Merck Materia Medica 1899 ed facsimile cover page PS2

''The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy'', referred to as ''The Merck Manual'', is the world's best-selling medical textbook, and the oldest continuously published English language medical textbook. First published in 1899, the current print edition of the book, the 20th Edition, was published in 2018. In 2014, Merck decided to move ''The Merck Manual'' to digital-only, online publication, available in both professional and consumer versions; this decision was reversed in 2017, with the publication of the 20th edition the following year. ''The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy'' is one of several medical textbooks, collectively known as '' The Merck Manuals'', which are published by Merck Publishing, a subsidiary of the

pharmaceutical company The pharmaceutical industry is a Medicine, medical industry that discovers, develops, produces, and markets pharmaceutical goods such as medications and medical devices. Medications are then administered to (or Self-medicate, self-administered b ...

Merck Co., Inc. in the United States and Canada, and MSD (as ''The MSD Manuals'') in other countries in the world. Merck also formerly published '' The Merck Index'', ''An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals.''

History and editions

The first edition of ''The Merck Manual'' was published in 1899 by Merck & Co., Inc. for physicians and pharmacists and was titled ''Merck's Manual of the Materia Medica''. Merck's manual of the materia medica, together with a summary of therapeutic indications and a classification of medicaments. New York, Chicago: Merck & Co., 1899
/ref> The 192 page book which sold for US $1.00, was divided into three sections, Part I ("Materia Medica") was an alphabetical listing of all known compounds thought to be of therapeutic value with uses and doses; Part II ("Therapeutic Indications") was an alphabetical compendium of symptoms, signs, and diseases with a list of all known treatments; and Part III ("Classification of Medicaments ''(sic)'' According to their Physiologic Actions") was a listing of therapeutic agents according to their method of action or drug classification. Many of the terms used are now considered archaic, such as abasia, astasia, errhines and rubefacients - sternutatories, and many of the agents listed are now not considered to be standard therapeutic agents but were considered useful at the time, including poisonous compounds such as mercury,

lead Lead () is a chemical element; it has Chemical symbol, symbol Pb (from Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a Heavy metal (elements), heavy metal that is density, denser than most common materials. Lead is Mohs scale, soft and Ductility, malleabl ...

strychnine Strychnine (, , American English, US chiefly ) is a highly toxicity, toxic, colorless, bitter, crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents. Strychnine, when inhaled, swallowed, ...

and

arsenic Arsenic is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol As and atomic number 33. It is a metalloid and one of the pnictogens, and therefore shares many properties with its group 15 neighbors phosphorus and antimony. Arsenic is not ...

. There were 108 remedies listed for indigestion (dyspepsia), including

alcohol Alcohol may refer to: Common uses * Alcohol (chemistry), a class of compounds * Ethanol, one of several alcohols, commonly known as alcohol in everyday life ** Alcohol (drug), intoxicant found in alcoholic beverages ** Alcoholic beverage, an alco ...

, arsenic,

cocaine Cocaine is a tropane alkaloid and central nervous system stimulant, derived primarily from the leaves of two South American coca plants, ''Erythroxylum coca'' and ''Erythroxylum novogranatense, E. novogranatense'', which are cultivated a ...

, gold chloride, mercury,

morphine Morphine, formerly also called morphia, is an opiate that is found naturally in opium, a dark brown resin produced by drying the latex of opium poppies (''Papaver somniferum''). It is mainly used as an analgesic (pain medication). There are ...

, nux vomica,

opium Opium (also known as poppy tears, or Lachryma papaveris) is the dried latex obtained from the seed Capsule (fruit), capsules of the opium poppy ''Papaver somniferum''. Approximately 12 percent of opium is made up of the analgesic alkaloid mor ...

, silver nitrate, strychnine, and " Turkish baths (for malaise after dining out)".

Bismuth Bismuth is a chemical element; it has symbol Bi and atomic number 83. It is a post-transition metal and one of the pnictogens, with chemical properties resembling its lighter group 15 siblings arsenic and antimony. Elemental bismuth occurs nat ...

calcium Calcium is a chemical element; it has symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar to it ...

magnesium Magnesium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny gray metal having a low density, low melting point and high chemical reactivity. Like the other alkaline earth metals (group 2 ...

salts In chemistry, a salt or ionic compound is a chemical compound consisting of an assembly of positively charged ions ( cations) and negatively charged ions (anions), which results in a compound with no net electric charge (electrically neutral). ...

were also on the list, which are ingredients found in many modern gastrointestinal treatments available today. Arsenic was recommended for over 100 illnesses including

anemia Anemia (also spelt anaemia in British English) is a blood disorder in which the blood has a reduced ability to carry oxygen. This can be due to a lower than normal number of red blood cells, a reduction in the amount of hemoglobin availabl ...

diarrhea Diarrhea (American English), also spelled diarrhoea or diarrhœa (British English), is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements in a day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration d ...

, hydrophobia, elephantiasis, and

impotence Erectile dysfunction (ED), also referred to as impotence, is a form of sexual dysfunction in males characterized by the persistent or recurring inability to achieve or maintain a Human penis, penile erection with sufficient rigidity and durat ...

