monographs not available outside the U. S. S. R. The purpose of the book is limited to a scrutiny of a few plants from a medical point of view. It is satisfying to know that some familiar North American plants have been closely studied.
The book is divided into three parts: the first devoted to the heart and blood circulation; the second to the central nervous system; and the third to kidney and bladder, and diuretic problems as such. It is a very technical work with eventual conclusions for medical practitioners or students of Herbalogy. The illustrations are schemes, charts, records of cardiographs, electronic equipments, etc. The book was sold out on publication, to institutes, libraries and researchers. The value of this book is seldom duplicated in our research institutes.
TZITZIN, N. B., ANICHKOPF, C. V., ITZKOFF, N. Y.( Editors-in-Chief), Atlas Lekarstvennych Rastenia U. S. S. R.( Atlas of Medical Plants of U. S. S. R.). Size 9 × 12 in., VIII & 704 pp., illustrations. Index( Russian and Latin) on chemical properties, 16,000 copies, price R11.57( U. S. $ 12). Publisher: Gosudarstvennoe Izdetelstvo Medicinskaya Literature, Moscow. 1963. No Anglo-American publication compares with this book our favourite, on medical herbs. While studying the illustrations a strong desire to understand the Russian language is essentially felt. Over 600 botanical, chemical, agronomical, medical and pharmaceutical plants are described, many of which are native to North America. More information is now available on American medical botanics in Russian publications than Anglo-American. As a rule, our herbal books are written, published and sold by the herbalists themselves; with some of the older books being reprinted by private companies on request. The book reviewed, however, is the combined efforts of the State Research and Scientific Institute of Aromatic and Medical Plants. In addition to the members of the Academy of Science, twenty-eight outstanding national and international editorial board members have been associated with the book. The editorial staff was divided into sections: general plan and direction; botanic; agro-technic; chemistry; medical use; artistic illustrations. With this personalized background each group has given each plant its respectful place; many have all-round purpose throughout the book.
A team of 209 authors and artists prepared this luxurious atlas with full-page original pictures in natural water-colour showing every part of the plant in detail. The research of plants was from almost every territory-in 1960 an estimated 17,000 plants were subjected to further research. Our thanks go to those concerned with this book for consenting to our use of some of the illustrations.
The only other copy of the atlas known to be in this country was proudly displayed to us by a Mexican herbalist in California. He eagerly showed us the book and the English translations of the plant properties taken from the atlas. The book is well worth $ 12 for the valuable information of plant identification alone. The atlas is a wealth of knowledge with standards to match. We only wish translations were available to those interested. An understanding of the ten years’ work would be a real eye-opener; a job for someone in command of bath Russian and English and an expert in his field, be it agronomy, pharmacopea, botany, medicine, or whatever. In our work as herbalists we are informed as to medical use, botanical descriptions and agronomy, leaving thorough study to the experts in each respective field. As a created existence plant life is uncomplicated, but as a study it needs much explanation.
VESELOV, E. A. General Biology. 298 pp., illustrations. Official publication of The Ministry of Education, Moscow. 1963.
A very good textbook, handy for reference and information of new, officially-accepted educational material.
VOLKOVA, P. A., DOLGOVA, A. A., IVANOVA, C. D., LUKSHENKOVA, E. Y., LVOV, N. A., RAZDORSKAYA, L. A., RODIONOVA, V. M., Dikorastushie Lekarstvennie Rastenia( Wild Medical Plants R. S. F. R. Moscow Region)( Moscow Oblast). Editor: E. Y. LUKSHENKOVA, Size 5 × 8 in., 144 pp., halftone