Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

Abstract

This is an expensive account of a rather inappropriately titled symposium.Only four or five papers deal with the effects of long-term drug usage, and this count de- pends on a generous interpretation of the word 'long'.The remaining contributions cover the classical fields and models of teratology.Many, particularly those from American contributors, have been published in more detail elsewhere.A notable exception is the contribution by R. L. Brent, and there is a valuable article on the incidence of variation and malformations in ani- mals by A. K. Palmer.Although the dangers of specu- lation on the teratogenic effects of drugs are emphasized by one writer, who reminds us of their value and neces- sity in clinical medicine, many other authors are more self-indulgent.An article by I. D. G. Richards puts the risks in better perspective.The volume will be of limited use to workers in the field of teratology who will already be familiar with most of the information to be found within it.