This is an edited text, consisting of 35 chapters written by 35 separate sets of authors. The chapters are divided into three groups—20 of the chapters treat the pathogenesis of hypertension, seven discuss diagnosis, and seven discuss treatment. An initial chapter by Dr William Manger and Dr Irving Page provides an overview of the disorder. The authors are primarily investigators and clinicians from West German institutions, with a sprinkling of other authors in selected areas. The book's chief editor, Dr Julius Rosenthal, is associated with Ulm University, West Germany.
If nothing else, the book clearly indicates the wide variety of organ systems and physiologic mechanisms that must be considered in discussing the pathogenesis of hypertension. These establish the theme of the book, which is that hypertension is a "mosaic" and is essentially a disease of distorted control mechanisms. Thus, individual chapters are concerned with behavior, obesity, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, the CNS,