The fourth edition of "An Introduction to Gastro-Enterology" is actually the fourth revision of Doctor Alvarez's book initially published as "The Mechanics of the Digestive Tract," over twenty-five years ago.
As indicated by the title, this splendid work presents the dynamics of gastrointestinal function, normal and pathologic, written in the stimulating Alvarez style—clear, interesting and readable. The value to the reader lies in the fact that the elucidation of gastrointestinal symptomatology begins with a description of the basic physiology of gastrointestinal function, and from this point the reader is led in logical manner through the development of the pathologic physiology to an explanation of the clinical picture based on previously described facts.
The discussion of gastrointestinal motility and its relation to gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, hunger, pain and constipation, found in this text, is the most detailed and complete account available on the subject.
In essence, the entire