THE INTIMATE PROBLEMS OF WOMEN.

By Henry B. Safford '04, M.D. New York:Hawthorn Books, 1953. 256 pp. $3.95.

Henry Barnard Safford has written a series of articles for the Ladies Home Journal, eight of which appear in expanded form in this book under the title The Intimate Problemsof Women. There are in addition twenty-two other chapters. The subject matter covers most of the common disturbances and some of the less common that would bring a patient to her gynecologist. The author is Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Medical College and a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He has written historical fiction as well as another popular book in his professional field entitled Tell Me, Doctor.

The scene is the office of a gynecologist and each chapter introduces a new patient and a new problem and the total represents the new patients seen by him in something over two weeks. The material is presented as a discussion between patient and doctor. It is written for the lay person and much of what is presented is as suitable for the daughter as the mother of the household. Indeed, the writing is so elementary that this would seem to be what Dr. Safford had in mind. In addition to the discussion of disease processes, much fundamental anatomy and physiology of the female pelvic organs is presented and not a few "old wives' tales" are exploded.

Besides presenting fundamental information, the author is crusading for good medicine and for good care of the patient, especially in his specialty. One of his recurring themes is that the patient (and relatives) should avoid self diagnosis and self treatment and should present herself early to a competent gynecologist.

That Dr. Safford's articles are read is attested by the number of questions the gynecologist must answer after the appearance of one of them. For the most part, the presentations have merit but occasionally emphatic statements are made which are confusing or frightening or both, or perhaps present a personal opinion of the author which has not been confirmed scientifically. Possibly some facts are distorted for emphasis, clarity, interest of the reader or to further his crusade. Especially in the first two instances unwarranted worry has occurred and while the last is the prerogative of the historical novelist it may boomerang when such supposedly accurate articles are dissected in the women's clubs.

It is said that a little education is a dangerous thing but the public is justifiably demanding this type of article. Dr. Safford is qualified by his professional background and his literary inclinations to write in the field of obstetrics of gynecology for the lay person. Except for differences of opinion, generally minor in nature, the reviewer feels that he has presented his material suitably and rationally.