This book is written in three parts. Part one consists of 117 pages and was written by Dr. Coca. In this section, hypersensitiveness, anaphylaxis and allergy are discussed from a theoretical standpoint. The literature is covered thoroughly, and an attempt is made to clarify many of the terms that have arisen in these fields. A table is presented giving the essential differences between anaphylaxis, atopy, hypersensitiveness of infections, contact dermatitis and serum sickness. These subjects are discussed in great detail from the standpoint of occurrence, age of onset, how established, heredity, mechanism, reaction of the gunea-pig, reaction of the human skin and possibility of desensitization. The last chapter of this section is devoted to the preparation of extracts and solutions for use in testing and treatment in human hypersensitiveness.
Part two is devoted to the consideration of asthma and covers the next 370 pages. Dr. Walzer discusses the early history