. The formulas include "aletris cordial", a "uterine tonic and restorative", which contained " aletris farinosa or True Unicorn combined with aromatics". The manufacturer, Rio Chemicals of St. Louis was clear to differentiate the inclusion of true unicorn rather than false unicorn in its preparation. The earliest versions did contain drugs that are still in use today for the same purposes, for example

digitalis ''Digitalis'' ( or ) is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous perennial plants, shrubs, and Biennial plant, biennials, commonly called foxgloves. ''Digitalis'' is native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwestern Africa. The flowers are ...

for

heart failure Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome caused by an impairment in the heart's ability to Cardiac cycle, fill with and pump blood. Although symptoms vary based on which side of the heart is affected, HF ...

;, salicylates for

headache A headache, also known as cephalalgia, is the symptom of pain in the face, head, or neck. It can occur as a migraine, tension-type headache, or cluster headache. There is an increased risk of Depression (mood), depression in those with severe ...

rheumatism Rheumatism or rheumatic disorders are conditions causing chronic, often intermittent pain affecting the joints or connective tissue. Rheumatism does not designate any specific disorder, but covers at least 200 different conditions, including a ...

and

fever Fever or pyrexia in humans is a symptom of an anti-infection defense mechanism that appears with Human body temperature, body temperature exceeding the normal range caused by an increase in the body's temperature Human body temperature#Fever, s ...

nitroglycerin Nitroglycerin (NG) (alternative spelling nitroglycerine), also known as trinitroglycerol (TNG), nitro, glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), or 1,2,3-trinitroxypropane, is a dense, colorless or pale yellow, oily, explosive liquid most commonly produced by ...

for cardiac

angina pectoris Angina, also known as angina pectoris, is chest pain or pressure, usually caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium). It is most commonly a symptom of coronary artery disease. Angina is typically the result of part ...

;, and bismuth salicylate for

Merck also began publishing ''Merck's Archives of the Materia Medica'', a monthly journal consisting of papers related to drugs and uses, which was available for an annual subscription of US $1.00. The second edition of ''The Merck Manual'' was published in 1901, was expanded to 282 pages and included new sections on poisons and antidotes, tables and conversion charts, and a detailed explanation of the metric system.Merck's 1901 Manual of the Materia Medica - A Ready-Reference Pocket Book for the Practicing Physician and Surgeon. New York, Chicago: Merck & Co., 1901
/ref> The 5th edition, published in 1923 was delayed due to paper shortages caused by

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and the release of the 6th edition was delayed until 1934 due to the

Stock Market Crash A stock market crash is a sudden dramatic decline of stock prices across a major cross-section of a stock market, resulting in a significant loss of paper wealth. Crashes are driven by panic selling and underlying economic factors. They often fol ...

. The editor of that edition, Dr. M. R. Dinkelspiel had overseen the growth and reorganization of the Manual to discuss specific diseases, diagnosis and treatment options, and external specialists reviewed each section. The 8th edition of the Manual was delayed by

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

until 1950. The 13th edition, released in 1977 was the first time the textbook was produced using

magnetic tape Magnetic tape is a medium for magnetic storage made of a thin, magnetizable coating on a long, narrow strip of plastic film. It was developed in Germany in 1928, based on the earlier magnetic wire recording from Denmark. Devices that use magnetic ...

and

IBM International Business Machines Corporation (using the trademark IBM), nicknamed Big Blue, is an American Multinational corporation, multinational technology company headquartered in Armonk, New York, and present in over 175 countries. It is ...

punch cards, the previous version having been typed on a manual typewriter. The Centennial (17th) Edition published in 1999 included a separate facsimile version of the 1899 1st edition. It is reported that both Admiral Richard E. Byrd took the book with him on his expedition to the South Pole in 1929 and

Albert Schweitzer Ludwig Philipp Albert Schweitzer (; 14 January 1875 – 4 September 1965) was a German and French polymath from Alsace. He was a theologian, organist, musicologist, writer, humanitarian, philosopher, and physician. As a Lutheran minister, ...

had a copy of The Merck Manual with him at his hospital mission in Africa in 1913. The recommended doses given in Part 1 of 1901 edition of ''The Manual'' were for adults when given by mouth. It included the following dose adjustment recommendations:

Print editions of ''The Merck Manual''

# 1899 # 1901 # 1905 # 1911 # 1923 # 1934 # 1940 # 1950 # 1956 # 1961 (There were two printings in 1961, June and Nov; a third in Aug 1962 and a fourth in June 1963) # 1966 # 1972 # 1977 # 1982 # 1984 # 1992 (2 million copies sold) # 1999 (Centennial Edition) # 2006 # 2011 # 2018 (current print edition)

