Oxford Textbook of Surgery, vols 1 and 2

Abstract

Considering critical mass-to-surface ratio, this textbook is an encyclopedia. By all criteria, this massive publication by Morris and Malt qualifies as an encyclopedia of general surgery. Its multiple authors completely encircle the subject. With more than 3000 pages—the index alone runs to 122 pages—307 authors, and more than 3000 color illustrations and weighing in at 19 1b, Oxford Textbook of Surgery is a physical and intellectual heavyweight. Encyclopedia editors have three responsibilities: to define their objectives, to select authoritative contributors who share their professional philosophy and style, and to wisely allocate page space. Peter Morris and Ronald Malt are ideally situated to meet each of these challenges. They are senior professors of surgery whose institutions, Oxford and the Massachusetts General Hospital, have for more than a century shared a common professional philosophy: to train respected, solid general clinical surgeons. Wisely, this is the focus of their book. Another advantage is