This is serious stuff. The most widely used medical text in the world and the hypochondriac's bible, the Merck has the lowdown on the vast expanse of human diseases, disorders and injuries, as well as their symptoms and recommended therapy. It's intended for physicians and medical students, but though the type is tiny and the language technical, the Merck's a valuable volume for anyone with more than a passing interest in bodily ills.


Book Description
The most widely used medical reference in the world–more than 10 million copies sold in 18 languages since it was first published in 1899–revised, updated, and redesigned with more changes than any edition in the past twenty years.


Book Info
Allegheny Univ., Philadelphia, PA. Brandon/Hill Medical List selection (#114). Centennial edition of the classic reference for physicians, residents, and nurses. Contains diagnosis and treatment of common clinical disorders, arranged by organ system, etiology, or specialty. Robert Berkow was author of previous edition: c1989. Includes copy of first edition.

ANNOTATION

The book contains black-and-white illustrations.

Centennial edition of this definitive, time-honored classic thoroughly updated and formatted for ease of reading.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Since 1899, healthcare professionals around the world have put their trust in The Merck Manual more than in any other medical reference. Merck's century-long commitment to supplying medical information continues with The Centennial (17th) Edition of this perennial favorite, which keeps medical professionals up to date on the latest important medical advances and features more changes than any other edition in the past 20 years. In addition, the 17th Edition is:Written by more than 300 medical experts in all fields of medicine from the United States, Canada, and around the worldRedesigned to enhance readability and make information easier to findExtensively revised to reflect the ever-increasing and changing body of medical knowledgeUpdated to include new topics, such as Smoking Cessation, Gulf-War Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome, Rehabilitation, and Drug Therapy in the ElderlyAlso new: Tables and figures reformatted and redrawn; SI (System International) units added; in-depth discussions of symptoms, signs, and examination;

As always, The Merck Manual is published as a not-for-profit service to the medical community.

To honor the first 100 years of The Merck Manual, copies purchased during the 1999 centennial year will be specially packaged with a reproduction of the 1899 Edition.

Erratum for the Printed version of the 17th edition of The Merck Manual:

Please note that there is an error in the dose of aqueous penicillin G in the treatment discussion of pneumococcal infections on page 1155, column 2, line 17, of the printed version of the 17th edition of The Merck Manual. The text in the first paragraph under Treatment should say "Pneumococcal meningitis or endocarditis requires up to 20 to 40 million U/day ...." (not 20,000 to 40,000 U/day as printed). The pediatric dose is correct as printed. ---From the Merck website.

SYNOPSIS

The world's most widely used medical reference celebrates 100 years of publication with this new edition. Expanded to include new subjects such as Gulf War syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and rehabilitation, it also includes more intensive treatment of symptoms, signs, and examination. All subjects are revised, and the entire book is redesigned to make all information more readily accessible. A free facsimile of the 1899 edition is shipped with every copy!

FROM THE CRITICS

Peter M. Daher

This text serves as a reference guide to the practice of medicine and includes the most up-to-date wealth of clinical information in each specialty. The previous edition was printed in 1992. The purpose is to present the best clinical practice. The text clearly achieves the editors' goals. This book is targeted mainly for the practitioner -- family physician, internist, and emergency room physician. However, it can be used by all clinicians or anyone in the medical field who needs up-to-date information. All relevant diseases in all specialties are presented with a practical and up-to-date approach for clinical management and diagnosis. Each section starts with a diagnostic approach to the specialty field followed by a full content of that chapter. The appendix does cover search or trigger words/chief complaints/diagnoses, etc., which makes the book easy to use. Many more illustrations could have been used. The editors have outdone themselves in the quality, delivery, and completeness of the contents. The book is a very useful reference tool that covers about all the specialties in an easy to read format -- a quality that is unique and not yet seen in any other book of similar format. The previous edition (1992) did not have many of the new, innovative medical therapies that have become the practice norm.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Peter M. Daher, MD (Creighton University Medical Center)Description: This text serves as a reference guide to the practice of medicine and includes the most up-to-date wealth of clinical information in each specialty. The previous edition was printed in 1992. Purpose: The purpose is to present the best clinical practice. The text clearly achieves the editors' goals. Audience: This book is targeted mainly for the practitioner:family physician, internist, and emergency room physician. However, it can be used by all clinicians or anyone in the medical field who needs up-to-date information. Features: All relevant diseases in all specialties are presented with a practical and up-to-date approach for clinical management and diagnosis. Each section starts with a diagnostic approach to the specialty field followed by a full content of that chapter. The appendix does cover search or trigger words/chief complaints/diagnoses, etc., which makes the book easy to use. Many more illustrations could have been used. Assessment: The editors have outdone themselves in the quality, delivery, and completeness of the contents. The book is a very useful reference tool that covers about all the specialties in an easy to read format:a quality that is unique and not yet seen in any other book of similar format. The previous edition (1992) did not have many of the new, innovative medical therapies that have become the practice norm.

RATING