In what we fondly call the "modern era" of medicine, it is seldom that a broadly experienced clinical teacher has set himself the task of recording so many bits of traditional wisdom encompassed within what can be loosely described as the art of medicine. The intent is worthy of praise.
"This book," so the author tells us, "is written to help medical students in the clinical work with patients which is fundamental to learning how to practice medicine." As one works his way through page after page of aphorisms, platitudes, and often anachronistic doctrine, he must earnestly hope that the secondary schools and universities of this country do not deliver to our schools of medicine students so destitute of common grace, culture, civility, and native intelligence that they actually need such an advisory.
The author's emphasis on prognosis as a point of departure for the teaching of professional behavior is