Book excerpt: The Toxicology Handbook 2e is a practical, didactic guide to the approach, assessment and management of poisoned patients. It has been written for hospital-based doctors at all levels and describes the risk assessment-based approach pioneered by the principal authors. the concise layout enables the reader to quickly locate information in a poisoning emergency. the book also features locally relevant information on bites, stings and envenoming. This book will also be useful for ambulance service paramedics and pharmacists.