Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy

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Coverpage of facsimile edition of 1899 Merck's Manual of the Materia Medica Merck Materia Medica 1899 ed facsimile cover page PS2.jpg
Coverpage of facsimile edition of 1899 Merck's Manual of the Materia Medica

The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, referred to as The Merck Manual, [1] is the world's best-selling medical textbook, [2] and the oldest continuously published English language medical textbook. [3] First published in 1899, the current print edition of the book, the 20th Edition, was published in 2018. In 2014, Merck decided to move The Merck Manual to digital-only, online publication, available in both professional and consumer versions; this decision was reversed in 2017, with the publication of the 20th edition the following year. [4] The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy is one of several medical textbooks, collectively known as The Merck Manuals , which are published by Merck Publishing, [5] a subsidiary of the pharmaceutical company Merck Co., Inc. in the United States and Canada, and MSD (as The MSD Manuals) in other countries in the world. Merck also formerly published The Merck Index , An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals.

Contents

History and editions

The first edition of The Merck Manual was published in 1899 by Merck & Co., Inc. for physicians and pharmacists and was titled Merck's Manual of the Materia Medica. [6] [7] The 192 page book which sold for US $1.00, was divided into three sections, Part I ("Materia Medica") was an alphabetical listing of all known compounds thought to be of therapeutic value with uses and doses; Part II ("Therapeutic Indications") was an alphabetical compendium of symptoms, signs, and diseases with a list of all known treatments; and Part III ("Classification of Medicaments (sic) According to their Physiologic Actions") was a listing of therapeutic agents according to their method of action or drug classification. [3] Many of the terms used are now considered archaic, such as abasia, astasia, errhines and rubefacients - sternutatories, and many of the agents listed are now not considered to be standard therapeutic agents but were considered useful at the time, including poisonous compounds such as mercury, lead, strychnine and arsenic. There were 108 remedies listed for indigestion (dyspepsia), including alcohol, arsenic, cocaine, gold chloride, mercury, morphine, nux vomica, opium, silver nitrate, strychnine, and "Turkish baths (for malaise after dining out)". [7] :118 Bismuth, calcium, magnesium salts were also on the list, which are ingredients found in many modern gastrointestinal treatments available today. Arsenic was recommended for over 100 illnesses including anemia, diarrhea, hydrophobia, elephantiasis, and impotence. The formulas include "aletris cordial", a "uterine tonic and restorative", which contained "aletris farinosa or True Unicorn combined with aromatics". [7] :15 The manufacturer, Rio Chemicals of St. Louis was clear to differentiate the inclusion of true unicorn rather than false unicorn in its preparation. [8] [lower-alpha 1]

The earliest versions did contain drugs that are still in use today for the same purposes, for example digitalis for heart failure;, [7] :90 [11] :166 salicylates for headache [11] :166 rheumatism [11] :225 and fever, [7] :124 [11] :227 nitroglycerin for cardiac angina pectoris;, [7] :88 and bismuth salicylate for diarrhea [7] :114

Merck also began publishing Merck's Archives of the Materia Medica, a monthly journal consisting of papers related to drugs and uses, which was available for an annual subscription of US $1.00. [7] [11]

Ad for the January 1906 edition of the Merck's Archives Merck's Archives, January 1906.jpg
Ad for the January 1906 edition of the Merck's Archives

The second edition of The Merck Manual was published in 1901, was expanded to 282 pages and included new sections on poisons and antidotes, tables and conversion charts, and a detailed explanation of the metric system. [11]

The 5th edition, published in 1923 was delayed due to paper shortages caused by World War I, and the release of the 6th edition was delayed until 1934 due to the Stock Market Crash. The editor of that edition, Dr. M. R. Dinkelspiel had overseen the growth and reorganization of the Manual to discuss specific diseases, diagnosis and treatment options, and external specialists reviewed each section. The 8th edition of the Manual was delayed by World War II until 1950. The 13th edition, released in 1977 was the first time the textbook was produced using magnetic tape and IBM punch cards, the previous version having been typed on a manual typewriter. The Centennial (17th) Edition published in 1999 included a separate facsimile version of the 1899 1st edition. [3] :113

It is reported that both Admiral Richard E. Byrd took the book with him on his expedition to the South Pole in 1929 and Albert Schweitzer had a copy of The Merck Manual with him at his hospital mission in Africa in 1913. [6] [12]

The recommended doses given in Part 1 of 1901 edition of The Manual were for adults when given by mouth. It included the following dose adjustment recommendations:

