This compact book now appears (very deservedly) in its third edition. After a brief introduction, the importance of the medical history is emphasized. Family history, social history, and marital history are topics covered in a commendable way. The importance of listening, questioning, observation, and integration of all data is stressed. Perhaps the geographic history as well as some questions about previous medication might have been included (for instance, previous use of oral contraceptives in cases of patients with cerebral thrombosis).
Other chapters cover the examination of various regions of the body. It seems a good thing to have the various organs discussed in the same book, although examination of eyes, ears, nose, throat, and female pelvis, and mental examination are more often regarded separately. The same is true of the last chapter (pediatric examination), which I cannot judge since I never see small children in my practice. However, ophthalmoscopy should