The latest 20th Edition of Davidson's Principles & Practice of Medicine won the award for a New Edition of an Edited Textbook at the Royal Society of Medicine and Society of Authors 2007 Medical Book Awards. The award citation described the book as "Beautifully constructed with superb clarity of style - Davidson's continues to provide for students, doctors and other health professionals a sound basis for the practice of medicine." For over half a century Davidson has informed and educated students, doctors and other health professionals all over the world. The 20th edition of this concise yet comprehensive text lives up to its reputation for providing a rational and easily understood basis for the practice of medicine. Davidson has always linked the pathogenesis of disease with the practice of clinical medicine, serving the needs both of students, who now learn clinical medicine from the start of their course, and of more experienced readers requiring to be brought up to date with rapidly advancing medical sciences. The new first section on the 'Principles of Medicine' describes the fundamental mechanisms determining health and disease and includes many examples of relevant clinical problems which bring the medical sciences to life. The second section, the 'Practice of Medicine', covers practice in the medical specialties to MRCP (UK) level and has been thoroughly updated. The book's global perspective has been enhanced by the input of its International Advisory Board and distinguished new authors from outside the UK. There is now a more detailed account of health problems in the developing world. For the benefit of all readers, both SI and non-SI units are now quoted.

• Readers have full online access to the whole book, along with 750 new self-testing questions whose answers are linked to the online text
• Each system-based chapter begins with an overview of the key elements in the clinical examination
• A practical, problem-based clinical approach is described in the 'Presenting Problems' sections, to complement the detailed descriptions of each disease
• Over 150 evidence-based medicine boxes summarise the results of systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials in key therapeutic areas
• 'In Old Age' boxes highlight important spects of medical practice in the older population

Part 1 - Principles of medicine  Good medical practice  Good prescribing  Molecular mechanisms of disease  Immunological factors in disease  Environmental and nutritional factors in disease  Principles of infectious disease  Ageing and disease Part 2 - Practice of medicine  Critical care and emergency medicine  Poisoning  Medical psychiatry  Oncology  Palliative care and pain management  Infectious diseases  Human immunodeficiency virus infection and the human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome  Sexually transmitted infections  Clinical biochemistry and metabolism  Kidney and urinary tract disease  Cardiovascular disease  Respiratory disease  Endocrine disease  Diabetes mellitus  Alimentary tract and pancreatic disease  Liver and biliary tract disease  Blood disorders  Musculoskeletal disorders  Neurological disease  Skin disease  Appendix

By Nicholas A. Boon, MA, MD, FRCP(Ed), FESC, Consultant Cardiologist, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh; Honorary Reader, University of Edinburgh; Nicki R. Colledge, BSc, FRCP(Ed), Consultant Geriatrician, Liberton Hospital, Edinburgh and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh; Honorary Senior Lecturer in Geriatric Medicine, University of Edinburgh; Brian R. Walker, BSc, MD, FRCP(Ed), Professor of Endocrinology, University of Edinburgh; and John A. A. Hunter, OBE, BA, MD, FRCP(Ed), Professor Emeritus of Dermatology, University of Edinburgh