In this volume the authors aim to give the opinion of pediatrician and surgeon on subjects of interest to both, and this opinion is the result of agreement reached in consultation. The pediatric portion is written by Karger. A book like this will be welcome to many.
A future edition may strike a better balance by omitting too detailed description of surgical procedures, as for instance in the chapter on harelip and cleft palate. Here, the necessity of having the children in good nutritional condition, by tube feeding if necessary, and free from infections of the respiratory tract, could and should receive more attention. The amount of food given young infants is rather scanty, and advice to limit the amount of saline or Ringer's solution given parenterally in desiccated cases of toxicosis to small amounts seems somewhat strange.
The intraperitoneal administration of blood is not recommended for fear of adhesions.