Functions of the Septo-Hippocampal System

Perhaps the greatest surprise to a British reader is to find that a section entitled Disorders of Movement is yet another metabolic section with clinical neurophysiology reduced to bare essentials. Lower motor neurone physiology is largely from laboratory animals, and the introduction to its disorders has 794 references with 11 pages on hypothetical (sic) lesions with portmanteaux neologisms (Kingengelopathies). Diabetic neuropathy is well described, though many would consider that it underestimates the axonal factor, and the section on leprosy is authoritative. The chapter on myasthenia gravis is comprehensive, but a reproduced table omits the association with epilepsy which now appears to be explicable. Congenital and dystrophic myopathies are well reviewed but need a Sparafucile (indexed forsooth). Neuroendocrine and autonomic disorders are followed by interesting essays on pain and headache, to complete a monumental work. Apparently higher cerebral functions are not scientific. Was it worth it? Well yes, for 1977; the question is, what is its half life? Nonetheless it would be less than generous to close without congratulating the authors on an enormous job well done.