is a great temptation when reading this book to appreciate the English of each phrase and to enjoy the little "nicknames" given so abundantly to nerve-muscle-artery relationships, and to miss the real kernel which is the wealth of accurate observation. The method used in reviewing the book was to take it to the anatomy department, and, ignoring the beauty of the English composition, to carry out many of the dissections as described in its pages. As these dissections unfolded it became more and more evident that the book is a great one and by a great teacher who might prove, even to an anatomist, that so-called "gross" anatomy is not finished. Each dissection contains some tricks; each trick works like a charm, and the book succeeds completely in its professed purpose, which is to show us how to make incisions and dissections which will give us adequate exposure of those parts of the body on which we need to work. For this reason it can be recommended to all general surgeons as well as to orthopxdic surgeons, who have always appreciated the first edition. It should be an excellent book for revision purposes for those who are working for examinations in anatomy, particularly the "primary" F.R.C.S. The first edition was called "Extensile Exposure applied to Limb Surgery." This new (second) edition adds the neck, parts of the chest and the pelvis. The new areas are spotlighted in the same original manner. When some of the exposures are carried to their limits they are very extensive. They start in the correct position to be made extensive as required by dividing certain unimportant structures. This does not mean that they start extensive-merely extensile. The author states that he would like to think this unnecessary advice, but it is really very necessary, as one sometimes sees enormous incisions where a smaller one would do quite well. The whole spirit of the book may be summed up in the statement that there are enough difficulties in surgery without adding inadequate-or overadequate-exposure. s. V.