The DOSES, unless otherwise stated, are for adults and per os. To determine the dose for children, add 12 to the age, and divide by the age; 1 divided by the result represents the fraction of the adult dose suitable for the child. For example, a child three years old will require


of the adult dose. Of powerful narcotics, children will require scarcely more than one-half of this proportion. Children bear opiates poorly; while they stand comparatively large doses of arsenic, belladonna, ipecac, mercurials, pilocarpine, rhubarb and some other purgatives, and squill. For hypodermic injection the dose is ordinarily about one-half of that given. [11] :7

Merck's Manual of the Materia Medica., 1901

  1. 1899
  2. 1901
  3. 1905
  4. 1911
  5. 1923
  6. 1934
  7. 1940
  8. 1950
  9. 1956
  10. 1961 (There were two printings in 1961, June and Nov; a third in Aug 1962 and a fourth in June 1963)
  11. 1966
  12. 1972
  13. 1977
  14. 1982
  15. 1984
  16. 1992 (2 million copies sold)
  17. 1999 (Centennial Edition)
  18. 2006
  19. 2011
  20. 2018 (current print edition)

Content

The Merck Manual is organized, like many internal medicine textbooks, into organ systems (see List of Medical Topics below) which discuss each major diseases of that system, covering diagnosis (signs, symptoms, tests), prognosis and treatment. It provides a comprehensive yet concise compendium of medical knowledge into about 3500 pages, by emphasizing practical information of use to a practicing physician. In addition to 24 sections covering medical topics, it includes a pharmacology section listing drugs by generic and brand name, a list of drug interactions and a pill identifier, a News and Commentary section, videos on procedures and examination techniques, quizzes and case histories, clinical calculators, conversion tables and other resources. [13] The text is characterized by the combination of conciseness, completeness, and being up-to-date. It is updated continuously by an independent editorial board and over 300 peer reviewers that contribute to the textbook, which goes through an average of 10 revisions by both internal and external reviewers before publication. The internal editorial staff consists of 4 physician reviews, one executive editor and four non-medical lay editors. [3] The latest version has been translated into 17 languages. In addition to the online version, The Merck Manual Professional Edition is also available as a mobile app in both iOS and Android platforms, [6] produced by Unbound Medicine, Inc. [14]

Medical topic sections (online edition)

K1. Cardiovascular Disorders 2. Clinical Pharmacology 3. Critical Care Medicine 4. Dental Disorders 5. Dermatological Disorders 6. Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders 7. Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders 8. Eye Disorders 9. Gastrointestinal Disorders 10. Genitourinary Disorders 11. Geriatrics 12. Gynecology and Obstetrics 13. Hematology and Oncology 14. Hepatic and Biliary Disorders 15. Immunology; Allergic Disorders 16. Infectious Diseases 17. Injuries; Poisoning 18. Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders 19. Neurologic Disorders 20. Nutritional Disorders 21. Pediatrics 22. Psychiatric Disorders 23. Pulmonary Disorders 24. Special Subjects

Awards and recognition

The Merck Manual was listed in the 2003 Brandon Hill "Selected List of Books and Journals for the Small Medical Library" as a recommended medical textbook for diagnosis, geriatrics, and patient education. [15]

The Merck Manuals were awarded five 2015 eHealthcare Leadership Awards including a Gold Award for Best Healthcare Content for Professionals, and a Distinction Award: Best Overall Healthcare Site, Consumer [16] at the nineteenth annual Healthcare Internet Conference held in November 2015 in Orlando, Florida. [17]

Merck Publishing offers resources for "The Merck Manual Award" provided annually to outstanding medical students. The qualifications for the award are determined by each medical school. [18] Medical schools that give this award include University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of Central Florida School of Medicine and the University of Illinois School of Medicine.

Other Merck manuals

The Merck Manual of Geriatrics

First published in 1990, sections of The Merck Manual were made into a separate volume dealing with diseases and management of illnesses in the elderly. It has gone through three print editions, the last version published in 2000. [19] Since the transition of The Merck Manual in 2015 to a web only based version, the Manual of Geriatrics is accessible through the Professional and Consumer portals of the online text. [20] A search engine on the Merck Manual site allows searches limited to the contents of The Merck Manual of Geriatrics. [21]

The Merck Manual of Patient Symptoms

The Merck Manual of Patient Symptoms is a concise, pocket size reference guide intended for medical students and allied health care professionals in training. It covers symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. [22]

Consumer editions

The Merck Manual of Medical Information – Home Edition

The Merck Manual of Medical Information – Home Edition was published in 1997 and was a re-edited version of the Professional version using less technical language intended for patients, caregivers and people interested in medical topics without training in health fields. This edition sold over 2 million copies. The Second Home Edition was released in 2003, and the third edition was published in 2009 as The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook, and sold over 4 million copies. [23] Since 2015 the Consumer version content is available only via the online Merck Manual website. [24] A condensed consumer-oriented version was published at The Merck Manual Go-To Home Guide for Symptoms in 2013. [25]

