In the 1980s, this enormous textbook was a viable option for university courses in histology in the US. The book had been in print since 1954, and the 5th edition was published in 1983. One distinctive feature of the book is that it is an edited volume: individual chapters were written by a variety of scientists, reflecting the particular expertise of each. Accordingly, each chapter draws upon primary scientific literature making it as much a scholarly contribution as an educational resource. Text is generously accompanied with diagrams and photomicrographs. Given the time frame, photomicrographs are reproduced in gray scale (black and white).
In this respect, the textbook has long since been replaced by those that contain photomicrographs reproduced in color, with less text.

This textbook had its day. Its replacement by textbooks with color illustrations has worked to the benefit of biology education. The cost of less citation of the primary literature has been one that most faculty, and all students, will consider well worth the trade-off. ( )