Content

''The Merck Manual'' is organized, like many internal medicine textbooks, into organ systems (see List of Medical Topics below) which discuss each major diseases of that system, covering diagnosis (signs, symptoms, tests), prognosis and treatment. It provides a comprehensive yet concise compendium of medical knowledge into about 3500 pages, by emphasizing practical information of use to a practicing physician. In addition to 24 sections covering medical topics, it includes a pharmacology section listing drugs by generic and brand name, a list of drug interactions and a pill identifier, a News and Commentary section, videos on procedures and examination techniques, quizzes and case histories, clinical calculators, conversion tables and other resources. The text is characterized by the combination of conciseness, completeness, and being up-to-date. It is updated continuously by an independent editorial board and over 300 peer reviewers that contribute to the textbook, which goes through an average of 10 revisions by both internal and external reviewers before publication. The internal editorial staff consists of 4 physician reviews, one executive editor and four non-medical lay editors. The latest version has been translated into 17 languages. In addition to the online version, ''The Merck Manual Professional Edition'' is also available as a mobile app in both iOS and Android platforms, produced by Unbound Medicine, Inc.

Medical topic sections (online edition)

K1. Cardiovascular Disorders 2. Clinical Pharmacology 3. Critical Care Medicine 4. Dental Disorders 5. Dermatological Disorders 6. Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders 7. Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders 8. Eye Disorders 9. Gastrointestinal Disorders 10. Genitourinary Disorders 11. Geriatrics 12. Gynecology and Obstetrics 13. Hematology and Oncology 14. Hepatic and Biliary Disorders 15. Immunology; Allergic Disorders 16. Infectious Diseases 17. Injuries; Poisoning 18. Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders 19. Neurologic Disorders 20. Nutritional Disorders 21. Pediatrics 22. Psychiatric Disorders 23. Pulmonary Disorders 24. Special Subjects

Awards and recognition

''The Merck Manual'' was listed in the 2003 Brandon Hill "Selected List of Books and Journals for the Small Medical Library" as a recommended medical textbook for diagnosis, geriatrics, and patient education. ''The Merck Manuals'' were awarded five 2015 eHealthcare Leadership Awards including a Gold Award for Best Healthcare Content for Professionals, and a Distinction Award: Best Overall Healthcare Site, Consumer at the nineteenth annual Healthcare Internet Conference held in November 2015 in Orlando, Florida. Merck Publishing offers resources for "The Merck Manual Award" provided annually to outstanding medical students. The qualifications for the award are determined by each medical school. Medical schools that give this award include University of North Carolina School of Medicine, University of Central Florida School of Medicine and the University of Illinois School of Medicine.

Other Merck manuals

''The Merck Manual of Geriatrics''

First published in 1990, sections of ''The Merck Manual'' were made into a separate volume dealing with diseases and management of illnesses in the elderly. It has gone through three print editions, the last version published in 2000. Since the transition of The Merck Manual in 2015 to a web only based version, the Manual of Geriatrics is accessible through the Professional and Consumer portals of the online text. A search engine on the Merck Manual site allows searches limited to the contents of ''The Merck Manual of Geriatrics''.

''The Merck Manual of Patient Symptoms''

''The Merck Manual of Patient Symptoms'' is a concise, pocket size reference guide intended for medical students and allied health care professionals in training. It covers symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Consumer editions

''The Merck Manual of Medical Information – Home Edition''

''The Merck Manual of Medical Information – Home Edition'' was published in 1997 and was a re-edited version of the Professional version using less technical language intended for patients, caregivers and people interested in medical topics without training in health fields. This edition sold over 2 million copies. The ''Second Home Edition'' was released in 2003, and the third edition was published in 2009 as ''The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook'', and sold over 4 million copies. Since 2015 the Consumer version content is available only via the online Merck Manual website. A condensed consumer-oriented version was published at ''The Merck Manual Go-To Home Guide for Symptoms'' in 2013.

''The Merck Manual of Women's and Men's Health''

In 2014, ''The Second Home Edition'' was extracted from the Professional version of ''The Manual'' and published as ''The Merck Manual of Women's and Men's Health''

''The Merck Manual of Health & Aging''

A consumer version of ''The Merck Manual of Geriatrics'' was released in print in 2004 as ''The Merck Manual of Health & Aging'', which included information on aging and the care of older people in non-technical language for the public. The content was incorporated into the Consumer version of the online Merck Manual in 2015.

Veterinary medicine

''The Merck Veterinary Manual''

''The Merck Veterinary Manual'' has been published since 1955 for professional veterinarians and other professionals in the veterinary field. It is the most widely used veterinary medicine textbook. It is still published in a print version and the 11th edition is scheduled for release on July 12, 2016. The ''Merck Veterinary Manual'' has been translated into seven languages, including Croatian, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish. It is also available as a mobile app in both iOS and Android platforms, as well as an online version.

''Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health (Home Edition)''

A consumer version written in non-technical language as a joint publication between Merck and Merial released as the ''Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health (Home Edition)'' was first published in 2007. . A consumer oriented version of the Merck Veterinary Manual is available online as the ''Pet Health Edition''.

Notes

References

External links

''Merck Manuals''
full text online: *
Professional edition
*
Home edition

''Merck Manual'' Mobile Apps
{{Merck&Co, state=autocollapse 1899 books Medical manuals Merck Group Merck & Co.