Growth diagnosis : selected methods for interpreting and predicting physical development from one year to maturity

Diagnosis: Selected Methods for Interpreting and Predicting Physical Development from One Year to Maturity. By Leona M. Bayer and Nancy Bayley. Price, $10.00. Pp. 241, with 175 figures and charts; 80 tables. University of Chicago Press, 5750 Ellis Ave., Chicago 37, Ill., 1959. It appears that this book will be especially interesting and useful to pediatricians, nutritionists, psychologists, physical educators, and those in other disciplines who are engaged in research related to growth and maturation of children and adolescents. In this one volume is presented in admirable completeness more information than is usually available about methods and equipment for collecting and interpreting growth measurements. Part I deals with Methodology in collecting and analyzing data on the individual patient. Particular attention is devoted to techniques of inspection, anthropometry, photography, and x-rays of the hand and wrist for skeletal age. Incidentally, one can hardly agree with the authors that x-rays of the hand and wrist alone should be recommended rather than surveys of hip, knee, foot, shoulder, elbow and hand and wrist, in a book which otherwise contains such detailed suggestions about methods for growth appraisal. Part II consists of 22 case illustrations of normal and abnormal growth in children and adolescents. This section would be interesting to most physicians, even those not particularly concerned with measurement of growth. However, there is nothing unique about this section in comparison with books on endocrinology of childhood and adolescence already available. Numerous photographs, charts, and tables throughout the book augment the usefulness of the material contained in the text. THOMAS E. SHAFFER, M.D.