Before the introduction of antibiotic therapy, maggots were routinely used to treat wounds. Now it appears certain bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics, maggots have once again become a viable treatment option, especially for slow-healing wounds. Fleischmann (trauma and reconstructive surgery, Bietigheim Hospital, Germany), and his co-authors Martin Grassberger (medicine and biology, U. of Vienna) and Ronald Sherman (pathology, U. of California, Irvine) describe the maggots used in medicine, including those of the phaenicia (lucillia) and sericata (green blowfly). They include material on clinical applications such as the free-range and containment systems, indications, adverse effects and risks, cost effectiveness, frequently-asked questions, and a list of readings. In his preface, Sherman, who is well-known as the premier medical maggot supplier in the US, rightly warns readers that the clinical photographs are not for the faint of stomach. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)