The Ciba Collection of Medical Illustrations

The Ciba collection of medical illustrations, by Frank H. Netter, MD, and a host of illustrious editors, is truly a gigantic undertaking. This latest publication, volume 6, dealing with kidneys, ureter, and bladder, is printed beautifully, and the illustrations are of the quality, nature, and originality that have distinguished Dr. Netter's career as a medical illustrator. The scope of the book is enormous, ranging from anatomy and embryology through therapeutics, including dialysis and transplantation. Of course, in any such undertaking, the text, although quite accurate, is quite limited and superficial, with no single area dealt with in any detail. Thus, the audience for which this book has been created is not clear. Clearly, it is not detailed enough for the nephrologist or clinican interested in renal disease, nor detailed enough for the medical student. Thus, although the compendium is attractively bound and expertly illustrated, it would appear to me that