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Martindale: The extra pharmacopoeia
Tubercle 64 (1983) ‘I:: Longman Group
145 Ltd.
BOOK
REVIEW
Martindale: The Extra Pharmacopoeia. 28th Edition. The Pharmaceutical Pp. 2056. f57.00
Press, 1982.
Martindale is a unique compendium of information about drugs. The latest edition is over 2000 pages long, weighs 2.7 kg and the index contains some 50,000 entries. its well known format is the same as in previous editions, but a new feature is that the information contained in the book is also held in a databank, Martindale Online, and will be available throughout the world to readers who have access to an appropriate terminal. The great advantage of this new facility is that while new editions will continue to be published every few years, the contents will be updated in the databank regularly. The chapter on drugs used in the treatment of tuberculosis has an unfortunate title‘Tuberculostatics and Tuberculocides’, but this is almost the only criticism one can find. It is detailed and comprehensive and has the same merits as the rest of the book. Certain categories of information are particularly useful and not easily found elsewhere. These included guidance on the administration of drugs to infants, children, the elderly, pregnant women and to patients witn hepatic or renal impairment. The information on side effects, common and rare, is extremely thorough. Martindale is a marvellous source of references. Each section contains short abstracts from well selected papers, review articles and correspondence. These are followed by straight lists of references, mainly from American and British journals. Several pages devoted to general aspects of chemotherapy for tuberculosis are followed by a detailed account of each drug, with very full coverage of isoniazid and rifampicin. Streptomycin, kanamycin and cycloserina are described in different chapters, which is a nuisance. Proprietary preparations are listed at the end and include products from countries in Europe, North and South America and many other parts of the world. There is a well written account of BCG vaccine, although too much space is wasted on its use in the treatment of malignant disease, for which it is singularly ineffective. The first edition of this classic monograph was published exactly 100 years ago. to the publisher, it is ‘The World’s most comprehensive source of drug information volume,’ a claim whrch is surely justified. Every pharmacy must purchase a copy medical library should have one. Access to the Martindale databank would be bonus-ultimately it will eliminate the need to have the book at all.
According in a single and every a valuable
K. P. Goldman
145 Ltd.
BOOK
REVIEW
Martindale: The Extra Pharmacopoeia. 28th Edition. The Pharmaceutical Pp. 2056. f57.00
Press, 1982.
Martindale is a unique compendium of information about drugs. The latest edition is over 2000 pages long, weighs 2.7 kg and the index contains some 50,000 entries. its well known format is the same as in previous editions, but a new feature is that the information contained in the book is also held in a databank, Martindale Online, and will be available throughout the world to readers who have access to an appropriate terminal. The great advantage of this new facility is that while new editions will continue to be published every few years, the contents will be updated in the databank regularly. The chapter on drugs used in the treatment of tuberculosis has an unfortunate title‘Tuberculostatics and Tuberculocides’, but this is almost the only criticism one can find. It is detailed and comprehensive and has the same merits as the rest of the book. Certain categories of information are particularly useful and not easily found elsewhere. These included guidance on the administration of drugs to infants, children, the elderly, pregnant women and to patients witn hepatic or renal impairment. The information on side effects, common and rare, is extremely thorough. Martindale is a marvellous source of references. Each section contains short abstracts from well selected papers, review articles and correspondence. These are followed by straight lists of references, mainly from American and British journals. Several pages devoted to general aspects of chemotherapy for tuberculosis are followed by a detailed account of each drug, with very full coverage of isoniazid and rifampicin. Streptomycin, kanamycin and cycloserina are described in different chapters, which is a nuisance. Proprietary preparations are listed at the end and include products from countries in Europe, North and South America and many other parts of the world. There is a well written account of BCG vaccine, although too much space is wasted on its use in the treatment of malignant disease, for which it is singularly ineffective. The first edition of this classic monograph was published exactly 100 years ago. to the publisher, it is ‘The World’s most comprehensive source of drug information volume,’ a claim whrch is surely justified. Every pharmacy must purchase a copy medical library should have one. Access to the Martindale databank would be bonus-ultimately it will eliminate the need to have the book at all.
According in a single and every a valuable
K. P. Goldman