Atlas of Anatomy of the Hand by Johan M. F. Landsmeer (review)

partially to its bicameral organization. In both states the subject appears to be governed by either voices or commands which afford directions that evoke no self-conscious criticism. There is no confrontation between the two "camera" of the human mind. I found this an arresting interpretation, clarifying and original . As I mentioned earlier I found much to cavil with in almost every item of the author's supporting documentation. More important I felt that the author neglected areas in which highly pertinent tests for his concepts might be found, particularly animal behavior, ethnology, and childhood mental development. But I do not write this review with the intention of developing a critique. That I think deserves a much more extensive effort than possible here. Rather I wish to point out that, as one trained in neuroendocrinology and ethology, I found it stimulating to follow the author's thoughts into the strange field of mentalistic interpretation. Einstein is reported to have rejected quantum theory with the remark that "God does not play dice." Modern physics seems to be saying that he was quite mistaken in this. Perhaps in behavior also it would be well to forgo prejudging the future of science and take a fresh look at consciousness. For those willing to try I suggest this book is a stimulating place to begin. REFERENCE 1. R. W. Sperry. Perspect. Biol. Med., 20:9, 1976. William Etkin 339 East Park Avenue Long Beach, New York 11561 Atlas ofAnatomy of the Hand. ByJoHAN M. F. Landsmeer. New York: Churchill Livingstone Press, 1976. Pp. 252. $55.00. Those who know Johan Landsmeer only by his retinacular ligaments will have their eyes opened by his monumental new book, the Atlas ofAnatomy ofthe Hand. This beautiful work, published superbly by Churchill Livingstone, Ltd., is largely an exquisite and exhaustive treatise on the author's definitive anatomical study of the fetal hand. The text is accompanied by sequential cross-sectional and sagital views, using for the most part one series of transverse sections, starting proximally with the carpal area and proceeding distally through the "Fibrous Constitution of the Finger." A chapter called "Microdissection" is added, and the book ends with "Functional Considerations." The writing throughout is clear and readable, the organization is logical, and the material is of unquestionable authority. The work is clearly the product of a master—one of the preeminent hand anatomists of our time. My reservations about this book lie rather in the accessibility of the information contained, and a key to this difficulty is that Landsmeer saw fit to omit an index. He felt that a detailed table of contents would be "much more helpful to the reader," but in doing so, severely limited the value ofthe book as a reference. The book has been designed "for both anatomists and surgeons, for both Perspectives in Biology and Medicine ¦ Autumn 1977 | 165 trainees and teachers," but the format makes it much more a source text for advanced study than a "reference source of old and new information on the hand." Indeed, the very inclusion of new information—with a confusing accompanying array of new terminology, such as "juxtametacarpal compartment" —makes an index all the more sorely missed. Landsmeer's new atlas is an awesome and remarkably successful attempt to achieve a three-dimensional, "functional-spatial" compendium of hand anatomy, but a reference book it is not. Lee E. Edstrom, M.D. Department of Surgery University of Chicago Modern Stoma Care. Edited by Frank C. Walker. Edinburgh, London, and New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1976. Pp. 193. $22.50. This book was written by a team of three British surgeons, a medical officer of health, a dermatologist, a district nursing officer, and a stoma therapist. To date, it provides the best guide on the day to day problems of managing the complications of an ileostomy, colostomy, and ileal conduit. It is simply worded, gives adequate details, and has excellent drawings and illustrations. Although it is aimed mainly for the stoma therapist it caters adequately for anybody, junior or senior, who is actively involved in creating or treating these stomas. The appendices covering various types of stoma equipment and stoma adhesives from various firms give good practical...