Although the previous editions of this work were considered excellent, this edition is an improvement over the others. Most of the book is the work of the author, but a number of excellent chapters were contributed by collaborators who are practicing surgeons of wide experience and actively engaged in teaching. The book covers the surgery of hernia, stomach and intestines, gallbladder, duodenum, pancreas, colon and rectum, breast, thyroid, peripheral vascular diseases and facial injuries. Several chapters are devoted to the general principles of surgery, including a historical review of the sciences of physiology, pathology and anatomy, and the value of these to the surgeon; a discussion of incisions, hemostasis and wound healing. Various methods of knot tying are described and illustrated minutely. The newer surgical procedures, such as vagus resection, surgery of the pancreas, colon and rectum, biliary tract, heart and peripheral vascular system are included and discussed in detail.