Metabolic, Endocrine, and Genetic Disorders of Children

Abstract

It is an altogether appropriate time for a new, updated textbook on pediatric endocrinology. The last major publications to cover this subject matter were Wilkins'<i>The Diagnosis and Treatment of Endocrine Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence</i>, (ed 3, 1965) and Gardner's<i>Endocrine and Genetic Diseases of Childhood</i>(1969). The present contribution is a multi-authored, three-volume work whose scope is exceptionally broad, crossing a number of clinical disciplines. The difficulties in reviewing such a long, wide-ranging, multi-authored text are great. The specific educational objectives are not clearly defined, as the focus of the individual authors varies considerably in scientific sophistication, emphasis on basic pathophysiology, clinical management, and the like. As is true of most large textbooks, the material suffers by prolonged delay prior to publication. In many of the contributions, the most recent references are five years old, leaving one feeling uncomfortably out of date in an area growing as rapidly