The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine: An A-Z Reference Guide to Over 5,000 Medical Terms Including Symptoms, Diseases, Drugs and Treatments (Hardcover)

by Charles B. Clayman (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
This wide-ranging, up-to-date dictionary describes diseases, conditions, symptoms, medications, tests, procedures, and surgical operations for the layperson. Its authority, broad coverage, and excellent diagnostic charts distinguish it from similar works, although the AMA Family Medical Guide ( LJ 11/15/82) provides more diagnostic information but less detailed description. Although it attempts to be layperson-oriented, it often fails; e.g., there are no cross-references from upper and lower gastrointestinal to "barium X-ray examinations," and many terms in its short entries must be looked up elsewhere in the book. A short list of self-help organizations (with phone numbers and addresses) emphasizes the limited usefulness of any work of this type. Nonetheless, for quick explanations, this book is among the best.
- Robert Aken, Univ. of Kentucky Libs., Lexington
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
Until now, there hasn't been a single, authoritative work that clarifies and informs the lay reader about advances in the practice of modern medicine. The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine, in filling that need, proves itself the definitive source of knowledge and reassurance for every American home. In short, it is a medical information powerhouse, written in jargon-free language by a special team of medical writers and presented in an exceptionally usable A-to-Z format -- the most thorough and up-to-the-minute medical reference text yet prepared for the general American public, as well as for libraries and schools.

It's unique subject coverage includes: new drugs; special tests; common, rare, and recently-identified diseases, disorders and conditions; state-of-the-art surgical procedures; conflicting or varying opinions; the translation of esoteric terminology -- all complex areas of contemporary medicine that may prove confusing to anyone, even when consulting a physician.

The broad scope of The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine encompasses:

*Over 5,000 entries with 2,200 illustrations.
*Medical terms defined in clear, easy-to-understand language alphabetically arranged.
*Listings of 2,200 common and uncommon disorders, diseases, conditions and cures; over 300 symptoms; 2,500 drugs -- in generic, brand-name and major groupings; 600 tests, procedures and surgical operations.
*Illustrated features on the anatomy of the body's organs and systems.
*Four-color introductory section, offering an overview of the latest advances in diagnosis, healing and curing.
*Anatomically-correct drawings, X rays, specialists' photographs and charts, diagrams and scans.
*Extensive cross-referencing within articles to their main entries, "see alsos" for further information, and "signpost" articles to give overviews of certain subjects.
*General index to main entries, sub-entries and illustrations.

The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine is, along with the diagnostically oriented AMA Family Medical Guide and the specialized, comprehensive AMA Guide to Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs, an authoritative major component of The American Medical Association Home Reference Library, the distinguished series that belongs in every home.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1136 pages
• Publisher: Random House; Other Printing edition (April 8, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394565282
• ISBN-13: 978-0394565286
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #780,948 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars AMA Encyclopedia of Medicine, January 11, 2000

By	Roger L. Bellows (USA) - See all my reviews

This book needs an update. It's too old, the information is outdated. I tried to locate an updated version but none was found. If you can recommend a more current reference like this I would like to know about it. Thank you.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comparison with other medical encyclopias, October 26, 1999

By A Customer

Compared with the AMA Family Medical Guide, this text is easier to use, because of A-Z arrangement; more thorough, because it has more text, fewer illustrations--although its many illustrations are a definite plus; and more advanced, that is, with less information on general medical education. Both are 5-stars: which you buy depends on what your purposes are. If you want a medical reference book for general use, for instance, the encylopedia would probably be better; if you want it for family care, the guide would probably be better. Both the guide and encylopedia can be compared usefully with the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Complete Home Medical Guide. This is also 5 stars. It is arranged differently from both the AMA books--more a guide than an A-Z arrangement, however--and its authorship is also different: articles are written by separate authors, top authorities in their fields, instead of by a general editor. This has certain advantages and disadvantages, from the point of view of coverage, and, in general, it makes for a more advanced text, although it is still broad and readable for the college-educated public. Another important difference between the Columbia guide and both AMA texts is that the Columbia guide includes a great many more references to outside sources: for instance, it lists hospitals that are certified for the treatment of various conditions, poison control centers in states, associations that focus on research and treatment for various diseases; it also includes more bibliographic material throughout. The Columbia guide could be used to supplement both the AMA texts, or used by itself. It certainly should not be allowed to go out of print.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine, December 19, 1999

By A Customer

This is the greatest book. If I ever need to know about any medical situation, I refer to this book and it has never failed to give me the information I need to know. My only problem with it is that it was written in 1989, and a lot has happened since then. I would like to see an updated book soon.