JUNE, 1971 P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y Page 17 J . Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat., 33, 5, O ct., 1970: G i l l i a t t , R . W ., i .e Q u e s n e , P. M ., L o g u e , V ., e t a l . : W asting o f the hand associated with a cervical rib or band. S u m m a ry : N in e patients presented unilateral w asting o f the hand m uscle associated with either an elongated trans­ verse process o f C /7 or a cervical rib. In alm ost all cases sensory disturbances preceded the m otor changes. A t operation, all cases show ed a fibrous band extending from C /7 transverse process or the rudimentary rib to the region o f the scalene tubercle, which had caused angulation and often visible path ological changes in either the lower roots or the lower trunk o f the brachial plexus. W hilst sensory sym ptom were relieved follow in g operation, weakness and wasting were o n ly arrested and appeared little improved even after periods o f up to eight years after the operation. J . Neurosurg., 33, 4, O ct., 1970: S c h n e i d e r , R . C ., G o s c h , H . H . , N o r r e l l , H . , e t al.: Vascular insufficiency and differential distortion o f brain and cord caused by cervicom edullary footb all injuries. S u m m a ry : A rather horrifying account o f injuries sustained at A m erican fo otb all, interesting because the m echanism s o f injury are n o t o n ly discussed, but also illustrated by photographs taken at the m om ent o f the accident. J . Appl. P hysiol., 29, 6, D e c., 1970: P e t r o , J. K ., H o l l a n d e r , A . P ., and B o u m a n , L. N .: Instantaneous Cardiac A cceleration in M an induced by a Voluntary M uscle Contraction. S u m m a ry : In a study o f health subjects the authors con ­ sistently foun d an instantaneous acceleration in the heart rate follow in g u p on a short static biceps contraction. They cite other literature to support their hypothesis that the m uscle spindles m ay be the receptors for a reflex decrease o f vagal dom inance on the heart rate, but recognise that the pathway to the cardioinhibitory centre is not yet established. Annual Review Physiol.; 3 2 ,1 9 7 0 : S a n d o w , A .; Skeletal M uscle. Summarises research d on e and published o n skeletal m uscle during the tw o years ending July, 1969. Over 300 references are given. Yearbook o f Neurology and Neurosurgery, 1970: D e J o n g , R . N ., and S u g a r , O. (editors). R eview s literature published in the year endin g October, 1969, including b oth b ook s and journals. T he sections in this issue o f m ost interest to physiotherapists are probably those o n N euroanatom y and N europh ysiology, M yopathies and Parkinson’s D isea se (in the section o n N eurology) and those o n Trauma, D isk D isease and Involuntary M ove­ m ents (in the section o n N eurology). T he other sections, unfortunately, con tain little o f practical interest to the physiotherapist. S. IR W IN -C A R R U T H E R S O T H E R A R TIC LES O F IN T E R E S T Am. J . O cc. Ther., 14, 7, July, 1970: C u r r e r i , P . W ., and P r u i t t , B. A .: E valuation and Treatment o f the Burned Patient. Ibid., 14, 8, August, 1970: V o n P r i n c e , K . N . P., C u r r e r i , P. W ., and P r u i t t , B. A . : A p plication o f Fingernail H o o k s in Splinting o f Burned Hands. Am. J . P hysiol., 219, 5, N ov., 1970: O t s u k a , M ., and O n t s u k i , I.: M echanism o f muscular paralysis by insulin with special reference to periodic paralysis. Arch. Neurol., 23, 3, Sept., 1970: B r o d y , I. A ., and R o z e a r , M. P . : C ontraction R esp onse to M uscle Percussion — P hysiology and clinical significance. Develop. M ed. and Child Neurol., 12, 5, O ct., 1970: B r i n k , J. D ., G a r r e t t , A . L ., H a l e , W . R ., e t al.: R ecovery o f M otor and Intellectual F unction in Children Sustaining Severe H ead Injuries. J . Applied Physiol., 29, 4, O ct., 1970: K r o e m e r , K . H . E ., and G i e n a p p , E. M .: H and-held device to measure finger (thum b) strength. J . Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat., 33, 5, O ct., 1970: S t a l b e r g , E., and T r o n t e u , J. V.: D em onstration o f a xon reflexes in hum an m otor nerve fibres. N ed. tijd. voor fysio., 80, 11, N ov., 1970: R o z e n d a l , R . H ., en C h a t i n i e r , K . : A nalyse van het gangpatroon van jongens, m eisies en jon ge vol- wassenen. Ibid.: K l a s i n g , W . E . : Ultrageluid-therapie. Ibid., 80, 12, D e s., 1970: D r i e s e n s , D . J . : Een beknopt overzicht van de behande- ling m et tractie. S.A . M ed. J ., 44, 40, 1 1 4 7 , O ct., 1970: P i l k i n g t o n , P . : Sports and A th letic Injuries, a Physio­ therapist’s Approach. SP E C IA L L Y R E C O M M E N D E D Supplements to “ Neurology” : 1. The T orsion D ystonias (D ystoria M usculorum D efor­ m ans), N eu rology 20, 11, Part 2, N o v ., 1970. 2. Pharm acologic and clinical experiences with levod opa: A sym posium , N eurology, 20, 12, Part 2, D e c., 1970. BOOK REVIEW P H Y S IC A L T H E R A P Y E X A M IN A T IO N REV IEW B O O K , V O L U M E n . Clinical A pplication by R . A . Hershey, B .A ., M .A ., R .P .T . Publishers: M edical Exam ination Publishing C o. In c., 65-36 Fresh M eadow 'L a n e , F lushing, N .Y . 11365. Price $7.00. T his is a b o o k consisting o f 2 000 m ultiple choice ques­ tions, the answers o f which are referenced to standard textb ook o f P hysical Therapy in Am erica. This form o f testing and exam ining is n o t w idely used in the m edical and paramedical fields in Sou th A frica at present, however,, a trial run is being considered by our U niversities in the M .B .B .C h. exam inations in selected subjects. T he advantage o f m ultichoice questions is the tremendous fields that can be covered in any on e subject, but depth o f know ledge cannot be tested by this m ethod. R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. ) Page 18 This is a very com prehensive volum e, it has 10 sections. 1 200 questions are related to aspects o f P athology, M edi­ cine Psychiatry, O rthopaedics, Surgery, D erm atology and Clinical N eurology. T h e balance being devoted to Electro­ therapy, and a section headed A p plication which is m ainly m echanics o f m ovem ent and applied anatom y. Each question is referenced. T he references are limited to 19 text b ook s o f which three are com m only used in our ow n schools. H ow ever, I w ou ld highly recom m end this b o o k to students for revision w ork as a m ethod o f testing overall familiarity with the subjects, but not as a substitute for their regular text book s. I also think that this com prehensive volum e could form a basis for teachers’ sym posia on the value o f this m ethod o f exam ining as against the present m ethods generally practised. J.B. BOOK REVIEW Physical Therapy Procedures. Selected T echniques by A n n H . D ow ner, B .A ., M .A ., L .P .T ., Publishers — Charles C. T hom as, Springfield, Illinois, U .S .A . 16 Illustrations. 174 pages. 1st E dition 1970. Price $7.95. This b o o k is a new approach to physiotherapy techniques and its application, consisting o f 32 chapters, bibliography and an index. T he Intro d u c to ry C hapter gives the usual inform ation required in the preparation and treatment o f patients. M ore em phasis could have been given o n skin testing and warning the patient that som e treatments could be dangerous, that n o earthed conductors are in close proxim ity and checking if sensitisers are not being used or taken. N o m ention is m ade in C hapter Two o f protective mesh screens w hen using lum inous type I.R . lamp. These lamps should be placed parallel to the skin surface rather than directly over the patient. T he rheostat control for increasing or decreasing the intensity is n o t m entioned. “Bakfers” is a U .S .A . term for lum inou s I.R . cradles. The term “ Burn” is used where scald w ou ld probably be m ore appropriate, but this is constant throughout the text. M oist air or humid baths are rarely used in this country, except as a Sauna Bath. In the section o n W a x B a th s the initial application tem ­ perature appears to be rather high. The m ethod o f cleaning and sterilising the w ax differs from that in current use here. The use o f air as a dielectric in S h o rt W ave D ia th erm y is considered