Hamilton Bailey's Emergency Surgery

Dr. T. J. McNair and his colleagues have put together the finest example of an encyclopedia of emergency surgery ever offered in American surgical literature. In commenting on this work, there is only one criticism that must be levied, namely, that it has been confined to one volume of relatively small print when it deserves perhaps twice the number of printed pages. It is not a "cook book" of surgical technique, but supplies the reader with a general discussion of etiology, pathophysiology, and diagnosis, as well as the management of these conditions. Discussions are exhaustive, including basic aspects of conditions treated, as well as technical descriptions of procedure. The illustrations are as fine as any ever assembled in a single textbook. They include artists' conceptions, x-ray film reproductions, and photographs in black and white, and a vivid array of color drawings and photographs. These color prints are generously distributed throughout