Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy
[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.
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.
[8] [a] 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] 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.
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 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.
[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.
Children bear opiates poorly; while they stand comparatively large doses of arsenic, belladonna, ipecac, mercurials, pilocarpine, rhubarb and some other purgatives, and squill.
[11]: 7 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.
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] K1.
Special Subjects 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.
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.
[21] The Merck Manual of Patient Symptoms is a concise, pocket size reference guide intended for medical students and allied health care professionals in training.
[22] 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.
[24] A condensed consumer-oriented version was published at The Merck Manual Go-To Home Guide for Symptoms in 2013.
[32] The Merck Veterinary Manual has been translated into seven languages, including Croatian, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish.
[34] 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.
A consumer oriented version of the Merck Veterinary Manual is available online as the Pet Health Edition.
