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To review this latest edition of what must be considered the "bible" of the fourth-year medical student-intern-resident group is, of course, a Herculean task. It suffices to say that this volume serves as a most complete reference to the treatment of diseases that are found, for the most part, in a hospital setting, and its portability and well-organized, concise format have led to its continuing popularity. For the fourth-year medical student or clinical clerk, the book starts with the basic outline of orders for patients and the kind of routine problems dealing with general care. For the most advanced house officer, detailed evaluation of such things as hyperlipemia and bleeding disorders make it an excellent reference text as well. Compared to previous editions, the general format is similar, with new chapters on acute respiratory failure, gastrointestinal tract bleeding, and neurological emergencies.
The chapter on the choice of antimicrobial agents rivals