BOOK REVIEWS

THE COMPLEAT PEDIATRICIAN: W. C. DAVISON, 3rd Ed., pp. 256+vi. Duke University Press, Durham, 194o. Price $3.75.

We welcome the third edition of this interesting and useful guide to pediatrics. ]'he book at the first sight would appear to be very cumbrous and differs materially from the usual text-books. But the author has explained very clearly the system adopted in the instructions on page v which is as follows: " For brevity and clarity and as most physicians quickly decide whether the patients' condition is neurological, gastro-intestinal, etc., the symptoms and diseases have been divided into seven chapters on the basis of the anatomical system chiefly involved. Each of these seven chapters starts with the symptoms and signs involving that particular system, together with a list of diseases which cause .them most frequently.". These refer to (I) Respiratory, (2) Gastro-intestinal, (3) Skin and contagious, (4) Neuro-psychiatric, (5) Circulatory, (6) Genito-urinary and (7) Bones, muscles, etc. There are other chapters dealing with (i) Laboratory and other procedures, (2) Nutritional requirement, feeding and diet, (3) General treatment and nursing, (4) Growth and development, (5) History taking and (6) Drugs and prescriptions.

In this edition several chapters have been completely re-written and made up-to-date. Those who have no time to go through the voluminous literature published would find almost a complete gist of all practical information in this book. There has been an amazing collec- tiqn of facts, properly assessed and dealt with from practitioner's point of view. The chapters on laboratory procedures, treatment, diet and drugs give all the information that a busy practioner would need in his daily practice. We can strongly recommend this book to practitioners and medical students and we have no doubt it will be a valuable asset in their library.