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This monograph, in handbook style, is a more complete review of seizure problems than the title would imply; in fact, only the last third of the book deals with treatment. With wise attention to principles and concepts, there are chapters on physiology and metabolism, seizure types, the work-up, and differential diagnosis and conditions mistaken for epilepsy. Following these, there is a chapter on general treatment and a final one on social, educational, and behavioral problems of epilepsy. The authors state, in the preface, that the work "is directed to practicing physicians, residents and medical students who are not specialists in neurology."
Avoiding discussion of many controversial problems in epilepsy control, the authors give the management principles and practices used at the Cornell Medical College and The New York Hospital. For example, they state, without quibbling, that phenobarbital given during the preschool years and phenytoin (diphenylhydantoin) after beginning school are the