International Travel Health Guide. Stuart R. Rose. Travel Medicine Inc., Northampton, Mass., 1989. 228 pages. $12.95.

Though this does not pretend to emulate the hoary “Hints to Travellers”, which ran to a dozen editions beginning in 1854, it's an invaluable compendium of all you need to know — sometimes more — about how to stay well when travelling; more than a hundred countries are covered. Requirements for visas, health certificates, shots, and solid advice about medical kits, health precautions and where to find help are all covered in up-to-date detail. Which diseases are prevalent, what special precautions are needed (against resistant malaria for example) are well defined for each country. Insurance, emergency air evacuation, and internationally available expert advice are included. Its handy pocket size, good maps and index and lists of addresses and telephone numbers in many countries are the sort of practical details the traveler needs. There are a few shortcomings which the author assures me will be corrected in the next, annual edition. Strongly recommended to anyone going abroad, especially to the Third World.

Charles S. Houston, M.D.