Hypertensive Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment

This book was written to aid physicians in their treatment of hypertensive disease. The material is described under the headings secondary hypertension susceptible to cure and not susceptible to cure, primary hypertension, principles underlying treatment, and specific treatments; 12 appendixes are added. The success or failure of this volume will depend on whether it proves useful to the busy practitioner, since no attempt has been made to evaluate critically or document the evidence on which recommendations for treatment are made. The result is a highly personal book.

In general the writing is clear, if prolix, and the suggestions for treatment are for the most part adequate. The references are capriciously used and might better have been omitted. For example, the heading of appendix 7 refers to the use of chlorothiazide and ganglion-blocking agents in boldface type; just why is far from clear. Appendix 10 seriously recommends dihydrogenated ergot alkaloids as