The Merck Manual of Women's and Men's Health

In 2014, The Second Home Edition was extracted from the Professional version of The Manual and published as The Merck Manual of Women's and Men's Health [26] [27]

The Merck Manual of Health & Aging

A consumer version of The Merck Manual of Geriatrics was released in print in 2004 as The Merck Manual of Health & Aging, which included information on aging and the care of older people in non-technical language for the public. The content was incorporated into the Consumer version of the online Merck Manual in 2015. [3] [28]

Veterinary medicine

The Merck Veterinary Manual

The Merck Veterinary Manual [29] has been published since 1955 for professional veterinarians and other professionals in the veterinary field. It is the most widely used veterinary medicine textbook. [30] It is still published in a print version [31] and the 11th edition is scheduled for release on July 12, 2016. [32] The Merck Veterinary Manual has been translated into seven languages, including Croatian, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish. [33] It is also available as a mobile app in both iOS and Android platforms, as well as an online version. [34]

Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health (Home Edition)

A consumer version written in non-technical language as a joint publication between Merck and Merial released as the Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health (Home Edition) was first published in 2007. [35] ISBN   978-0911910995. A consumer oriented version of the Merck Veterinary Manual is available online as the Pet Health Edition. [36]

Notes

  1. The root of the Aletris farinosa is an alternative herbal remedy used as for digestive problems, and for relief of gynecologic disorders. [9] [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to health sciences:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homeopathy</span> Pseudoscientific system of alternative medicine

Homeopathy or homoeopathy is a pseudoscientific system of alternative medicine. It was conceived in 1796 by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann. Its practitioners, called homeopaths, believe that a substance that causes symptoms of a disease in healthy people can cure similar symptoms in sick people; this doctrine is called similia similibus curentur, or "like cures like". Homeopathic preparations are termed remedies and are made using homeopathic dilution. In this process, the selected substance is repeatedly diluted until the final product is chemically indistinguishable from the diluent. Often not even a single molecule of the original substance can be expected to remain in the product. Between each dilution homeopaths may hit and/or shake the product, claiming this makes the diluent remember the original substance after its removal. Practitioners claim that such preparations, upon oral intake, can treat or cure disease.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veterinary medicine</span> Deals with the diseases of animals

Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in animals. Along with this, it deals with animal rearing, husbandry, breeding, research on nutrition, and product development. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all animal species, both domesticated and wild, with a wide range of conditions that can affect different species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Impetigo</span> Human disease (bacterial infection)

Impetigo is a bacterial infection that involves the superficial skin. The most common presentation is yellowish crusts on the face, arms, or legs. Less commonly there may be large blisters which affect the groin or armpits. The lesions may be painful or itchy. Fever is uncommon.

<i>Materia medica</i> Historical Latin term for pharmacology

Materia medica is a Latin term from the history of pharmacy for the body of collected knowledge about the therapeutic properties of any substance used for healing. The term derives from the title of a work by the Ancient Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides in the 1st century AD, De materia medica, 'On medical material'.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a disruptive set of emotional and physical symptoms that regularly occur in the one to two weeks before the start of each menstrual period. Symptoms resolve around the time menstrual bleeding begins. Different women experience different symptoms. Premenstrual syndrome commonly produces one or more physical, emotional, or behavioral symptoms, that resolve with menses. The range of symptoms is wide, and most commonly are breast tenderness, bloating, headache, mood swings, depression, anxiety, anger, and irritability. To be diagnosed as PMS, rather than a normal discomfort of the menstrual cycle, these symptoms must interfere with daily living, during two menstrual cycles of prospective recording. These symptoms are nonspecific and are seen in women without PMS. Often PMS-related symptoms are present for about six days. An individual's pattern of symptoms may change over time. PMS does not produce symptoms during pregnancy or following menopause.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diazepam</span> Benzodiazepine sedative

Diazepam, first marketed as Valium, is a medicine of the benzodiazepine family that acts as an anxiolytic. It is commonly used to treat a range of conditions, including anxiety, seizures, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, muscle spasms, insomnia, and restless legs syndrome. It may also be used to cause memory loss during certain medical procedures. It can be taken by mouth, inserted into the rectum, injected into muscle, injected into a vein or used as a nasal spray. When given into a vein, effects begin in one to five minutes and last up to an hour. By mouth, effects begin after 15 to 60 minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geriatrics</span> Specialty that focuses on health care of elderly people

