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6-15-1989

[Review of] The American Medical Association

Encyclopedia of Medicine
Robert A. Aken
University of Kentucky, robaken@uky.edu

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Repository Citation
Aken, Robert A., "[Review of] The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine" (1989). Library Faculty and Staff
Publications. 183.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/libraries_facpub/183

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[Review of] The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine

Notes/Citation Information
Published in Library Journal, v. 114, issue 11, p. 50.

© 1989 Library Journal. All rights reserved.

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This review is available at UKnowledge: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/libraries_facpub/183

 BOOK REVIEWS
D REFERENCED

The American Medical Association Ency-

clopedia of Medicine.
Random. 1989. 1183p. ed. by Charles
B. Clayman. illus. index. LC 88-29693 .
ISBN 0-394-56528-2. $39.95. REF
This wide-ranging, up-to-date dictionary
describes diseases, conditions , symptoms,
medications, tests, procedures, and surgi-
cal operations for the layperson. Its author-
ity, broad coverage, and excellent diagnos-
tic charts distinguish it from similar works ,
although the AMA Family Medical Guide
(U 11/15/82) provides more diagnostic in-
formation but less detailed description. Al-
though it attempts to be layperson-orient-
ed, it often fails; e.g., there are no
cross-references from upper and lower gas-
trointestinal to "barium X-ray examina-
tions,'' 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.-RobertAken,
Univ. of Kentucky Libs. , Lexington

50 LIBRARY JOURNAL/JUNE 15, 1989