When the first edition of Arthritis and Allied Conditions, published by the late Bernard T. Comroe, appeared in 1940 this field of medicine was derelict. Since then, a tremendous growth in knowledge and interest in rheumatic diseases has developed. After Comroe's death, J. L. Hollander assumed the responsibility of editorship and the task of keeping this textbook up to date. To achieve this goal, nine entirely new chapters have been added to the seventh edition; they describe new disease entities such as pseudogout and the arthritis of familial Mediterranean fever. Chapters have been added dealing with the pathology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of rheumatic fever and the etiology and pathogenesis of gout. In addition, 20 chapters have been reorganized and rewritten, primarily by new authors.
Contributors responsible for the 77 chapters include leading authorities in the field of rheumatic disease. Accordingly, most of the sections are filled with relevant information. In