Dr NK Gami FRCP (Edin) has been practising and teaching of electrocardiography both here and abroad. This book is the artistic synthesis, distilled elexir of all these experiences.

The electrocardiography can have as much precision as mathematic is aptly revealed by reading this book. Theoretical considerations have been reduced to a minimum, emphasis being placed on practical and clinical aspects.

It is especially interesting and pleasing to realise that this excellent book is written by a physician who has spent major part of his professional life in our smaller towns. This book is also a testimony that there are excellent teachers outside the confines of medical colleges.

It is meant for teachers, students, physicians and general practitioners who wish to refresh the knowledge. The specialist physicians and cardiologists may systematise their knowledge and at least it will help him in bedside quick orientation and diagnosis.

The book is intended mainly for clinicians and students and arm them with such clinical knowledge that the uncertainty will vanish. They will stand on a firm footing. It is important to interpret the tracings in the light of clinical picture.

I cannot claim this book is fully comprehensive. I have intentionally avoided undue details and extreme views. Many controversies exist. An attempt is made to identify major clear-cut diagnostic clues. Each wave, segment and interval is identified as individual entity and each unit is approached individually to reach the definitive diagnosis. Where certain specific diagnostic patterns are detected, they are rationally discussed and diagnostic flow chart are devised to reach the quick diagnosis. The approach is a logical step-by-step flow chart to reach the diagnosis in a very short time. It prepares the mind for a methodical and systematic approach to abnormalities of different components of ECG tracings (waves, segments, intervals, specific patterns such as bundle branch block, ventricular hypertrophy, ischaemia and infarction). Tables and figures are lavishly used to summerise and clarify the facts. I have tried to hand over the cup of knowledge to the young without froth.

The subject of cardiac arrhythmias is dealt with some detail because I think it is a difficult part of ECG tracings. I have tried my level best to simplify its interpretation in a rational way

I welcome this opportunity to express my gratitude to my colleagues, my students and teachers specially cardiologists Dr Gilchrist, Dr RW Turner of Edinburgh from whom I have learnt a lot. I am very grateful for this opportunity to thank my adviser and teacher Dr JW Wade MD FRCP (London), Cardiologist of Manchester Royal Infirmary for his considerable help and interest during the period in which it has been my fortune to work under him and to learn intricacies of the ECG tracings.

I am really grateful to the publishers Jaypee Brothers and especially the Director (Publishing) Mr RK Yadav for meticulous supervision, helpful suggestion and presentation of the book.

Finally I would like to thank Professor NP Mishra MD FRCP (Edinburgh) for writing the foreword and my wife for putting up with long period of silence without complaining.