Bacterial and Mycotic Infections of Man by René J. Dubos (review)

Bacterial andMycotic Infections ofMan. Edited by ReneJ. Dubos. 3d ed. Philadelphia:J. B. Lippincott Co., 1958. Pp. xii+820. $8.50. This is the third edition ofa well-known text designed, in the words ofthe Preface to the first edition, ". . . to convey to the medical student—and we hope also to the practitioner of medicine—some knowledge of the bacteria, actinomycetes and molds pathogenic for man, as well as the phenomena which characterize the infectious process." This volume, like the previous editions, should be of great value not only to the student and practitioner of medicine but to everyone interested in infectious diseases as well. The general plan ofthe earliereditionsisretained inthe present one. There arethirty-six chapters by thirty-seven different contributors, all recognized authorities in their respective fields. Approximately one-third ofthe chapters are concerned with general properties of the infectious process and infectious agents and the remainder with specific agents. The entire volume has been revised and reset, with many new illustrations. Two new chapters have been added: "The Evolution and Ecology of Microbial Diseases" by Dubos and "Chemotherapy of Microbial Diseases" by McDermott. A number ofsubjects included inthe earliereditions are nowdiscussed bynew contributors; for example, "Morphology, Physiology and Genetics ofBacteria" by Braun and Vogel and "Pleuropneumonia and Pleuropneumonialike Organisms" by Morton. It is regrettable that the inclusion oflarge amounts ofnew material necessitated drastic curtailment ofthe extensive bibliographies which were such an excellent feature ofthe earlier editions. James W. Moulder University ofChicago 524 Book Reviews Perspectives in Biology and Medicine · Summer 1959 ...