Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine 10th ed

Book Preface

This is the first edition of the book without either of the original authors—Tony Hope and Murray Longmore. Both have now moved on to do other things, and enjoy a well-earned rest from authorship. In this book, I am joined by a Nephrologist, Gastroenterologist, and trainees destined for careers in Cardiology, Dermatology, and General Practice. Five physicians, each with very diff erent interests and approaches, yet bringing their own knowledge, expertise, and styles. When combined with that of our specialist and junior readers, I hope this creates a book that is greater than the sum of its parts, yet true to the original concept and ethos of the original authors. Life and medicine have moved on in the 30 years since the fi rst edition was published, but medicine and science are largely iterative; true novel ‘ground-breaking’ or ‘practice- changing’ discoveries are rare, to quote Isaac Newton: ‘If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants’. Therefore, when we set about writing this edition we drew inspiration from the original book and its authors; updating, adding, and clarifying, but trying to retain the unique feel and perspective that the OHCM has provided to generations of trainees and clinicians.

Contents
Each chapter’s contents are detailed on its fi rst page
Prefaces to the fi rst and tenth editions iv
Acknowledgements v
Symbols and abbreviations vi
1 Thinking about medicine 0
2 History and examination 24
3 Cardiovascular medicine 92
4 Chest medicine 160
5 Endocrinology 202
6 Gastroenterology 242
7 Renal medicine 292
8 Haematology 322
9 Infectious diseases 378
10 Neurology 444
11 Oncology and palliative care 518
12 Rheumatology 538
13 Surgery 564
14 Clinical chemistry 662
15 Eponymous syndromes 694
16 Radiology 718
17 Reference intervals, etc. 750
18 Practical procedures 758
19 Emergencies 778
20 References