demonstration that surgical innovation was slow and often uncertain when chronicled day by day. It is a pity that the author, having surveyed such vast information and having gained such insight into the realities of innovation, should not have attempted some analysis or synthesis of his material. Perhaps another volume is in preparation: let us hope it is a slimmer one. David Hamilton Universi...

The French conception of Information science is often compared to the Anglophone one which is perceived as different and rooted mainly in Shannon's mathematical theory of communication. While there is such thing as a French conception of information science, this conception is not totally divorced from the Anglophone one. Unbeknown to researchers from the two geographical and cultural regions, ...

indecision and resistance to change all hindered plans set out so hopefully in Tenon's fifth memoir, with his vision of 'How splendid hospitals can be'. It is tempting to see parallels in some of the problems faced by Tenon in drawing up his reports and in the politics of the finance, administration and location of hospitals today. The recent Tomlinson Report on hospitals throws the same shadow...