"Updates in Colo-Proctology" covers the proceedings of the Anglo-Swiss Colo-Proctology Meeting held in St Moritz in 1990. The book contains the papers which were presented and dis­ cussed there by physicians of the various specialties concerned with the care of patients with diseases of the colon, rectum and anus. The authors, each distinguished in a particular field, have contributed across a wide range of subjects and different dis­ ciplines. The topics covered include surgical and investigative techniques, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and specific infections. Being familiar with the previous literature, it is clear that little was really new among the themes presented in St Moritz, but few will deny that many of the techniques and methods of treatment described in this book are truly modern. Some contribute an entirely new dimension to the approach to well­ known colo-proctological conditions, while others may open up new paths for future research. In addition, in colo-proctology as in other disciplines, advances in treatment almost always bring new problems in the complications which attend them. These are the subject of some of the papers. Although it would be invidious to pick out individual contributions when there is so much that is new to talk about and so much that is old to be looked at in a new light, we should like to record how much we have enjoyed reading and collating these chapters. We hope that others will share our enthusiasm and pleasure.