American Medical Association complete medical encyclopedia /

This well-written medical compendium contains over 5000 alphabetically arranged entries (with 2000 on illnesses) and 1750 illustrations (mostly line drawings, as well as photographs). The volume opens with 29 "Symptom Chart Topics," ranging from abdominal pain through weight loss. These decision trees tell the reader succinctly when to get emergency care and when to consult a doctor six months hence. Definitions include parts of the body (e.g., the spinal cord, with a line drawing of the "Communication Highway," as the book calls it), procedures (e.g., in vitro fertilization, with four detailed line drawings of the steps involved), disorders (e.g., ectropion, with a line drawing of a sagging lower eyelid), and specialties (e.g., oncologist). Selected complementary and alternative treatments are also listed (e.g., aromatherapy). It is notable, though, that there are no entries for current procedures such as proton beam therapy or sentinel lymph node biopsy. Entries range in length from two or three lines to close to five columns; they are adequately cross-referenced and include numerous See references. Appendixes include first-aid information and sample legal forms. While the Merck Manual of Medical Information: ome Edition goes more in-depth on a smaller number of topics (300), grouped together in sections and then subdivided into chapters, this American Medical Association (AMA) resource is a more encompassing dictionary-encyclopedia. Owing to its relatively modest price, reliability of source, and coverage of popular areas in medicine, it is recommended not only for public libraries and consumer health collections but also for high school libraries lacking current texts on this topic. However, libraries that already own the excellent, full-color Cornell Illustrated Emergency Medicine and First Aid Guide may wish to skip this. (Index and self-help organization list not seen.)-Martha E. Stone, Massachusetts General Hosp. Lib., Boston (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.