36 DEVELOPMENT OF THE FUNCTIONS OF 



THE SMALL INTESTINE IN MAMMALS AND MAN 



1969 

 by O. Koldovsky S. Karger AG 



212 pp., 70 figs., 11 tbs. Basel 



Price: $ 12.70; 106 s. 



Contents: A. Changes in the morphological structure of the small intestine of mammals 

 during development; B. The development of motor activity of the digestive tract; C. Devel- 

 opment of absorption of water, ions and vitamins; D. Digestion and absorption of carbo- 

 hydrates; E. The digestion and absorption of lipids; F. Development of absorption of proteins 

 and aminoacids; G. Developmental changes in some other enzymatic activities; H. Functional 

 development of the small intestine of human fetuses 



Owing to its very specialized nature this thorough monograph is announced 

 only briefly. The author works in the Laboratory of Developmental Nutrition, 

 Institute of Physiology of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague. 

 For the benefit of the reader the main chapter headings are listed above. 



The book is well produced. It is illustrated mainly with graphs. The biblio- 

 graphy covers 15 pages. There is no author or subject index, but the table 

 of contents is very detailed. 



37 CONGENITAL DEFECTS 



1969 

 by L. Saxen and J. Rapola Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. 



Developm. Biol. Series New York 



255 pp., 108 figs., 22 tbs. SBN 03 079255 X 



Price: $ 10.50 (cloth); $ 5.95 (paper) 



Contents: 1. The problem and the task; 2. Methods in teratology; 3. Genetic aspects of 

 congenital defects; 4. Genesis of congenital defects; 5. Sensitive periods in development; 

 6. Endocrines and maldevelopment; 7. Radiation hazards; 8. Chemical teratogenesis; 9. Virus 

 and embryo 



As far as the reviewer is aware this book is the first of its kind. So far 

 anyone interested in teratogenesis had to go either to the large handbooks 

 or to specialist monographs. The present book concisely discusses all the major 

 aspects of the subject from the viewpoint of the developmental biologist rather 

 than of the clinician or pathologist. It is therefore of interest to the embryo- 

 logist who wants a general orientation in an important related field, as well as 

 to those planning to go into teratogenesis for its own sake and seeking basic 

 information. The authors are active investigators both in experimental em- 

 bryology and in teratogenesis. 



The book presupposes rather much knowledge of basic biology, and there- 

 fore cannot be recommended to undergraduate students. Medical terminology 

 is avoided as much as possible. Equal attention goes to morphological, cellular, 

 physiological, and biochemical congenital defects. 



Major features of the book are the use of a great variety of examples from 

 many systems, and the inclusion of much of the important recent literature. 

 All chapters are concluded by selected bibliographies divided up into reviews 

 and special articles. 



The book is illustrated with a great many good drawings, graphs, and dia- 

 grams, all especially prepared for this work, and several good photographs. 

 Much tabular material, sometimes especially compiled for this book, is also 

 included. The captions and lettering of the figures are not always absolutely 

 clear; some extra attention should be devoted to this in future editions. The 

 book is concluded by a combined author and subject index. 



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