Neurology illustrated

Medicine is an art which reaches its highest expression in neurology; form and function follow each other intimately. It is a delight to see a skilled neurologist examine a patient and lay out the neurological signs so that the diagnosis is made apparent (even to a third year medical student). Netter’s neurology combines the great beauty of Frank Netter’s drawings with Royden Jones’ text to give an intricate interweaving of art and science, also a thing of beauty.

H Royden Jones Jr has been working with Frank Netter and his drawings since he collated Nervous system, Part 2, neurologic and neuromuscular disorders. Most consultants and many students will have utilised these fabulous drawings at some stage in their careers.

Netter’s neurology acknowledges that for many of us clinical learning and its recall is based on both case history and imagery. The text is aimed primarily at medical students or junior doctors, but the images are excellent teaching tools for consultants to demonstrate both pathology and anatomy to patients.

The text is not as comprehensive as Adams & Victor’s Principles of neurology, and does not have the number of case reports seen in John Patten’s classic Neurological differential diagnosis, but it wins hands down for the quality of the illustrations. In addition to the illustrations, there are examples of the latest imaging techniques including CT angiography, photomicrographs and updated pictures.

There are some annoying typographical errors and some minor editing mistakes. For example, the tumours of the pineal region are reproduced in the atypical Parkinsonian syndromes chapter.

Many of the features of this book will be timeless, particularly the first few chapters on the neurological examination and neuro-ophthalmology, as well as the cranial nerves.

Netter’s neurology is very weighty, and perhaps inadequate as a text for practising consultants, but it is an excellent textbook for students to borrow from the library (or from a generous consultant).

James T HughesNeurologistTamworth, NSW