Reviewer, Dr Rishabh Garg,
Batch 2019, N.C. Medical College and Hospital, Aff to PGIMS, Rohtak

The first time you walk into a hospital ward as a student, everything feels unfamiliar. Doctors walk briskly, patients look at you with hope, and seniors expect you to know what to do.

It's your first patient, and you are ready to take the history — but suddenly, the questions in your mind vanish. Your hands tremble, your voice falters, and you wonder if you belong there.

This is where most medical students stumble. And this is where Kundu’s Bedside Clinics in Medicine  becomes more than a book. It feels like a mentor — guiding you on how to talk, examine, and slowly build confidence in the wards.

Entering the Wards

Pre-clinical years are filled with books. But clinics are a different world!

Here, you meet real people with real stories — Patients describe their problems in fragments, often far from textbook patterns. You find yourself stuck between the theory you learned in the classroom and the patient in front of you.

And then come the small frustrations:

·         You have the stethoscope, but you don’t know where to place it or what sounds to expect.

·         You carry a knee hammer but hesitate when asked to check a reflex.

·         You own a tuning fork, but vibration testing feels confusing.

“Many students recall freezing during their first clinical posting — the theory is fresh in their mind, but hesitation stops their hands.”

This is exactly where the 2-volume set of Kundu’s Manual helps — turning hesitation into habit with step-by-step clarity.

One student shared how, during her first surgery posting, she was asked to examine a patient with abdominal pain. Though familiar with the theoretical “inspect, auscultate, percuss, palpate,” she had never applied it practically. Thanks to Kundu’s clear clinical steps, she approached the case systematically. Her findings — distended abdomen, absent bowel sounds, localized tenderness — impressed her resident, who suspected subacute intestinal obstruction. That day, she wasn’t guessing; she was examining with purpose.

What the Book Offers

Kundu’s Bedside Clinics in Medicine  structures clinical learning without overwhelming you. Its key strengths are:

·                                             History taking — what to ask, how to ask, and in what order

·                                             General & systemic examination — clear, stepwise explanations

·                                             Investigations — blood tests, urine reports, ECGs, X-rays, CT scans, and more

·                                             Clinical pearls — small but powerful tips connecting theory with practice

·                                             Instrument use — from stethoscope to reflex hammer, explained simply

It doesn’t just list instruments — it teaches how to use them. For example, it explains how to examine the JVP: patient position, lighting, angle, and how to distinguish it from carotid pulsation. Using a tuning fork? Kundu simplifies both the method and interpretation, helping you test vibration sense confidently.

Even complex areas like neurology become manageable. A student used Kundu’s cranial nerve checklist during exams.

Exam Companion

Every student dreads the moment during ward rounds when an examiner suddenly says:

“Show me this reflex.”
“Interpret this ECG.”

Panic is natural.

With Kundu’s manual, you feel ready:

·         Clear case formats (long & short)

·         Viva-style points highlighted for quick recall

·         Extra details that give you the edge that  the examiners love

“In exams, it isn’t just knowledge that matters — it’s confidence from practicing action.”

One student recalled a cardiology round where he nervously placed his stethoscope on a patient’s chest. Remembering Kundu’s guide to auscultation sites — aortic, pulmonary, tricuspid, mitral — he moved methodically and picked up a soft pansystolic murmur. The consultant smiled. It wasn’t just the murmur — it was how he listened.

No wonder students call Kundu their “exam partner” in clinics.

Beyond Exams

It’s tempting to treat bedside manuals as only exam-preparatory books. But this book builds habits that last:

·         Using a stethoscope properly trains your ears for life

·         Practicing reflexes teaches you to perform a full neuro exam

·         Handling instruments builds long-term confidence

Interns recall moments when these small habits saved lives.

One intern remembered a chaotic shift when a patient with chest pain arrived. While others scrambled, the intern confidently connected the ECG machine — a skill once practiced repeatedly. That action saved crucial time allowing for immediate treatment.

Clinics as an Intern

During internship, confidence is currency. Whether explaining findings, writing case sheets, or interpreting investigations quickly, Kundu lays the foundation.

Interns say the manual’s structured thinking helps in night duties, ward calls, and even talking with patient families. When time is short and pressure high, these habits — built early — make the biggest difference.

Who Should Read It — And What Do the Readers Gain

This manual is for:

·         Medical students starting clinical postings

·         Interns navigating wards

·         Junior residents refining bedside skills

Unlike theory-heavy textbooks, it prepares you for the actual act of seeing patients.

You’ll learn how to approach cases confidently, translate patient stories into structured histories, and perform thorough yet efficient examinations.

More than information, it gives you the clinician’s mindset: observe carefully, think systematically, and connect with patients as people, not just cases.

Why Students Trust It

Kundu’s manual’s strength is its practicality. It doesn’t compete with giants like Harrison’s. Instead, it focuses on bedside learning — making it easier, faster, and less stressful.

Students describe it as a bridge between heavy textbooks and the bedside, helping translate theory into real actions.

Comprehensive yet user-friendly, portable yet detailed — it remains a trusted companion across India.

Final Sutra

Your clinical journey will include nervous starts, forgotten steps, and small mistakes. But with each patient, you’ll grow. Hesitation will slowly turn into confidence.

Kundu’s Bedside Clinics in Medicine smooths that growth. It prepares you not only for patients and wards but for real medical practice.

Because medicine is not only about reading.
It is about listening, examining, and learning at the bedside.

“A guide that makes the bedside simple is one worth keeping close.”

If you found this helpful, share it with a fellow medical student — because we all stumble, and we all grow.

From the Desk of CBS Publishers

This book is now available for purchase on our website www.cbspd.com . It is also widely available across the country with all the CBS dealers and on e-commerce portals like Amazon and Flipkart. For any further information/queries about the book, we are happy to assist you via call/WhatsApp on 9599779677.