According to its preface, "This book attempts to encompass everything which is usually included in the category of "rheumatism" among the articular diseases." Thus, it deserves to be compared with the English Textbook of Rheumatic Diseases edited by W.S.C. Copeman (fourth edition, 1969) and the American Arthritis, edited by J. L. Hollander (seventh edition, 1966). The 59 contributors represent 13 countries and include many of the most prestigious names in European rheumatology.
To combine conciseness with comprehensiveness in just half the length of Hollander's text requires more rigorous editing than has been demonstrated. The mixture of organization by diseases and organs necessitates duplication, and topics appear to be included on the basis of interest to contributors rather than importance. For instance, there is a good presentation of brucellar arthritis (Barcelo of Spain), but nothing on gonococcal arthritis, which certainly is a more prevalent problem! Kashin-Beck disease does not occur in