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Ions, their movements across membranes, and their flow through specialized ion channels are central to the understanding of brain function, normal and pathological. This book deals with the regulation of ions in brain, and the effects of changing ion levels on the excitability of neurons and on synaptic transmission. The roles of ions in generating epileptic seizures are considered, as well as in the devastation caused by hypoxia and stroke in brain tissue.

Great advances have been made in the area of sensory physiology during the last few decades, and these developments seem to be asking for a comprehensive review that is manageable in size and cohesive in content. This volume has been written with that goal in mind. In the first place I would like to thank Mr. R. van Frank of Appleton-Century-Crofts for asking me to do the job, and my wife for persuading me to do it, for writing it was an enjoyable task. Much of the discussion of factual data set to print here evolved in question-and-answer sessions in courses given to students in physiology, psychology, and medicine, and to physicians training in neurology, neurosur gery, and psychiatry. Besides my students, I had in mind while preparing this text my professional colleagues laboring on their lecture notes under circum stances perhaps not unlike my own. The material is divided in two parts. The first deals with the manner of representation of sensory information in peripheral nerves: the so-called first order code. The second half of the text deals with the handling of sense data by the central nervous system. One reason for dividing the material in this way is that many of the features of the first-order code are common to all sensory modalities. The intensity, the place, the rhythm, the "quality" of stimuli are encoded by rules which are applicable, albeit with appropriate modifications, to all senses. Furthermore, these rules of coding are today rather well understood.

For twenty-three years, George Fischbeck was a schoolteacher in Albuquerque, and for the last thirteen of those years taught science on a public television station that was beamed all over New Mexico. He also served as a weatherman on Albuquerque’s top-rated TV newscast where he was so popular that the general manager of a competing station sent tapes of his weather forecasts to all the top ABC Network stations nationwide in hope that one would hire George and get him out of New Mexico. When KABC-TV in Los Angeles responded, it was the start of a love affair between Dr. George and the City of Angels that continues to this day. Not only has Fischbeck had a long career as an awardwinning journalist and educator, he has also helped raise millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes. His story is all here, and the best part is what the fewest people know: the heartwarming memories of a family man.

As soon as supper was over in the housekeeper's room, Dorothy sped to the keep, whereshe found Caspar at work.'My lord is not yet from supper, mistress, ' he said. 'Will it please you wait while he comes?'Had it been till midnight, so long as there was a chance of his appearing, Dorothy wouldhave waited. Caspar did his best to amuse her, and succeeded, -showing her one curiousthing after another, -amongst the rest a watch that seemed to want no winding after beingonce set agoing, but was in fact wound up a little by every opening of the case to see thedial. All the while the fire-engine was at work on its mysterious task, with but now and thena moment's attention from Caspar, a billet of wood or a shovelful of sea-coal on the fire, apull at a cord, or a hint from the hooked rod. The time went rapi

When he got out of the quarry, he made for the highroad, but missing the way the dog hadbrought him, had some hard work in reaching it; and long before he arrived-at thecottage, what with his wound, his loss of blood, his double wetting, his sleeplessness aftermistress Watson's potion, want of food, disappointment and fatigue, he was in a high fever.The last mile or two he had walked in delirium, but happily with the one dominant idea ofgetting help from mother Rees. The poor woman was greatly shocked to find that the teethof the trap had closed upon her favourite and mangled him so terribly. A drop or two of oneof her restoratives, however, soon brought him round so far that he was able to crawl to thechair on which he had sat the night before, now ages agone as it seemed, where he now satshivering and glowing alternately, until with trembling hands the good woman hadprepared her own bed for him