The Eradication of Smallpox From India is the celebration of a remarkable event in medical and public health history, written by three officers who took an active part in the Indian smallpox eradication campaigns. The book is a cautious empirical analysis, mainly of the Intensified Campaign of 1973 to 1975 and the Fever-With-Rash Outbreak Surveillance that followed it. Occupying the greater part of the text are detailed reports with figures on the planning, administration, staffing, reporting, and evaluation of every aspect of the campaign, with an addendum on financing, Unusual Episodes, a summary, and a bibliography. In spite of some redundancy, the record is fascinating, written in a language suitable for both the scientist and layman. It is surprising, however, that the authors were not more candid in telling the story. After reading the book, one is left with the feeling that something has been glossed over or left out. One is told little about the dynamics of political and administrative conflicts, resistance by the peo¬ ple, or misconduct by field workers; for example, one would like more on the kinds of situation that enticed certain staff to pocket the monetary rewards meant for the villagers who reported smallpox cases during the search operations. There must have been considerably more occasions of disappointment, mistrust, stepping on others' toes, injured pride, smashed cultural values, delays, care¬ lessness, apathy, and indignation. Even when the authors mention the necessity of the multitier supervisory system to check on field workers during both containment and revisitation stages, very little contextual and situational information is given. Another obvious example of inade¬ quate reporting by the authors is in the international health structure within which the Indian campaign took place. Years earlier, smallpox eradication had been achieved in Europe, most of the Americas, and a large section of Africa. Except for virus importations and exportations, mostly to and from surrounding regions, we are told little about the place of the Indian achievement with¬ in the global picture of epidemiologic and technical advancements as well as the collaborative effort in which many countries were involved. The Indian experience with small¬ pox eradication demonstrates how national initiative, leadership, sacri¬ fice, and persistence were rewarded the day the land was proclaimed free from its scourge.