vi FOREWORD 



cine of the present century. About 25 years ago, Indian physicians brought 

 reports about the action of a drug and specimens of the preparation to the 

 writer for evaluation and criticism. Preoccupation with seemingly more 

 pressing problems led to filing the reports and discarding the specimens. 

 Had time permitted an examination, Rauwolfia might have entered medi- 

 cine at that time. 



The authors are less concerned with past neglect than they are with 

 emphasizing possible immediate medical applications in a promising field. 

 Much important data has been presented on nutritional, physiological, 

 toxicological, and public health problems. Also, some rather interesting 

 clinical hypotheses have been propounded, particularly in the neurologic 

 realm. Since a vast majority of the references included in their excellent 

 bibliography are derived from non-medical sources, the implication of 

 neglect by physicians does not seem unwarranted. 



Although countless other subjects occur to the writer (and, it is 

 hoped, to the reader), an unwritten rule must be obeyed: the introduction 

 should not be longer than the actual text. In summary, the authors have 

 surveyed the world literature on algae and plankton in relation to medi- 

 cine. They have appended an excellent bibliography of widely scattered, 

 but generally available, references, most of which will not be found in 

 the usual medical index. They have accented the recent literature dealing 

 with promising fields of investigation and possible application to current 

 medicine. There has been made available a concise introduction to a 

 subject as old as recorded medical history, yet so new that many medical 

 investigators do not realize its existence. 



Linn J. Boyd, M.D., F.A.C.P. 

 Professor of Medicine 

 The New York Medical College, 

 Metropolitan Medical Center 



