Reviews and Notes: Gastroenterology: Consultations in Gastroenterology

WJ Snape Jr; ed. 913 pages. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1996. $125.00. ISBN 0-72216-4670-0. Order phone 800-545-2522.

One hundred twenty-five short chapters of functional and organic problems from the esophagus to the rectum and in the other components of the gut—the pancreas and the hepatobiliary tree. The opening 23 chapters cover the generalized syndromes, such as obesity, eating disorders, malnutrition, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, and bowel bleeding. The chapters differ in their clinical utility: Some serve up more basic science background than most readers will find useful; others stick to the brass tacks of practice and provide ample detail for clinical application. Given its price and relatively narrow coverage of each topic, many clinicians will probably find that larger, more expensive, but more comprehensive gastroenterology textbooks are better buys.

• Copyright ©2004 by the American College of Physicians