Ten to twenty years ago, if a novice wished to undertake an experiment or thought of a career in medical research his first move would be to get advice from someone who was actively engaged in such work. Apprenticeship was the initial step in this career. Little biographical material was available to indicate what might have been the motivating force of persons whose careers in clinical investigation were successful. There was no collection of advice or instructions. The do-it-yourself, trial-and-error system or lack of system prevailed, but now, in teaching, residency, and research, the rules are growing formal. One fixed route is followed by most, and here is a book which is a Baedeker for the beginner.
In this new book devoted to many of the complex aspects of the clinical evaluation of new drugs, Waife and Shapiro have collected sixteen essays on the principles and practice of evaluating new