Latifa Patel, University of Liverpool

I award this book a BUYER RATING OF 5/5. So, you enter Medical school and swot up on all the medical books you can get your hands on. You’re doing ace and then they drop the bomb shell… you’re about to meet real patients in hospital!!! Aah! Well, worry not. Macleods is here. This book covers every system in immaculate detail. Going through, a full system based history and a full system based examination. Each of the common symptoms are covered in detail as are the common investigations. Follow this book and your clinical skills won’t be faulted. All that’s required now is practice. Macleod’s is in colour, includes great images and has easy to follow tables. Each chapter opens with a caricature (non distorted) and contains plenty of diagrams illustrating the technique. Enjoy, Latifa (“,)

Posted 9th Mar 2009

Dominic Haigh, University of Birmingham

Macleod is renowned as the book to prepare you for hitting the wards for the first time. The first two chapters introduce the basics of history taking and examination. The following eight chapters run through the most common examinations. They begin with annotated diagrams of patient features on examination; this is a useful visual aid. Next, common symptoms are defined and explained. Pictures are as diverse as diagrams of the causes of haematuria, to photographs of pectus deformities. Common consultant questions such as differentials in hepatomegaly are listed separately from the main text. Panels outline how to handle common OSCE scenarios. With the book comes access to the online Student Consult service where the entire book can be referenced very quickly, even if your book is in your locker or at home. Bonus content includes images prepared for use in presentations. This is an important book to get you through your clinical years.

Posted 1st Jul 2008