From Neuron to Brain: A Cellular Approach to the Function of the Nervous System

This is the latest in a distinguished series of reviews based on the Necker Hospital's justifiably famous annual nephrology update. However, it is difficult to recommend this volume unreservedly as for a variety of reasons it fails to match many previous volumes in the series. It has fallen into the trap of many conference proceedings in committing every review to print, irrespective of content. Three chapters come into that category, relating to the strategies ofselecting various forms of renal replacement therapy and the results of renal replacement therapy in individual units. They add nothing to what has not been said elsewhere many times and will be familiar ground to all nephrologists. Of the remaining 15 chapters, seven are partly or wholly devoted to some aspect of antidiuretic hormone physiology, and probably provide within a single volume the best state of the art review on this topic currently available. However, there is considerable overlap between these chapters and a stronger editorial hand in the final written manuscript would have been useful. That leaves a miscellany ofeight other topics for the remaining chapters. These include a comprehensive and readable review of thrombosis in nephrotic syndrome and an interesting article about granulomatous interstitial nephritis. The remaining chapters unfortunately cover topics which have been adequately reviewed in other publications elsewhere and while eminently suitable for inclusion in a symposium, appear in print as thenow familiar review ofother reviews. A final infuriating aspect of the book is its organisation. Several chapters would fit quite happily in sequence, but instead are scattered throughout the book, thechosen order being devoid of any discernible logic. At £55.50 for less than 400 pages this is an expensive way of buying perhaps half a dozen useful review articles. If this respected series is not to grind to a halt, radical change in editorial policy would seem to be necessary. Anthony Nicholls Royal Devon & Exeter Hospitals Exeter Devon From Neuron to Brain: A Cellular Approach to the Function of the Nervous System, Second edition. Stephen W. Kuffler, John G. Nicholls and A. Robert Martin. Pp. xix + 651, illustrated. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, Massachusetts, 1984. £14.80.