The Merck Manual of Medical Information: Home Edition (Merck Manual of Medical Information Home Edition) (Hardcover)

by Robert Berkow (Editor), Mark H. Beers (Editor), Andrew J. Fletcher (Editor), Merck & Co. (Corporate Author) "Biology includes the study of the anatomy and physiology of living organism..." (more)
Key Phrases: psychologie cause, flexible viewing tube, polyglandular deficiency syndrome, Treatment Treatment, Diagnosis Doctors, Eye Disorders (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Need to find the definition of a medical term and comprehend it? Need fast information about your child's illness? Need help defining that redness in your eye? Or maybe you need a reality check on the progress of your pregnancy. For the first time, Merck--the leader in medical research since 1899--has opened its treasure chest of medical knowledge to the general public.

The team of nearly 200 experts, consultants, and authors has assembled a body of information so vast that listing select items fails to do it justice. The Merck Manual provides reams of useful medical information, ranging from fundamentals such as anatomy to crisp, easily understood descriptions of complicated diseases. Clear drawings of basic anatomical details and helpful sidebars that define terms and proffer advice are invaluable features, as is the up-to-date counsel on choosing the right form of exercise.

The Merck Manual's 30-page section on drugs is itself an excellent resource. Here you'll find descriptions of the biological impact of high-powered pharmaceuticals, plus a table of drugs that put the elderly at risk. Its five appendixes on such topics as legal issues and commonly used medical terms segue handily into a guide of institutions that offer information and counseling for a multitude of medical conditions. This exhaustive volume clarifies both the workings of the human body and the geography of its demise, not to mention Western medicine's solutions to its failures. If knowledge is power, buy this book to arm yourself with a world of information.

From Publishers Weekly
This covers the same topics as the Merck Manual for healthcare professionals [El manual de diagn"stico y terapeutica], but for the lay reader. Some statistics, microbiology, and therapeutic information have been excluded. The section on pharmaceuticals addresses the issue of different drug names and includes nonprescription medications. Appendixes on normal laboratory values and weights and measures round out the well-indexed text. [This is also available free online at (www.msd.es/ publicaciones/mmerck_hogar/index.html).DEd.]
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1509 pages
• Publisher: Merck Publishing Group; Home ed edition (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0911910875
• ISBN-13: 978-0911910872
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #804,523 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 1500 pages of information, not watered down!, July 15, 2002

By	christinemm - The Thinking Mother (Connecticut, United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Merck Manual Of Medical Information (Merck Manual of Medical Information, Home Ed.) (Mass Market Paperback)

This reference book is easy to use and understand. When I first leaned of this home edition version of the Merck manual I was hesitant. Over the years many books have been published that are medical in nature, some published by doctors, but the content is watered down or so vague that a layperson doesn't derive much information from it. Some books are actually condescending in attitude, some patronizing. So many books briefly skim symptoms and then caution to call a physician for more information.

Recently my son was diagnosed on the phone by our pediatrician with chicken pox and it was made clear that they did not want to see him for a physical exam. I was given a tiny bit of information by the office staff but was still curious for more information. I spent over an hour surfing the Internet looking for information but found watered down information, repeated many times over on multiple websites, including some written by physicians intended for laypeople to use. I looked at my parenting books written by doctors (one titled "The Portable Pediatrician", no less) and was still lacking any substantial information. When I consulted the Merck Manual home edition, (which I had forgotten I bought recently and had not yet used), I was surprised at the level of information given. There are many details that I had not found elsewhere, such as number of days from exposure to outbreak, how long it takes the pox to change from first appearance to crusted over, about how long the infection lasts, and treatment suggestions. Reasons why some children have a mild outbreak vs. a severe outbreak were even provided, something I had not found anywhere else.

The information here is not dumbed down in that it is not so vague that it is not useful. There is a lot of information here but it is written in a style for the layperson to understand. I appreciated the writing style, which presents information to the non-physician without putting on airs.

Anyone who, like me, prefers to gather information and learn about things rather than making a call or office visit to their doctor to get just one opinion will appreciate owning this book. At about 1500 pages it covers many illnesses and ailments. If you are interested in this book I suggest you buy it so that you have it at your fingertips 24 hours a day, for whatever may arise. I am not suggesting this take the place of a doctor, but I know from working with physicians that there are certain calls that are non-emergent in nature that are not appreciated when the office is closed!

If you are looking for a book about children's ailments that encompasses not only western medicine but lists an array of other treatment methods, I suggest Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child: A Practical A-To-Z Reference to Natural and Conventional Treatments for Infants and Children by Janet Zand. I found this to be an excellent companion to the Merck manual, home edition. The Merck manual gives more information about the disease or ailment itself through a Western medicine viewpoint while the Zand's books' specialty is sharing treatment options grouped by category (herbal, homeopathic, western, etc.).

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Medical Information Source For Every Home !, April 27, 2000

By	Irvin Goodman - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This hardbound 1,509 page authoritative health care encyclopedia will serve you well. Designed for home use, it covers every major medical/health care topic. Complete table of contents, and well indexed (over 11,000 entries) to make finding the information easy. Major topics range from Anatomy, Drugs, Bone, Joint and Muscle Disorders to Disorders of Skin, Eyes, Immune System, and Children's Health Issues. Many informative tables are provided. You'll find clear, easy to understand answers to most of your health questions. Even though I am a health professional and have access to the standard Merck Manual, I keep this volume at home for ready reference and refer to it often. Well worth the price. There are many books on the market about health care topics, but this one IS AUTHORITATIVE !

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Everybody Should Have Around!, May 30, 2003

By	"intentaccess" (Boca Raton, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Merck Manual Of Medical Information (Merck Manual of Medical Information, Home Ed.) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a wonderful summary of general medical information written in simple terms so this is a great addition to the family. It is very current in describing medical understanding of a variety of illnesses, and it provides a solid foundation upon which you can start doing more research on the Internet for the condition that you may be interested in finding about. It even suggests temporary remedies and puts you in charge of how you are treated by the medical profession. This is a must have book to keep around!