reference

The original home edition of a medical classic reference has been completely revised and revamped - The Merck Manual Of Medical Information, Second Edition: The World's Most Widely Used Medical Reference - Now In Everyday Language holds all the information of the original manual, but in a form which makes it easy for everyday readers to understand. Nearly 200 medical experts have contributed their backgrounds to the contents of this fine guide, which includes new or revised chapters in alternative medicine, symptoms of gynecologic disorders, and healthcare communications.

Fantastic book for in depth but easy to understand reference book. It give you information in plain English, it's almost like a novel but very educational. For an example: It might say "take acetaminophen (Tylenol)" It gives you the meaning to words that are uncommon to everyday usage. Another great aspect is the the book uses a lot of examples after the explanation so that you can fully understand and apply that information if not understood. I have a learning disability (LD and ADD) and I find it very easy to read and understand with out mind boggling confusion.

This is a comprehensive book, detailing nearly every type of ailment known to mankind. Those who judge just one small portion of it (who may or may not have medical degrees to support their opinions) do the work an injustice by focusing on the narrow instead of the entire range of the book.

This book is full of detail that the average person can comprehend. At times the book does seem a bit rigid in that certain ailments can only occur in specific parts of the body. Case in point, my wife was diagnosed with a ganglion cyst on her ankle, an uncommon location, but according to the book, such cysts are limited to the wrist.

But this does not detract from the overall usefullness of this book as a standard reference. Of course, no book should be the sole source of medical evaluation and doctors must be consulted as the needs arise.