This aims to provide a complete text to enable the student to appreciate both the medical and surgical implications of diseases encountered on surgical wards. 49 chapters have been revised into 15 sections to group subjects in a more structured way to aid reference and learning. The text is ordered by body systems and includes chapters on practical procedures and medico-legal problems. It steers students from academic study towards the practical aspects of surgery. This aspect also makes the book applicable as background reading for primary FRCS candidates. For this edition a second colour has been introduced in the text to highlight important points and make the text easier to follow. Revision summary boxes have been added to note key points of surgical management and there is a new text layout to allow better signposting. There is now better illustrative content: radiographs have been introduced, clinical photographs replace many of the poorer line drawings and many line drawings have been re-drawn. There is also increased emphasis on radiological techniqeus and interventional radiology. In addition, new contributors, actively involved with student teaching, strengthen the team.