This is the fifth edition of the widely used differential diagnosis of internal medicine in German language by the well-known Swiss clinician. In this book, the analysis of the leading symptoms is used in the discussion of diagnostic problems.
After an introduction of general aspects, the different symptoms are discussed is successive order. Etiologic classification of diseases is applied wherever possible and where etiology is known. However, the author's remark is well taken that differential diagnosis cannot be classified purely by pathologic physiological aspects, since this is not known in many instances.
Excellent illustrations help to understand the text and guide the reader in visualization of the described problems. The book is comprehensive and describes also rarities such as carcinoid of the digestive tract leading to endocardial fibroelastosis and right heart failure. However, even in a book of outstanding completeness such as this one, one may find that some symptoms