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In 1899, the American drug manufacturer Merck
& Co. first published a small book titled Merck's Manual
of the Materia Medica. It was meant as an aid to physicians
and pharmacists, reminding doctors that “Memory is treacherous.”
Compact in size, easy to use, and comprehensive, The Merck
Manual (as it was later known) became a favorite of those
involved in medical care and others in need of a medical reference.
Even Albert Schweitzer carried a copy to Africa in 1913, and Admiral
Byrd carried a copy to the South Pole in 1929.
By the 1980s, the book had become the world's largest
selling medical text and was translated into more than a dozen languages.
While the name of the parent company has changed somewhat over the years,
the book's name has remained constant, known officially as The
Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy but usually referred
to as The Merck Manual and sometimes “The Merck.”
In 1990, the editors of The Merck Manual introduced The
Merck Manual of Geriatrics. This new book quickly became
the best-selling textbook of geriatric medicine, providing specific
and comprehensive information on the care of older people. The 3rd
edition was published in five languages. The creation of this book
reflects Merck's commitment to the world's aging population and
the company's desire to improve geriatric care globally.
In 1997, The Merck Manual of Medical
Information–Home Edition was published.
In this revolutionary book, the editors translated the complex medical information
in The Merck Manual into plain language, producing
a book meant for all those people interested in medical care who
did not have a medical degree. The book received critical acclaim
and sold over 2 million copies. The Second Home Edition was released
in 2003 and continued Merck's commitment to providing comprehensive,
understandable medical information to all people.
The Merck Manual of Health & Aging,
published in 2004, continued Merck's commitment to education and
geriatric care, providing information on aging and the care of older
people in words understandable by the lay public.
As part of its commitment to ensuring that all
who need and want medical information can get it, Merck provides
the content of these Merck Manuals on the web for free (visit www.merckmanuals.com).
Registration is not required, and use is unlimited. The web publications
are continuously updated to ensure that the information is as up-to-date
as possible.
Merck also supports the community of chemists and
others with the need to know about chemical compounds with The
Merck Index. First published in 1889, this publication
actually predates The Merck Manual and is the most
widely used text of its kind. The Merck Veterinary Manual was
first published in 1955. It provides information on the health care
of animals and is the preeminent text in its field.
Merck & Co., Inc., is one of the world's
largest pharmaceutical companies. Merck is committed to providing
excellent medical information and, as part of that effort, continues
to proudly provide all of The Merck Manuals as a service to the
community.
最終改訂月 2005年11月
最終更新月 2005年11月
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