Each chapter contains a frontispiece line drawing of the chapter's subjects. Each chapter is well tabulated and tables contain sufficient footnotes to understand most abbreviations. Unfortunately, not every table stands by itself as far as footnotes are concerned. The reader may have to thumb through several tables to understand an abbreviation in the table in question. Once the book has been used, this shortcoming is not noticeable.
Many chapters contain remarkably clear, interesting, and well explained electron micrographs.
The preface of the book describes the three part organization. Part I, three chapters, presents a phylogenetic classification and alphabetical list in an evolutionary time scale of the vertebrates examined in the book as well as laboratory methods and model tables for the tests. There is also a chapter on human hemostasis. Other available data such as serum proteins, biochemical tests, and cell counts are included. There is an Appendix listing manufacturers and suppliers, reagents and tests, and instruments used in Dr. Lewis' studies.