The development of immunisation has been one of the most striking features in the control of infectious disease in the twentieth century. This book takes into account the need for a simple, concise account of immunisation procedures not only in the UK and USA but also in other countries, and to this end a special chapter on immunisation in developing countries has been included. Following two introductory chapters, there are nine chapters on various diseases and the vaccines that have been developed to combat them. In each of these chapters, a short discussion of the epidemiology of the...

The fundamental problem facing scientists and clinicians in Rheumatology is that so little is known about the biology of joints. It is our view that a real interface between basic and clinical science offers the best chance of gaining a better understanding of arthritis and in this book we aim to provide a basis for such an interface. Each chapter provides a lucid account of the current literature, reflecting the eminence of each author in their own field. The contributors offer a variety of modern approaches to the study of inflammatory joint disease, illustrating some of the exciting...

Ankylosing spondylitis, the third most common form of chronic arthritis, is a systemic rheumatic disorder characterized by inflam mation of the axial skeleton (spine and sacroiliac joints), and a host of systemic manifestations. With comprehensive care, the vast majority of patients can lead full, productive lives. However, management can succeed only with patient education and exercise. Recent communication from my co-editor, Carson Dick, serves to remind me that there are several unresolved issues concerning drug therapy in ankylosing spondylitis. Clearly, in spite of my views, there are...

The development of immunization has been one of the most striking features in the control of infectious disease in the twentieth century. This book takes into account the need for a simple, concise account of immunization procedures not only in the UK and USA but also in other countries, and to this end a special chapter on immunization in developing countries has been included. Following two introductory chapters, there are nine chapters on various diseases and the vaccines that have been developed to combat them. In each of these chapters, a short discussion of the epidemiology of the...

In the first place may I say how grateful I and others are to those who have contributed chapters for this book; all of them are well known for their research on the subject on which they have written and each has indicated the background to his own specialist field by providing an extensive bibliography giving this book a total reference list of over 2,500. Although there have been enormous advances in immunology over recent years, much of the new knowledge in relation to infectious diseases was scattered over the world's literature and is now brought together in a single volume....

This is an exciting era in medicine and in science. Successive waves of advance in knowledge gather, break and recede uncovering fresh challenges and new opportunities. Each plays its part in eroding the tidemark of yesterday's ignorance. Many involved in the day-to-day management of patients, ill prepared and ill-equipped by the training which they received as under graduate students, find it difficult to retain contact with the advances in medical science and feel uncomfortable on the shifting sands of uncertainty upon which we now stand. Which of the new ideas is sound ? Upon which data...