safer than the use o f tow elling wherever possible. T w o and a half tim es the skin electrode distance is c o n ­ sidered adequate, and not ten inches as quoted in the b ook for co-planar techniques. W ith the majority o f m odern m achines, once resonance, has been obtained, it is not neces­ sary to re-tune after altering the intensity. T esting o f the m achine and warning the patient that the treatment could be dangerous is essential. In M icrow ave, weal applicators i.e. 35 m m or less can be used in contact with the skin. W ith Ultra S o u n d the m achine should be tested in water and on on eself before using o n a patient. A w ood en spatula and not th e transducer head should be used to spread the coupling m edium , and it is not custom ary to use water below skin temperature for underwater treatments. JUNE, 1971 The types o f U ltra-V iolet S o u rc e s differ from those at present in use here; it is com m on practice to give the patient a copy o f the shapes used in the test dose to record the correct aperture. Patients must wear the sam e clothing for each successive treatment. In Iontophoresis th e indifferent pad is usually tw ice that o f the active pad. W ith abnorm al skin conditions treatment is usually contra-indicated. A dosage o f 2 m .a. per square inch or th e patient tolerance is th e usual dose given. Similarly with D irect Current bandaging is recommended to prevent th e danger o f sh ock to a patient. T he techniques described are not considered good. E le ctric a l Stim u la tio n . It depends o n the patient’s response as to whether the anod e or kathode is used for the active or indifferent electrode and is used by testing. T he co-planar technique is used for denervated m uscles and the point o f best contraction is fou n d by test and should be stimulated for as long as possible or until fatigue sets in, the muscles being placed in a shortened p osition w ith the type o f machine in use in Sou th A frica the intensity control should be reduced before turning back to the rheobase to check. | The G alvanic-Tetanic test is not used in this country. C om bined U .S. a n d E le ctric a l S tim u la tio n also Trigger Points as the type o f low frequency current used is n o t indicated, the techniques described are o f little use. It is felt that Tank or P o o r H o is t should precede the chapters on H u b b a rd Tank a n d Therapeutic P ools. The C om bined M o is t H e a t and E le ctric a l S tim u la tio n units are not in use in Sou th Africa. T he B ibliography is g ood also the In d e x which is cross- referenced. The b o o k appears to fall short in regards to students in that it does not have sufficient detail and explanations, giving reasons for the various techniques and selection o f the most suitable apparatus. T o the qualified staff there is a tremendous am ount o f repetition. It is o f very lim ited value to students and physiotherapists in South A frica for the a b ove reasons. Secondly, all the equipm ent described in the b o o k is not freely available in this country. It w ould be o f value to physiotherapists w h o wish to visit th e U n ited States , o f America. NATAL PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION Suitably qualified persons are invited to apply by n o t later than 2nd July, 1971, for the underm entioned posts. A pplication forms are obtainable from the M edical Super­ intendent o f any Provincial H ospital in N atal or from the Director o f H ospital Services, Private B ag 9051, Pieter­ maritzburg. T he com pleted forms should be returned to the Director o f H osp ital Services. T U T O R P H Y S IO T H E R A P IS T : P R O V IN C IA L M E D IC A L R E H A B IL IT A T IO N SE R V IC E S, D U R B A N C om m encing salary: R 2 700 per annum. D u ties: T uition in all aspects o f Physiotherapy training: theoretical, practical and clinical. P H Y S IO T H E R A P IS T : A D D IN G T O N H O S P IT A L , D U R B A N : 6 P O S T S C om m encing salary: U p to R 2 700 per annum. P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y R ep ro du ce d by S ab in et G at ew ay u nd er li ce nc e gr an te d by th e P ub lis he r (d at ed 2 01 3. )