Thrombophlebitis: A Treatise on Its Etiology, Diagnosis and Treatment

This very brief book is an excellent general summary of a protean subject, thrombophlebitis, based in large part on the author's broad experience in peripheral vascular disease. As a treatise, it justifiably omits an extensive bibliography. The author has clearly presented his "personal comprehension" of the problem, and considering that little is new in the field, this approach is adequate. Of the new material, he mentions the use of fibrinolysins and pulmonary embolectomy, with appropriate comments on each. He suggests that the medical profession delay widespread use of fibrinolytic agents until their total effect is better known and until laboratory methods of control are better standardized. He regards pulmonary embolectomy as a "potential major advance." The reviewer, as a surgeon, must disagree with several of the author's comments on the role of venous ligation. Dr. Estes states that neither iliac nor femoral vein ligation is suitable treatment "except, perhaps, when