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Thirty-two chapters contributed by 69 authors make up these proceedings of the European Physical Society Quantum Electronics Division Conference, held in Florence, Italy, in September 1979. Articles are grouped under the following subject headings: "General Introduction" (five chapters), "Photodynamic Therapy of Tumors" (six chapters), "Photodermatology" (six chapters), "Phototherapy of Hyperbilirubinemia" (three chapters), "Absorption and Fluorescence Spectroscopy" (four chapters), and "Raman and Picosecond Spectroscopy" (eight chapters).
The interdisciplinary flavor of the conference is apparent from the table of contents. Its high quality may be inferred from the list of participants, many of whom are leaders in their field. However, the backbone of what was undoubtedly a successful scientific meeting presents some difficulties when considered in vacuo. First, almost every dermatologist and photobiologist will find certain chapters too basic and others too sophisticated. For some readers, there may be no middle ground. However, the physician modestly acquainted with lasers and their medical