This eighteenth edition is the fruit of much revision and some addition. Nevertheless the book continues the aims set out by Robert Hutchison, who prefaced the first edition in 1897 with these lines: 'The title Clinical Methods describes the scope of this book better than any other. It is not intended as a treatise upon medical diagnosis . . . It aims rather at describing those methods of clinical investigation by the proper application of which a correct diagnosis can alone be arrived at. To every student when he first begins work in a medical ward the question presents itself: How shall I investigate this case? To that question the present work is intended to provide an answer.' We have emphasized the importance of considering the patient as a person, not a case, and to that end we have added a chapter on psychiatric assessment. The chapters on the cardiovascular system and the ear, nose and throat are new presentations. In them, as in other chapters, we have briefly introduced modern imaging techniques and physiological tests in order to show how these illustrate the nature of symptoms and physical signs. There is additional material in several of the other chapters. We sadly record the death of Richard Bomford prior to the preparation of this edition. He was truly a patient's physician and his influence on this book is abiding. Once again we are greatly indebted to our colleagues, listed overleaf, for their contributions. We also pay tribute to our publishers for their skill and forbearance. The responsibility for any errors is ours alone. Michael Swash Stuart Mason