Development of Mammalian Absorptive Processes (review)

This is a book that can be read by any biologist, or any scientist for that matter. But as I read it, I thought how nice it would be if it could be placed on some universal short list of required reading for young clinical neurologists. The author's earlier book Charles Sherrington: An Appraisal would also be on the list. From the two one can learn in a few evenings about the transformation of Fechner's "outer psychophysics" to what was inaccessible to Fechner, though he knew it would come into existence some day. He called it "inner psychophysics." It is what we now call neurophysiology. As a further characterization of the physical side of Fechner's equation, how much closer does neurophysiology take us to mind? In answering that question it is easy to talk nonsense. Granit deals with it quietly and sensibly, yielding in the end, so far as I can gather, to the sign ignorabimus on the wall, but not to the temptations that have snared a good many other biologists. There is no reference here to an entity called "conscious awareness" which analyzes and interprets patterns of nerve impulses in the cerebral cortex. Nor will you find in this book any claim to the effect that neurophysiology is on its way to setting up energy equivalents for thoughts, and that when this is done the problem of consciousness will no longer exist. It is probably superfluous to say that I like very much the idea that Professor Granit's book is on my shelf—next to his book on Sherrington and his monographs on the retina, the receptor organs in general, and on the physiology of motor control. If any of these were not there where tliey belong, I would be restless and discontent until they were replaced. REFERENCE 1. Roe, A., and Simpson, G. G. (eds.). Behavior and evolution. New Haven, Conn.: Yale Univ. Press, 1958. Sidney Schulman Division ofBiological Sciences University of Chicago Development ofMammalianAbsorptive Processes. CIBA Foundation Symposium, n.s. 70. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica, 1979. Pp. xii+338. These proceedings consist of 16 papers and related discussion periods presented at an international symposium in London, England, in January 1979. The goal of the meeting was to examine critically past and current experimental research on intestinal maturation and to define promising areas for future study. While most of the data were derived from laboratory animals, serious efforts were made to relate the findings to man—as emphasized in the transcribed interactions which follow each paper and in a 14-page concluding general discussion . The symposium was chaired byJohn T. Harries of the Institute of Child Health in London, who emphasized that recent scientific advances have resulted in a marked increase in the survival of very young premature infants and that a Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 25, 3 ¦ Spring 1982 507 clearer understanding of the development of fetal and neonatal absorptive processes should help even further in this regard. The authoritative coverage includes intestinal morphogenesis, epithelial cell differentiation, intestinal enzyme development, bile acid metabolism, the early transport of macromolecules, hormonal factors in gut maturation, the nutritional needs of the premature infant, and perinatal changes in the absorption of trace elements. Each article starts with an informative abstract, and the clearly written text is supplemented by 85 figures and 23 tables. The bibliographies provide useful references for background reading, while the separately referenced discussion periods cite many articles that were still in press in early 1979. As a result, this book can be recommended as an excellent starting point for students or research workers interested in developmental aspects of human nutrition. It should certainly also be of much interest to perinatologists, pediatric gastroenterologists, and others concerned with all aspects of intestinal function in prematurity, health, and disease. Stimulating ideas and suggestions for needed investigation abounded at this meeting; the proceedings make fascinating reading. Sumner C. Kraft Department of Medicine University of Chicago A Century of Surgery: The History of the American Surgical Association. By Mark M. Ravitch. 2 vols. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Co., 1981. Pp. lvii+1737. $195.00. In 1980 the American Surgical Association had its one hundredth annual meeting. To mark...