Jan 15, 1986 - James McSherry. Director. Student Health Service. Queen's University. Kingston, Ont. Poison reference manual. Poison Management Manual.
cologists. Although Abraham and Llewellyn-Jones do not identify a specific audience, they claim that "this book is both an authoritative and approachable survey of eating disorders and will be of value not only to the medical profession, but also to many suffering from the conditions described". This lack of a definite focus is a serious handicap and detracts from the book's value to professionals. "Eating Disorders: the Facts" is written in an informal and readable style, combining case histories with editorial comment and didactic presentations. This approach has the advantage of providing insight into patients' emotional states and thought processes. However, it has the disadvantage of not offering an objective evaluation of the clinical problems, and this becomes a major difficulty when patients said to have primary eating disorders obviously have severe personality disturbances of which the eating disorder is but one aspect. Abraham and LlewellynJones stress the role of the Quetelet index (weight/height2) in the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. Although this index may provide a useful method of expressing degrees of emaciation its use must still be combined with clinical and psychological assessment before any definitive conclusions can be drawn. As a measure of the nutritional state of an individual patient the Quetelet index is less accurate than the "Nutritiongram", and I wonder if it might achieve greater clinical significance if it were used with the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) 26 score as a means of surveying populations in prevalence studies.
The authors obviously have a great deal of experience with patients suffering from eating disorders, although it is not immediately clear how they manage to reconcile the demands of gynecologic practice with the timeconsuming attention required by even a small group of patients with bulimia and anorexia nervosa. Given the many presenting 182
complaints of patients with eating disorders it is entirely appropriate that this contribution should be made by two gynecologists. Unfortunately, they have not addressed some of the specific gynecologic aspects of eating disorders (e.g., the confusing effect on diagnostic criteria when the use of oral contraceptives permits regular menstrual cycles, and the role of oral contraceptives in the long-term prophylaxis of osteoporosis in women with hypogonadism). Because of its brevity this book presents an approach to eating disorders that is often superficial and oversimplistic for professionals, while appearing oversophisticated for lay people who do not have a strong background in the life sciences. Physicians who are actively involved in the management of patients with eating disorders will consult more detailed books; others, who simply seek some basic information for their own interest, may find this book helpful.
The manual is well organized, clearly written and easy to use. In addition to a thorough general index and extensive cross-references in the text, an index of chemical, generic and brand names is provided. These features combine to make this manual the best quick reference source on poisoning available to Canadian physicians. Garth Dickinson, BA, MD, FRCPC Emergency physician Ottawa General Hospital Ottawa, Ont.
Therapeutic' Index Antiangmal agent Adalat
120 A,B,C,D
Antiarrhythmic agent Pronestyl-SR
92,116,117
Antibiotic Eryc 100,132 Vibramycin 173,174
Antidepressant James McSherry Director Student Health Service Queen's University Kingston, Ont.
Sinequan
Antifungal agent
Poison Management Manual 1984. British Columbia Drug and Poison Information Centre, Vancouver. 392 pp. Canadian Pharmaceutical Association, Ottawa. 1984. $39. ISBN 0-919115-10-1
Antihypertensive agent Dyazide
Minipress Tenormin Trandate Visken
CAN MED ASSOC J, VOL. 134, JANUARY 15,1986
94,169 106,184 16,189 160,161,190
140,188 125
Anti-inflammatory agent Anaprox Ansaid Clinoril Feldene
102,16, 183 186, hide Front Cover 166,166 96,97,150
Anxiolytic agent Xanax
139
Bronchodilator 152 B,C
Ventolin
Calcium supplement Calsan
Tshis manual lists over 200 potentially toxic household, industrial, botanical and pharmaceutical compounds. Each substance or toxin group is presented on its own page; the relevant features are highlighted under the subheadings "Synonyms", "Description", "Formulation", "Toxicity", "Signs and symptoms" and "Treatment". All concentrations are presented in conventional and SI (Systeme international) units.
126,187
Canesten
Inderide
Poison reference manual
143,144
107,110
Coronary vaodiator
187, Outside Bek Cover
Persantine
Decongestant 90,09
CoActifed
Diagnostic aid Accu-Chek II
114
Histamine H2 receptor antagonist Zantac
183, Inide Beck Cover
Hydroactive dresing Duoderm
156
Lactase enzyme LactAid
147
Platelet inhibitor Asasantine
187, Oued Beck Cover
