Texts For Intro. Clin. Med. & Physical Diagnosis?

[Nebakanezer]

My medical school has listed several texts for our Intro. Clin. Med. & Physical Diagnosis classes and there appears to be a significant amount of disparity over which texts are the best sources.

They require one of the texts below for Physical Diagnosis & one text/one reference for Intro. Clin. Med:


Physical Diagnosis:

Textbook of Physical Diagnosis; Swartz, M.D., 4th Edition, 2002; W.B. Saunders; ISBN: 072169411X

Physical Examination and History Taking; Bates, M.D., 8th Edition, 2002; Lippincott; ISBN: 0781735114


Intro To Clinical Medicine:

Texts:

Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine; Thaler, Hope, Longmore; 1st Edition, 1999; Oxford University Press; ISBN: 019512572X

Harrison's Manual of Medicine; Braunwald, Fauci, Kasper, Hauser, Longo, Jameson; 15th Edition, 2001; McGraw-Hill; ISBN: 0071373772

Reference:

Clinical Medicine; Kumar, Clark; 5th Edition, 2002; WB Saunders; ISBN: 0702025798

Cecil Textbook of Medicine; Goldman, Ausiello; 22nd Edition, 2003; WB Saunders; ISBN: 072169652X

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine; Braunwald, Fauci, Kasper, Hauser, Longo, Jameson; 15th Edition, 2003; McGraw-Hill; ISBN: 0070072728


Any insight on which of these texts are superior and why would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Miklos]

Originally Posted by InfiniteUni

My medical school has listed several texts for our Intro. Clin. Med. & Physical Diagnosis classes and there appears to be a significant amount of disparity over which texts are the best sources.

They require one of the texts below for Physical Diagnosis & one text/one reference for Intro. Clin. Med:


Physical Diagnosis:

Textbook of Physical Diagnosis; Swartz, M.D., 4th Edition, 2002; W.B. Saunders; ISBN: 072169411X

Physical Examination and History Taking; Bates, M.D., 8th Edition, 2002; <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=valuetheplace-20&keyword=Lippincott%27s&mode=books>Lippi ncott</A>; ISBN: 0781735114


Intro To Clinical Medicine:

Texts:

Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine; Thaler, Hope, Longmore; 1st Edition, 1999; Oxford University Press; ISBN: 019512572X

Harrison's Manual of Medicine; Braunwald, Fauci, Kasper, Hauser, Longo, Jameson; 15th Edition, 2001; McGraw-Hill; ISBN: 0071373772

Reference:

Clinical Medicine; Kumar, Clark; 5th Edition, 2002; WB Saunders; ISBN: 0702025798

<a target=new href=http://www.Amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/072169652X/valuetheplace-20>Cecil</a> Textbook of Medicine; Goldman, Ausiello; 22nd Edition, 2003; WB Saunders; ISBN: 072169652X

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine; Braunwald, Fauci, Kasper, Hauser, Longo, Jameson; 15th Edition, 2003; McGraw-Hill; ISBN: 0070072728


Any insight on which of these texts are superior and why would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

As far as physical diagnosis goes, I don't know Swartz, but I thought that Bates was a good book.

Re: clinical medicine.

Harrison's unabridged is the standard, but IMO is far too detailed for a beginner.

I have used both the Oxford Handbook (there's an American edition) and the Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics for ward work.

Cecil (IMO) has the advantage of being easier than Harrison, but does not focus on treatment the way the Washington Manual does, which allows it to be used outside the wards as well.

Miklos