The Metabolic Basis of Surgical Care focuses on the concise account of the composition and metabolism of the body in health and disease. The book first tackles body composition in health and disease and water and electrolyte metabolism. Topics include cations, potassium, anions, concept of body spaces, blood volume, body ionic masses, and principles of measurement. The manuscript then ponders on energy metabolism and nutrition, including dietary requirements, changes in disease, vitamins, carbohydrates, sodium, and enzymes. The text elaborates on the endocrine aspects of the metabolic response to injury and circulatory homeostasis. Discussions focus on hydrocortisone, digitalis, antibiotics, blood substitutes, adrenal cortex, kidney, thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal medulla. Hydrogen ion regulation, problems in surgical care, respiratory and renal systems, and gastrointestinal metabolic problems are also discussed. The publication is a valuable source of data for doctors, clinicians, and readers wanting to explore the metabolic grounds of surgical care.