Perspectives in Biology and Medicine

brain stem ofanimals. These reports are followed by 10 papers relating to reflex, that is, peripheral nervous regulation of respiration, and include the original work of Breuer and Hering and of Heymans. Section 2 describes efforts toward measuring lung volumes, dead space, distribution of gases, and diffusion of gases in the lungs. The original papers describing the nitrogen meter, whole body Plethysmograph, and methods for determining ventilation-perfusion relationships are reproduced. The introduction of carbon monoxide for measuring diffusion is reproduced in some detail, as is the use of radioactive gas to measure regional blood flow. The first five papers of section 3 describe methods for determination of blood gases, and the sixth tells about the infrared gas analyzer. In fact, in these two volumes together, 34 papers chiefly described new methods and 21 additional papers reported new discoveries which had to have some new methodology. The importance of methods cannot be overlooked, for advances in almost any scientific field are largely dependent on them. This section reprints original papers that describe the effects of temperature, buffers, hemoglobin, and carbonic anhydrase on carriage of gases by the blood. The last two chapters relate the relatively recent information concerning the role played by organic phosphates (DPG). These volumes were sent to me with the comment, "I think you will agree that masterful commentary on the genuine classics makes for 'Super-extraordinary' reading....." I do agree that these excerpts of the best of scientific material are uncommonly good fun to read! Robert W. Virtue, M.D. 727 Birch Street Denver, Colorado 80220 Man in theAndes: A Multidisciplinary Study ofHigh-Altitude Quechua. By P. T. Baker and M. A. Little. Stroudsburg, Pa.: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, Pp. 482. $25.00. In a hospital lounge in New Orleans some years ago, a physician who had grown up in that vicinity asked, "What do you do when the temperature gets down to zero?" Such curiosity concerning people who live in far-off places is nearly universal, but information about distant areas is largely anecdotal. Studies have been made of subjects who live under various conditions of climate, temperature , diet, fertility, land productivity, language, and tradition. Most studies pointed toward one feature at a time, such as "Effect of High Altitude on Human Birth" or "Responses of Andean Highlanders to Night Cold." Planners of the International Biological Program (IBP) urged initiation of multidisciplinary studies to ascertain how populations living with a simple technology could biologically adapt to their environment. Some work had already been done to find how genetic selection operated on man and how men adapted 608 Book Reviews to specific stresses. Further work was stimulated by the IBP urging, and this volume contains observations made by 17 scientists, including several anthropologists , who made an integrated effort to obtain information concerning biology of human populations at high altitude. Many features of human existence were examined in this combined effort. Selection was made ofa fairly stable population that had been in existence before the arrival of the Spaniards. The area chosen is geographically nearly independent . Occupation is chiefly agricultural and pastoral and has changed little for generations. Only those people of the community were chosen for study who were racially Quechua Indian, that is, no mestizos were included. After selecting the study group, detailed data were gathered on altitude, geography, climate, temperature, precipitation, social and political systems, economy of the area, religion, the ecosystem, food production and preservation, and evaluation ofthe diet. Migration and gene flow were considered in an ethnohistorical perspective. Activities and customs directly affecting individuals were observed, such as child care and training, mortality in the neonatal period, child growth with attention to development with age. Physiological aspects of the adult Quechua centered on body size, composition, and morphology; pulmonary function and utilization of oxygen; hematology (this factor was not as complete as desired because of native resistance to drawing blood); cold stress and responses to it. Much effort and thought were directed toward analyzing work performance, evaluated in conjunction with measurements of energy requirements and availability , and adaption to limitations involved. The influence of drugs, especially coca, on work and adaption to stress was considered. Two findings of this multidisciplinary survey are worthy of...