928 Book reviews

inoculation of himself to study Bartonella orga­nisms is another chapter of special interest todermatologists. Other chapters deal with suchtopics as cardiac catherization, anesthesia, dietarymanipulation, rabies vaccination, and many equal­ly interesting problems. All are well written andheavily documented, and aid to those who seekfurther details.

My only disagreement with Dr. Altman is aminor one. At every turn, he seems vitally con­cerned about the ethics of self-experimentation.Although there certainly have been physicians whodid great harm to themselves in the interest ofresearch, think what the alternatives might havebeen. To me, the moral issue is simpler: if aresearcher is determined to try something new in ahuman subject, who can be a more appropriatesubject than the researcher? In any event, no onecan accuse Dr. Altman of endorsing self-experi­mentation, because he cautiously presents bothsides of every story. If you have a chance, read thisbook You'll find it a welcome change from mostdaily medical reading.

Walter H C. Burgdorf, MD., Albuquerque, NM

The tradition of excellence. Dermatology atthe University of Pennsylvania 1870-1985Herman Beerman, M.D., and Gerald Sylvan Laz­arus, M.D. Philadelphia, 1986, University of Penn­sylvania. 274 pages. $49.

This encyclopedic review details the foundingand development of the department of dermatology

Journal of theAmerican Academy of

Dermatology

at the University of Pennsylvania and presents anaccount of the accomplishments of the personsassociated with it. The accomplishments are mani­fold, as anyonewith the slightestacquaintance withthe specialty will readily acknowledge. Beginningwith Louis Duhring and continuing through Ste1­wagon, Hartzell, John Stokes, Herman Beerman,Donald Pillsbury, and Walter Shelley and right upto the present day, faculty and graduates of theUniversity of Pennsylvania department have beenprominent participants in every scientific and edu­cational advance in the world of skin diseases.

Organizational problems are inseparable fromworks of this literary genre, in which historical,biographic, statistical, and philosophic frames ofreference compete with one another. The resulthere, as always, is a reference work, a source bookfor fact hunters that cannot easily be read straightthrough.And yet at the same time this example is abrowser's delight. The often witty, candid, andamusing reminiscences featured here and submit­ted by dozens of alumni, many of whom havebecome influential figures on the dermatologicscene in their own right, are particularly reward­ing.

Those of us who trained at Penn will scarcelyneed any urging to acquire a copy, but the book isbetter than that. Because of the significance of thecontributions and the caliber of the men describedin its pages, the work belongs in the library ofanyone interested in the history of the specialty.

John Thorne Crissey, MD., Pasadena, CA