A spate of texts and handbooks on poisons and poisoning have been published during the past ten years. As interest in poison prevention and poison treatment has increased books such as Arena's have become standard references. Unfortunately, an increase in quality has not always kept up with increase in price, which would be my principal criticism of this and similar references. Having voiced that criticism I can then go on to praise this second edition of a reference which has become one of the standard references in its field.
This text is written for the practicing physician, primarily the pediattrician and general practitioner. The second edition has been extensively revised and updated but continues the same general format beginning with a general consideration of the diagnosis and treatment of poisoning. Separate sections are devoted to insecticides, other pesticides, some of the more common industrial toxicants, drugs, poisonous plants, and a