Clever medical textbook

In tropical countries Man is a natural target for an incredible num ber of parasites. A variety of flies, bugs and other insects like to feed on his blood. Some, mosquitoes for instance, add insult to injury by simultaneously injecting him with other parasites causing malaria or elephantiasis. And then there is a long list of ‘worms’—tape worms, hookworms, round-worms— as well as the microscopic fauna that can take up residence in the gut.

All of them can produce conditions in Man which, while not necessarily causing death, may drain stamina and vitality to such low ebbs that the person becomes a husk of himself and a liability to his fellows. Most para sites can be effectively fought with simple precautions in cooking, toilet and sanitation.

Parasites of Man in Niugini sets out to describe the anatomy, way of life, the effect on Man, and the geo

graphical incidence of the diseases they produce, of all the important parasites. It is a very good textbook for students of the subject, with clear diagrams and illustrations, graphs and so on, together with a straight-forward and comprehensive text.

It is also a rather unusual text book because it is aimed not only at medical students and practitioners but local councils in New Guinea and the general educated public there, of all races. It therefore includes much material in the form of local anecdote as well as interesting moments from the history of the sub ject which usually do not find their way into a teaching text. One is, in fact, entertained while being in structed and the authors as well as the publisher must be congratulated for this achievement alone. —John Simons.

(Parasites Of Man In Niugini. By

W. H. Ewers and W. T. Jeffrey. The Jacaranda Press. $6.95).