January, 1954. P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y Page Eleven . D id th e . first constructors o f an arch, one wonders, derive the idea, o f laying stones with progressively narrowed bases together from the backbones o f the animals which had been killed for their fo o d ? It is usual to talk about the vertebral colum n, but we might just as well call the spine a series o f four arches, with successive narrowing and broadening o f the anterior and posterior surfaces o f the individual vertebrae and their connecting discs to form them. What wonder is it if, with all the stresses o f growth, o f gradual assum ption o f the erect posture and o f the carrying o f weights additional to that o f the head and body itself, either the curves o f the spine or the join ts o f the spine with the limbs sometimes com e short o f perfection or lose their proper relations during later life? Some spinal defects are congenital (Law, 1953), som e are due *to disease, but m ost are due to postural faults or overloading, and thus are preventable, by proper care o f the infant, the child, the adolescent and the worker in industry. Law, A . (1953). Vertebra] C olum n—Injuries an d D iseases.” In British Encyclopaedia o f M edical Practice, 2nd edition, p . 610. Lo n d o n : B utterw orth. FOR SALE PR IV A T E PR A C T IC E. F o r Sale, S outhern R hodesia—Thriving Private Practice established 1925. A udits available. Big opportunity for energetic Physiotherapist. Two attractive an d fully equip­ ped treatm ent room s an d office situated centre o f town in same buildings as ten other D octors. Owner retiring for dom estic reasons. P art Paym ent considered. A pply: P.O. 11, P h y s i o t h e r a p y D e p t . , G e n e r a l H o s p i t a l , J o h a n n e s b u r g . j * * * F O R SALE. One F arad ic Battery, One G alvanic and Sinusoidal M achine, Two Infra-red Lam ps an d One Short Wave D iatherm y Machine, all portable. A lso One H yfricator. W rite:—P . 012, P h y s i o t h e r a p y D e p a r t m e n t , G e n e r a l H o s p i t a l , J o h a n n e s b u r g , o r ’phone 6 - 4 9 6 7 (C ape Town). * * * * G O O D P H Y S IO T H E R A P Y P R A T IC E F O R S A L E , C A P E TO W N . A v a ila b le M a rc h 1st o r e a rlie r. A ny re a so n a b le offer c o n sid ere d . F o r p a rtic u la rs — w rite : P. 013, P hysio th era pv D epa rtm en t, G eneral H o sp ita l, J o ha n n esbu rg . * * * * PH Y SIO T H E R A PIST urgently required for N ursing H om e in Cape Town. Experienced with chest an d o rth o ­ paedic conditions if possible. Salary approx. £47 p.m . plus free lunch an d tea. A p p l y : — P . 014, P h y s i o t h e r a p y D e p a r t m e n t , G e n e r a l H o s p i t a l , J o h a n n e s b u r g . BOOK REVIEW T h e P r i n c i p l e s o f E x e r c i s e T h e r a p y by M . D ena G ardiner, M .C.S.P., 260 p.p., 193 Figs., Published by G, Bell & Sons, Ltd., Y ork H ouse, Portugal Street, L ondon, W.C.2. Price 21s. net. This is a book which physiotherapists have needed for years. Miss G ardiner is m ost qualified to write a book o f this nature, since she has the Diplom a o f Bedford Physical Training College an d is a Physiotherapy teacher. The principles underlying m ovem ent o f joints and muscles are clearly and fully explained. We are then given detailed techniques for mobilising jo in ts and strength­ ening muscles. A lthough m ost o f the text refers to active exercises, as naturally this forms the largest p a rt o f exercise therapy, the uses o f static muscle w ork and o f passive exercises are explained fully. Every jo in t in the body has specific movem ents described for it, both for m obilizng and strengthening. The text is profusely illustrated with excellent clear diagram s. T he clarity o f the text is striking, and includes a very useful chapter on instruction o f th e patient. This is quite the best o f the very few books published on this im portant subject, and it must be recom m ended not only to students but to physiotherapists and everyone interested in this vital aspect o f o u r work. L.D . L i v i n g W i t h a D i s a b i l i t y by H ow ard A. R usk, M .D . and Eugene J. Tayor, published by The Blakiston Com pany Inc., G arden City, N ew Y ork. Price $3.50. H ow ard A. R usk and Eugene J. Taylor, respectively D irector and A ssistant Professor o f the Institute o f Physical Medicine and R ehabilitation o f the New Y ork University —Bellevue' M edical Centre, have done a great service to all disabled persons by w riting this book. They have collected together inform ation about gadgets and devices for assisting these people in everyday activities so th at they can become as independent as possible. T he book is extremely well illustrated by p h o to g ra p h s, plans and diagram s o f the various devices all with an accom panying description o f them . Some would have to be m ade in O rthopaedic an d H ospital workshops, but others are simple enough to be m ade at home. This is prim arily a book for the disabled person himself, bu t it is an invaluable asset to any physiotherapist, since it is essentially one o f o u r im portant aim s that we help disabled people to become as self sufficient as they can. Included in the book is a very useful chart listing various daily activities whereby one can access a p atien t’s disabilities. I t w ould o f course also act as a useful incentive a n d form o f encouragem ent for the patient to be able to strike out his own particular disabilities as he learns to m aster them. “ Living W ith a D isability” was sent to us by the N ational F o u n d atio n for Infantile Paralysis and we are grateful to the Foundation for introducing to us such a well planned, useful an d attractively produced book. L.D . 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. )