Each year since 1941 The American College of Surgeons has held a Forum on fundamental surgical problems, which was originated under the guidance of Owen H. Wangensteen. Since 1951 the collected papers from this meeting have been published annually. In this latest volume there are 154 papers, presented in 10 different sections. Each section is introduced by an authority in the field, who summarizes and evaluates the papers presented. Approximately one-third of the papers are concerned with research in the related fields of heart and vascular surgery. Another one-third of the papers are devoted to investigations of nutrition, body fluids, metabolism, steroids, and cancer. The remainder are related to the gastrointestinal tract, liver and pancreas, anesthesiology, burns, shock and wounds, and use of plastics.
This volume previews much of what will appear in the literature and in greater detail during the ensuing year. If there are those who believe that