The title of this volume is an unfortunate misnomer, for the book will be most useful to physicians dealing with infections having surgical overtones. The author has a good feeling for the pathophysiology of infection, and his emphasis upon the necessity of combining skillful medical and surgical practices with antibiotics in the management of infections is the most noteworthy feature of the book. This is particularly evident in the chapters on trauma, burns, osteomyelitis, and intra-abdominal infections. Curiously, there is little discussion of postoperative infections or of the role of prophylactic antibiotics in various conditions. Many common bacterial infections are not discussed (eg, streptococcal sore throat, gonococcal urethritis) or are discussed only briefly.
While many interesting bits of information are presented, a tendency towards brevity frequently diminishes their utility. For example, the use of human tetanus hyperimmune gamma globulin is discussed, but many details of tetanus immunization which are important