This book aims to provide an easily read general account of clinical cardiology. It is primarily designed to meet the needs of medical students, but should be helpful to advanced students in nursing and paramedical fields, as well as providing a review text for medical interns and residents. The book may help to practice modern medicine in a humane way. This means utilizing all possibilities available, but, at the same time, recognizing their limitations. Since progress in the field of cardiology advances rapidly the physician can only keep up with it by understanding diagnostic and therapeutic measures rather than by memorizing mUltiple facts. The need for a book such as this one has already been proven by the wide acceptance in Europe of the first two German editions (authored by M. K.). Indeed, this success prompted the collaborative effort represented here. Along with the translation into English, the authors have tried to maintain an international perspective, in tune with the greater global awareness and cooperation of the 1990s.