In the new edition of this standard American classic, massively rewritten, a large group of authorities have produced a fascinating book with a new outlook. The opening section deals with the scientific foundations of medicine, metabolic biochemistry, molecular biology, medical genetics, immunobiology, immunodeficiencies, and tumor immunobiology. These subjects are treated in an up-to-date manner, with a clear purpose of assessing their relevance to clinical pathophysiology. They are succinct and informative. The only criticism that can be leveled is that biochemistry is too wide a subject to be treated in 24 pages, but the selection of material in this chapter is a credit to Drs. Toporek and Maurer.
The following sections cover the cardiorenal and respiratory systems; rheumatology, allergy, infectious disease, and hematology; gastroenterology, endocrinology, and metabolism; and toxic and physical agents. Each area is presented systematically, clearly, tending to avoid controversy, and in many instances brilliantly developed. To pick just