This is a well-written, albeit brief, general review of bronchial asthma. In this book, as is so often the case when one author attempts to cover an entire field, some portions of the subject receive minimal, superficial coverage while other aspects are given critical, thoughtful analysis. There are 238 numbered pages, but only 150 pages of text. The balance is allocated to references (43 pages) and to numerous charts and tables. There are 26 separate chapters: an unwarranted fragmentation as many chapters are very brief indeed. Chapter 9, entitled, "Inflammation," is about 700 words long and could have been incorporated into chapter 20, "Infection," which is a succinct nine-page review of the interaction between respiratory infection and asthma.
Some of the very brief, incomplete chapters (presumably included merely to provide complete coverage of the subject) are on pulmonary function tests, normal pulmonary physiology, metabolic studies in asthma, and psychosomatic aspects