This is the second edition of this very popular book. The drive behind the first edition was to honour the retirement of Professor Gerald Russell and many of the chapters were written by the diaspora of clinicians and scientists emanating from his academic and clinical leadership. Within the decade since that edition was conceived, developed and executed there have been changes in the balance of clinical and academic connections. A European school has started to emerge. In part EEC funding has facilitated this but, in addition, curiosity into the contrasts and similarities between countries and the willingness and ability to communicate has cemented this approach
