Gaddum's Pharmacology. Ninth Edition

The ninth edition of Gaddum's Pharmacology by A.S.V. Burgen and J.F. Mitchell is a review well-suited to the medical or pharmacology student. This new edition covers the essentials of pharmacology and incorporates recent advances in areas such as the mechanism of drug receptors and neuropharmacological agents. The chapters are very brief and begin with a general description of the class of pharmacological agents, and, in some instances, a brief history of the class of drugs. The major drugs are discussed and emphasis is placed on the relationship of the chemical structure of these drugs to their function. The text covers some of the clinical aspects of pharmacology, but only to a bare minimum. In addition, drug names and the side effects of drugs are mentioned, but only to the minimum necessary. Overall, most of the chapters in this text are written with exceptional clarity. The second chapter on drug kinetics is a good example. Rather than confusing the reader with many equations and lengthy examples, the authors present a core of knowledge about drug kinetics. Tables, figures, and graphs are clear and placed appropriately so that a reader can follow the text without having to turn the page. The continuity of topics discussed in each chapter is another strong point-particularly so, for example, in the chapter on neuromessengers. Here the authors discuss, in the following order, synthesis and uptake, storage, release, and the metabolism of neuromessengers. This sequential development of topics helps greatly to clarify the material. Like the rest of the text, the individual chapter sections are all short and to the point. In addition, many of the chapters are well cross-referenced so that repeat reading of material is prevented. The strong point of this book is the concise manner in which it is written. The chapter introductions are excellent and provide a brief review of the physiological system surrounding the class of drugs being discussed. As a consequence of being so concise, however, this book falls far short of what is required knowledge for the medical or pharmacology student. In addition, the text can be difficult to follow because the authors try to cover too much information in a small space. The authors have achieved their main objective: to write a text which will serve "as an introduction to modern pharmacology for pre-medical students and students of science and pharmacy." They assume that the reader has no previous knowledge of the subject aside from a general science background. For those who wish a more comprehensive review of pharmacology, the authors provide a list of additional reading in the appendix. A suggestion for future editions is the addition of references at the end of each chapter for those readers wishing to study specific topics in detail.