The recent advances in correlating physical signs with physiologic events of the heart have created a need for a concise review of the meanings of heart sounds, murmurs, and precordial movements. Dr. Ravin has met this need in this readable book directed to the student and practitioner.
Three introductory chapters acquaint the reader with the properties and transmission of sound and with the use and abuse of the stethoscope. In addition, the author introduces a method of recording auscultatory findings which has its major merit in forcing the examiner to be methodical in eliciting the various heart sounds and murmurs.
In the next six chapters Dr. Ravin discusses heart sounds and murmurs in relation to their origin and recognition. This, an excellent section for the practitioner, has its weakness for the student or cardiologist since it does not cite references. It would have been helpful to have made specific reference