Reviews Edited by A. R. Brownlie

THE BRAIN SCIENTISTS

Explorers of the Brain L. A. Steuens (Angus I?. Robertson, London, 1973; 330pp. Index, A2.95)

3000 years ago, the brain was spooned out from the dead through the nostrils by Egyptians who thought of it as unconsequential jelly. But from Plato on- wards, the significance of the brain was recognized, and Hippocrates came close to a modern description of the brain's function. He conceived it as the organ of sensation, thought and emotion and these three areas of psychological interest still form the tripartite basis of formal courses in psychology.

By the second century AD, Galen had already distinguished between the motor and sensory nerves, and his theory of their function-as pneumatic tubes con- veying animal spirits from brain to muscle-survived unchallenged until Hooke introduced the compound microscope in 1665. The notion of animal spirits lingered on until the advent of those bioelectric studies by Galvani and his contemporaries brought medical research to the threshold of modern electrophysiology.

In text and picture, great names from the past parade before us: Sherrington and Pavlov, Caton and Cajal, Vnlta and Rerger, providing a continuity in man's fascinating search for the innermost secrets of the brain.

The refinements in their apparatus and techniques led to the detection of brain rhythms, and the most exciting chapters of the book chronicle the work of today's brain scientists. With the advent of radio micro-transceivers surgically implanted in the head and a radio link to a suitably programmed computer a two-way communication between biological brain and n~echanical brain has been achieved. Sense receptors-even consciousness-are not required! The remote control of human behaviour using implant surgery is already with us; the reviewer has an ineradicable memory of a young girl gently playing a guitar, and suddenly smashing it to smithereens against the wall in a frenzy when a radio signal was transmitted to the aggression centre of her brain. We are still a long way from Huxley's Brave New World, but already man has esceeded many of Scific's predictions.

This is an absorbing and thought-provoking book which has much to offer anyone with an interest in the science of man. Even psychologists, who will find nothing new in content, will readily appreciate this new perspective on one of their primary areas of professional interest, and enjoy the narrative no less than the physical scientist.

L. R. C. Haward

LOOKING THROUGH GLASS

A History of Glassmaking R. W. Dollglas and S. Frank (G. T. Foulis G? Co. I,td., Henley-on-Thames, 1972; 213 pp. + 14plntes, £4.50)

Giass figures prominently in a number of aspects of forensic science. The history of glassmaking should, therefore, have an automatic interest for those who dre continually investigating and measuring the chemical and physical properties of glass. I n addition, developments in glass manufacture throughout the years, which are detectable or identifiable by scientific examination of the

glass, can serve as aids to the dating of glass specimens: a method which frequently proves of value in detecting museum frauds. I t should be made clear that this book does not deal with dating specifically; but the reader can use it to create, or fill in the blanks on, his own time scale.

Of special interest in this connection is the chapter on ancient glass composi- tions with the beautiful colour illustrations of the famous Lycurgus Cup. There are 12 other plates, but in black and white, illustrating notable glassware, including the Hall of Mirrors a t Versailles.

Other chapters cover the history of the subject from the earliest times (1300 BC) to the early twentieth century, in general terms. Optical glass, refractories and furnaces, flat glass and glass containers are covered separately. The last chapter is entitled "Science and the Glass Industry", dealt with in only 9 pages -which seems inadequate for either the scientist or historian. The authors are a leading authority on glass technology and a librarian-historian from University College of Swansea.

Glassmaking began in western Asia and Egypt in about 1300 BC and spread through the eastern Mediterranean into Italy, and thence to France, Spain and the Low Countries, reaching Britain only in the sixteenth century. I t is interest- ing to note that papermaking followed much the same route, although it started farther east and rather later-an example of the interesting points that can come to light on reading a book of this nature.

The authors quote a historian discussing historical thinking as follows: "But now we think of things as in a ceaseless flux; and though that makes them much more difficult and complex to grasp, we are a t any rate nearer to under- standing them, or at least describing them as they are."

A book to be recommended for pleasure combined with instruction.

Julius Grant

THE OLD OLD STORY

The Black Treasures of Scotland Yard Guy R. Williams (Hamish Hamilton, London, 1973: 202 pp. + 24 plates, A3.75)

"Of the making of books (popular, on crime) there is no end"-and the voli~me under review is the latest of a long list. What is its special claim to fame; ant1 to what extent will it interest the professional forensic scientist?

The title and book jacket (depicting a selection of the "treasures", duly labelled according to the crime) are effective eye-catchers for the public. How- ever, the bcok consists of a series of stories of famous crimes, some old and often retold (as of Charlie Peace); but mostly recent and varied (the Kray story, pornography, spies, the illegal immigrant racket, drugs-and, of course, the Great Train Robbery, in capitals!).

The stories are told graphically and in great detail-sometimes so much as to be rather boring. A somewhat laboured jocularity may offend scientist readers. T o the extent that forensic scientists like this kind of story, told in this way, and will pay L3.75 for it, this book may be recommended for light reading.

However, some members of the Society may read about their own cases, which is always intriguing; and all readers will be impressed by the cnthusiasm and dedication of the Police that these stories disclose.

Julius Grant