Geriatrics, or geriatric medicine, is a medical specialty focused on providing care for the unique health needs of older adults. The term geriatrics originates from the Greek γέρων geron meaning "old man", and ιατρός iatros meaning "healer". It aims to promote health by preventing, diagnosing and treating disease in older adults. There is no defined age at which patients may be under the care of a geriatrician, or geriatric physician, a physician who specializes in the care of elderly people. Rather, this decision is guided by individual patient need and the caregiving structures available to them. This care may benefit those who are managing multiple chronic conditions or experiencing significant age-related complications that threaten quality of daily life. Geriatric care may be indicated if caregiving responsibilities become increasingly stressful or medically complex for family and caregivers to manage independently.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gastritis</span> Stomach disease that is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach

Gastritis is inflammation of the lining of the stomach. It may occur as a short episode or may be of a long duration. There may be no symptoms but, when symptoms are present, the most common is upper abdominal pain. Other possible symptoms include nausea and vomiting, bloating, loss of appetite and heartburn. Complications may include stomach bleeding, stomach ulcers, and stomach tumors. When due to autoimmune problems, low red blood cells due to not enough vitamin B12 may occur, a condition known as pernicious anemia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyperphosphatemia</span> Medical condition

Hyperphosphatemia is an electrolyte disorder in which there is an elevated level of phosphate in the blood. Most people have no symptoms while others develop calcium deposits in the soft tissue. Often there is also low calcium levels which can result in muscle spasms.

A medical classification is used to transform descriptions of medical diagnoses or procedures into standardized statistical code in a process known as clinical coding. Diagnosis classifications list diagnosis codes, which are used to track diseases and other health conditions, inclusive of chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and heart disease, and infectious diseases such as norovirus, the flu, and athlete's foot. Procedure classifications list procedure code, which are used to capture interventional data. These diagnosis and procedure codes are used by health care providers, government health programs, private health insurance companies, workers' compensation carriers, software developers, and others for a variety of applications in medicine, public health and medical informatics, including:

Merck refers primarily to the German Merck family and three companies founded by the family, including:

Odynophagia is pain when swallowing. The pain may be felt in the mouth or throat and can occur with or without difficulty swallowing. The pain may be described as an ache, burning sensation, or occasionally a stabbing pain that radiates to the back. Odynophagia often results in inadvertent weight loss. The term is from odyno- 'pain' and phagō 'to eat'.

Scottie Cramp is a disease in Scottish Terriers causing spasms and hyperflexion and hyperextension of the legs. It is caused by a disorder in serotonin metabolism that causes a deficiency of available serotonin. It is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.

The Merck Veterinary Manual is a reference manual of animal health care. It was first published by Merck & Co., Inc. in 1955. It contains concise, thorough information on the diagnosis and treatment of disease in a wide variety of species. The Manual is available as a book, published on a non-profit basis. Additionally, the full text can be accessed for free via the website, or downloaded in its entirety via an app. In January 2020, the website was redesigned with a more helpful search function without advertising. Interactive features on the website include quizzes, case studies, and clinical calculators. In addition, there are animal health news summaries and commentaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finley Ellingwood</span> American physician

Finley Ellingwood was a doctor of eclectic medicine who is the author of the influential American Materia Medica, therapeutics, and pharmacognosy in 1919. Ellingwood was an active Chicago physician with many years experience, and an acknowledged expert in obstetrical/gynecological medicine. He was a vocal advocate of women physicians, and edited Ellingwood's Therapeutist for many years. His brand of Eclectic Medicine differed from the more subdued Cincinnati style as mentored by Scudder, Lloyd, Fyfe, and Felter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical encyclopedia</span> Written compendium about diseases

A medical encyclopaedia is a comprehensive written compendium that holds information about diseases, medical conditions, tests, symptoms, injuries, and surgeries. It may contain an extensive gallery of medicine-related photographs and illustrations. A medical encyclopaedia provides information to readers about health questions. It may also contain some information about the history of diseases, the development of medical technology uses to detect diseases in its early phase. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Mark Howard Beers was an American geriatrician whose research on drug interactions among the elderly led to the creation of the eponymous Beers criteria, which lists prescription medications that may have deleterious side effects in older patients.

The Merck Manuals are medical references published by the American pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., that cover a wide range of medical topics, including disorders, tests, diagnoses, and drugs. The manuals have been published since 1899, when Merck & Co. was still a subsidiary of the German company Merck.

References

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  8. An index of diseases in which Aletris Cordial has been found useful (USC School of Medicine Digital Collections ed.). St. Louis, MO: Rio Chemical Co. 1890. p. 1.
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  26. Merck Manual of Women's and Men's Health. Gallery Books. 2014. ISBN   978-1501104534.
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