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"DIE VORGEBURTLICHEN ENTWICKLUNGSSTADIEN
DES MENSCHEN"
1961
by E. Blechschmidt S. Karger, Basel
688 pp., 579 figs., 6 tbs. Price: s.Fr. 96.—
This large volume is essentially an atlas. It is predominantly concerned with
the first two months of development, i.e. the stages leading up to the establishment
of the basic anatomical pattern. Although the treatment is continuous,
three main sections may be distinguished, viz. "ova", "embryos" and "body
regions with their organs".
Throughout the book German and English are used side by side in parallel
fashion. The basic plan of the book is such that the righthand page always
shows the plates, while on the facing page appear the legends to the figures,
and a verbal account of the processes illustrated.
No attempt has been made to designate the stages depicted by numbers or
letters. The length of the embryos is used as the stage criterion troughout,
while days, weeks and months are used to subdivide the development into
general periods, which are indicated at the tops of the plates in the first two
sections. In the third section their place is taken by indications of the organs
shown.
The illustrations, partly drawings, partly photographs, are of superb quality,
which is in part the result of outstanding techniques of reproduction and
printing.
The theoretical background for the interpretation of the plates is formed by the author's
original ideas concerning the "biodynamic" factors underlying developmental processes. These
factors are envisaged mainly as geometrical and mechanical interrelations, growth movements,
etc. It will be understood that this feature gives the book a rather pronounced personal quality.
The book also contains a glossary, a restricted list of references, a very brief tabular
outline of the history of embryology, age tables of human embryos, a tabular survey of
ossification, and finally a very extensive subject index. Lay-out and printing of the book
are excellent.
"LEITFADEN DER ENTWICKLUNGSGESCHICHTE
DES MENSCHEN"
6th edition, 1961
by H. Boenig f VEB Georg Thieme
(revised by R. Bertolini) Leipzig
320 pp., 263 figs. Price: DM 20.40
This is a revised edition of a book which appeared first in 1937, and underwent
no essential changes until the fifth edition (1953). In the present edition
the advances of the last two decades have now been incorporated. The illustrative
material has also been thoroughly revised and extended.
The book was written especially for the use of medical students, and
therefore exclusively concerns the human embryo until term. Literature references
are not given. The treatment is limited mainly to morphogenesis,
histogenesis being treated occasionally. Developmental anomalies are also
treated only occasionally.
The book is in three sections, one dealing with gametes, menstruation and
fertilization, one with early development, placentation and gravidity, and one
with organ development. The illustrations are numerous and on the whole of
good quality.
The book is concluded by a subject index.
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