Pulmonary and Respiratory Physiology ed. by J. H. Comroe, Jr. (review)

BOOK REVIEWS Pulmonary and Respiratory Physiology. Vols. 1 and 2. Edited by J. H. Comroe, Jr. Benchmark Papers in Human Physiology, vols. 5 and 6. Stroudsburg, Pa: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, 1976. Pp. 397 (vol. 1); 445 (vol. 2). $52.00. These volumes are classics of the classic literature of physiology! The Benchmark papers set out to print the classics of physiology, and Dr. Comroe has arranged some really exciting reading for everyone who has any interest in the development of pulmonary physiology. The Benchmark concept was publication in toto of original articles, but of 1 16 chosen for these volumes, only 44 are given completely and only excerpts from the other 72 are printed. This was an excellent decision. Part 1 is divided into sections on air, oxygen and carbon dioxide, mechanical properties of the lung and thorax, and the pulmonary circulation. Short commentaries by Comroe at the beginning of each section give excellent background and correlation for the articles chosen. A bit about the authors and their historical perspective makes each article more enjoyable. Where would you, the reader, begin to choose important articles pertaining to the development of respiratory knowledge? Comroe chose the discovery of carbon dioxide by van Helmont in 1662. Several well-known discoveries are related in ensuing chapters, and these enable one to appreciate the ingenuity and initiative that was shown by investigators who had to make their own equipment and chemicals without the benefit of supply houses. Later chapters of section 1, part 1, deal with articles that tell of discovery of laws that we now take for granted. The works of Toricelli, Boyle, Henry, Dalton, and Bert are most illuminating. Comroe states, "Throughout the early history of science, we come across giants who had little formal education; Dalton was one of these, although he taught in a village school at the age of 12!" Comments such as this arouse the reader's interest in the early pioneers. Section 2 includes Hooke's lecture on the spring, Poiseuille's experiments with fluids flowing through small tubes, Laplace's theory ofcapillary action, and leads up to the discovery of surfactant. Excerpts from two articles that appeared long before Harvey reported his experiments are found at the beginning of section 3. Harvey's work, as would be expected, is also included. Developments in measurement of pulmonary blood flow and pressure, right heart catheterization, and measurement of capillary wedge pressure are part of this section, which closes with some information about nonrespiratory functions of the lung. Part 2 consists of "Regulation of Breathing," "Pulmonary Function in Man," and "Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide: Measurement and Transport." Section 1 comprises concepts of central control of breathing including chemical influence as an integral part of the concept. Most of these studies involved sectioning the Perspectives in Biology and Medicine · Summer 1977 | 607 brain stem ofanimals. These reports are followed by 10 papers relating to reflex, that is, peripheral nervous regulation of respiration, and include the original work of Breuer and Hering and of Heymans. Section 2 describes efforts toward measuring lung volumes, dead space, distribution of gases, and diffusion of gases in the lungs. The original papers describing the nitrogen meter, whole body Plethysmograph, and methods for determining ventilation-perfusion relationships are reproduced. The introduction of carbon monoxide for measuring diffusion is reproduced in some detail, as is the use of radioactive gas to measure regional blood flow. The first five papers of section 3 describe methods for determination of blood gases, and the sixth tells about the infrared gas analyzer. In fact, in these two volumes together, 34 papers chiefly described new methods and 21 additional papers reported new discoveries which had to have some new methodology. The importance of methods cannot be overlooked, for advances in almost any scientific field are largely dependent on them. This section reprints original papers that describe the effects of temperature, buffers, hemoglobin, and carbonic anhydrase on carriage of gases by the blood. The last two chapters relate the relatively recent information concerning the role played by organic phosphates (DPG). These volumes were sent to me with the comment, "I think you will agree that masterful commentary on the genuine classics makes for 'Super...