[Preface of a Book Written by Oscar Bodansky and Meyer Bodansky] Page: 1 of 4

                                
PREFACE
PHYSICIANS meet many situations in the course of their
clinical activities that very pointedly call attention to the aid which
biochemistry offers to the practice and science of medicine. This
aid is not alone that supplied by the diagnostic laboratory. It resides
also in the achievements of certain fundamental investigations,
many of relatively recent occurrence, which have led to a better
understanding of the pathogenesis, the course and the treatment
of various diseases.
Most physicians receive the major part of their biochemical
training during the first year of medical school. For lack of clinical
experience at this stage, they fail to appreciate the medical rele-
vance of many of the principles which are presented to them. In
their later years at school or in their practice, growing preoccupa-
tion with clinical activities leaves them  little time for review of
fundamental biochemical principles or for the integration of ad-
vances based on these principles with their own experience.
The writing of this book was undertaken, consequently, with
the conviction that a systematic presentation of the biochemical
aspects of the various diseases, arranged according to clinical enti-
ties, would be of distinct value and use to the physician. Since
it is through his relation to particular clinical situations that the
physician usually experiences his interest in biochemistry, we felt
that the arrangement of the biochemical material in accordance with
clinical entities would make it pertinent, available and utilizable.
General presentations of carbohydrate, protein, fat and min-
eral metabolism, oxidation-reduction, etc., etc., were avoided as
such, since it was felt that such presentations lie more properly
within the domain of the text on general biochemistry. Instead,
these topics were considered, to the extent deemed relevant and
applicable, in connection with the discussions of the various disease
conditions. Descriptions of laboratory methods have not been in-
cluded, although in some instances, such as functional tests where
the participation of the physician is required, certain portions of
the procedure have been outlined.
We have also attempted to apportion our presentation of the bio-
chemistry of the various diseases in accordance with their clinical
significance. It has, however, not always been possible to do this,
for certain uncommon or benign conditions have been the subject of
much successful biochemical investigation, whereas the studies of
other diseases, of greater severity or higher incidence, have so far

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