Clinical Endocrinology: Theory and Practice, by Alexis Labhart (A. Trachsler and J. Dodsworth-Phillips, trans), 1,092 pp, 400 illus, $48, New York, Springer-Verlag, 1974.
These are new editions of massive textbooks of endocrinology, one written by Americans, the other by Swiss. Both suffer from inherent faults of books by multiple authors writing separate chapters, without limits as to size and content. Labhart participated in most of his book and therefore it is smoother in style. Williams wrote only the chapters on "The Pancreas" and "Disorders Causing Hypoglycemia," but the greater choppiness of Williams' book is irrelevant since only those taking board examinations in endocrinology would dare read this book from cover to cover in one short interval.
Both of these volumes are for reference by internists or endocrinologists. The advantages of Williams' text are the quality of the authors' scientific knowledge, based on active participation in clinical and basic research; the