Anderson's Pathology, popular since its first appearance in 1948, represents one of the standard American texts. The present edition now appears in two volumes, with considerable up-dating but the same basic format. Whereas the fourth edition had 35 contributors, the present one has 39. The number of pages is but slightly increased, the number of illustrations actually reduced, and the two volumes together have just about the same thickness as the single volume of the fourth edition.
There is no need to discuss the individual features in a book so well known, so widely accepted, and so deserving of its excellent reputation. But a few words may be in order regarding the goals and intent.
In the preface to the first edition Anderson indicated a dual audience —he hoped the book would be "both a foundation and a useful tool" for those who deal with disease. This schema has remained