>----------------
>The Merck Manual
>----------------
>
>The Merck Manual Home Edition is now online at
>
><A HREF="http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_home/contents.htm">
>http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_home/contents.htm </A>
>
>About a squillion years ago -- a "squillion" is equal to pi / 17X
>knots -- the folks at Merck published something called "The Merck
>Manual."  The Merck Manual has become the world's most widely used
>general medical textbook, it has been continuously published longer
>than any other English language general medical textbook (100 years!),
>and it is now published in 14 different languages.
>
>Unfortunately, The Merck Manual is written in "physician-speak," so it
>is not meant for laymen like you and me.  So, back in late 1997, the
>folks at Merck released a medical textbook for the rest of us: "The
>Merck Manual of Medical Information -- Home Edition."  Unlike the
>original Merck Manual, the Home Edition uses everyday language to give
>patients, their families, and all non-health care professionals
>information about diseases, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
>
>Merck makes most of its money from the discovery, development,
>manufacturing, and marketing of health products and services.  Both
>the Merck Manual and the Home Edition, however, are published on a
>not-for-profit basis.  For example, the 1620 page, paperback version
>of the Home Edition has a list price of US$7.99.  [That's not a typo,
>folks -- 1600 pages for eight bucks!]
>
>Of course, if you want to save yourself 8 bucks, I *strongly*
>recommend that you read "The Merck Manual of Medical Information --
>Home Edition" online at
>
><A HREF="http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_home/contents.htm">
>http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_home/contents.htm </A>
>
>The online Home Edition is divided into 24 sections and 287 chapters.
>Most of the sections talk about a particular organ group or a medical
>specialty, and most of the chapters describe a single disease or
>symptom caused by a disease.  For example, a chapter in the Skin
>Disorders section discusses itching and its many causes.  The book
>also uses cross-references to identify other important or related
>discussions of a subject.  These cross-references are hyperlinked to
>the chapters that contain the related material.  In other words, the
>Home Edition is both easy to read *AND* easy to use!
>
>You can also search through the book for a particular topic or keyword
>at
>
><A HREF="http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_home/search.htm">
>http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_home/search.htm </A>.
>
>Merck's search engine uses common search engine math -- plusses,
>minuses, quotes, and so on.  This is pretty standard for most search
>engines.  If you want to learn more about search engine math (and you
>are a FOOL if you don't), take a look at
>
><A HREF="http://www.searchenginewatch.com/facts/math.html">
>http://www.searchenginewatch.com/facts/math.html </A>
>
>Anyway, back to Merck.  There are a bunch of medical sites on the net,
>and many of them are exceptional.  In fact, we've visited a few of
>these sites (like mediconsult.com) in the past.  The Merck Manual's
>Home Edition site is in a class by itself.  If you or any of your
>loved ones are looking for in-depth, easy-to-understand information
>about diseases, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, the Merck Manual
>Home Edition is a godsend.

Tourbus Home: http://www.TOURBUS.com

janet paterson
53 now / 41 dx / 37 onset
a new voice: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/
613 256 8340 PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario Canada K0A 1A0