Abstract
Down's syndrome has been recognised since medieval times but only named after John Langdon Down (1828–1896) more recently but David Wright has published through Oxford University Press his Downs, the history of a disability. This pleasant hardback is easy to read and a welcome addition to the literature.
René Chang has written Scalpel in the Sand: Memoirs of a Surgeon in Saudi Arabia, published in softback by UFT Press (ISBN 978-0-9569119-0-2). This work by the retired Director of Transplanatation at St George's Hospital in London describes his 10 years in Riyadh Military Hospital. The story is of life in that country and of the challenges presented by radical surgery procedures.
Luka Jantjie, Resistance Hero for the South African Frontier (ISBN 978-0-9250651-1-1) by Kevin Shillington, a writer on African History, is published by Aldridge Press in London. With many illustrations and some remarkable colour views of Africa, this book describes a little of the medical challenges but really it is a story of a remarkable man.
Edward Harrison has featured in the pages of this Journal and Bob Pendell has written a book to expand knowledge of this pioneer. A Victory over Prejudice, the life and times of Edward Harrison MD 1759–1838 is published by the author at 8 Thornton Crescent, Horncastle, Lincs, LN9 6JP, UK (e-mail:
Scottish Medicine, an Illustrated History (ISBN 9781780270180) by Helen Dingwall, David Hamilton, Iain Macintyre, Morrice McCrae and David Wright provides a fine, colourful and very well illustrated and fascinating view of Scottish Medicine. Each author has taken a section, for example David Wright's contribution is Nomad To Nation, Nation to Reformation and the volume is strongly to be recommended as a truly exceptional book of medical history. An excellent Christmas present.
Frank Clifford Rose has published History of British Neurology (ISBN-13978-1-84816-668-4) through Imperial College Press in a fine binding depicting Thomas Willis on the front and the text discusses the long history of the study of nervous diseases from before Willis until the twentieth century. A volume full of information about persons, this volume qualifies well for the shelves of those interested in the lives of our predecessessor medics.