So, the next time you twist your ankle after stepping on that rusty nail while running away from the poisonous snake that just bit you, make sure you have your Windows CE device handy. Even if you don't have one of these documents loaded on it, you can always flash out an SOS with your backlight.

For physicians who depend on highly technical information to do their job, there's a virtual cornucopia of references available. Tim Warner has created a number of medical references, including a Nursing Diagnoses Guide and a "Quick and Dirty Drug Book", both in Doc format. Jim Thompson has also created both Doc and plain text versions of his DSM-IV Axes reference document. Listings for the ICD-9 Psychological Coding System have been created and are primarily available in Doc format.

Finally, the Hippocratic Oath represents the essence of medicine for many physicians, and is named after the Greek physician, Hippocrates the Great, who lived around 1250 B.C. It is available in text format.

These are just a tiny sampling of the tremendous variety of medicine-related literature and technical and everyday medical references that are available for you, the Windows CE owner. But be warned…while reading about all this malady and disease, be careful not to develop carpal tunnel syndrome or come down with a nasty case of "stylus finger". If you do, checking your daily schedule may get just that much harder.

How do I get Doc files into my Windows CE device?
Plain text (ASCII) files may be imported into Windows CE devices in a number of ways that are documented in your device's instruction manual. Doc format files can be read on Windows CE devices using the DOCview application, available at Mike's Palm-Sized PCs website (at http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Lab/3533/palm_sw.html), which also includes directions on using that piece of software.

All of the above documents can be found at either MemoWare or The Lending Library.

Craig Froehle is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration, but also enjoys cheese balancing and shrub photography. John Swain continues to actively seek a publisher for his tell-all cookbook, Driven to Dine: The Ultimate Guide to Engine Manifold Dinners.