The aim of these short notes is to provide the newcomer to the speciality of geriatrics with a wide though not exhaustive differential diagnosis of most of the commonly encountered symptoms in the elderly, and to draw particular attention tothe common and important disorders. The common causes of symptoms and the common dis eases as well as certain features which have special importance to the medicine of the elderly are emphasized. A final section on investigations (with short notes) which one may employ in the practice of geriatric medicine is included along with an appendix of normal...