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Current techniques in small animal surgery
108
BRITISH VETERINARY JOURNAL, 141, 1
Frankly, I have to confess that I found the chapters on nutrition added little to existing knowledge, but they will serve as a useful compendium within a practice reference library . The chapter on nutritional management in heart diseases and diabetes mellitus by J . Leibetseder is informative and helpful, as is that on nutrition and kidney function by D . S . Kronfeld . The part by J . Grondalen and A . Hedhammar on nutrition of the rapidly growing dog is also useful for reference but much of it has been published elsewhere by Hedhammar. In the section on Behaviour the publication delay is even more noticeable ; there has been such a great upsurge in interest in the companion-animal/human bond of recent years that the contents are once again only of value as reference material . All the chapters are well written by acknowledged authorities and in general make good reading, though the tendency of behaviourists to use words such as "verbalize" when they mean "say" annoyed this reader . One point which worried me was the repeated comment that some of the "popular dog books" contain very out-of-date advice on puppy training ; as one who is constantly sent new books by breeders on individual breeds, I am pleased to say that the modern versions are greatly improved in this respect . The book is excellent in its way, but it should be purchased for its reference value, not as a source of new knowledge . M . J . R . STOCKMAN
Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery . By M . J . Bojrab . 2nd . edn . 1983 . Philadelphia : Lea & Febiger. Price $93 .00 A second edition eight years after the first shows that this text has become an accepted work of reference for the small animal surgeon . The format is similar, part one dealing with soft tissues and part two with bones and joints. A short introductory section discusses suture materials, electrosurgical techniques and methods of restraint to prevent self inflicted trauma . Other new chapters deal with traumatic wounds and burns, and there is a short section on some common surgical pro-
cedures in exotic species, mostly in relation to birds . The editor deserves credit for maintaining a clear homogenous style in a book with more than one hundred authors . Minor inconsistancies occur but they do not detract from the overall impression of the book . The other immediately striking feature of the book is the line drawings which for the most part are excellent and compliment the text, which is set in bold clear type on matt paper. The book is hard bound and well presented but this is an American textbook with little concession to the British reader and few references to work published other than in the United States . The techniques described are said to represent current practice but many readers will find that external splinting techniques are advocated more widely than are generally accepted and few will want to carry out a total pancreatectomy or nephrolithotomy in the dog . The joint section omits any reference to tunnel techniques in repair of cranial cruciate ligament injuries . In general the soft tissue section is the best part of the book with each subject tackled in a logical manner . In most cases a brief description of the cause of the condition is followed by clinical signs and some diagnostic features . Preoperative preparation is well described and the illustrations ensure that the surgical technique is very clearly described . A section on complications is well placed together with suggestions for post-operative care . Each section has a concise reference list and the book is provided with a comprehensive index . As the title suggests this is a techniques book and offers little discussion of the pathogenesis of the conditions described . Many clinicians will find that they will need some additional information on diagnosis and differential diagnosis . This is particularly so in the bone and joint section where radiographic illustrations of such conditions as osteochondrosis would be most helpful . The author's companion volume may meet these needs . This book forms a useful work of surgical reference and is worthy of a place on every small animal practice bookshelf . E. L .
GeRRING
BRITISH VETERINARY JOURNAL, 141, 1
Frankly, I have to confess that I found the chapters on nutrition added little to existing knowledge, but they will serve as a useful compendium within a practice reference library . The chapter on nutritional management in heart diseases and diabetes mellitus by J . Leibetseder is informative and helpful, as is that on nutrition and kidney function by D . S . Kronfeld . The part by J . Grondalen and A . Hedhammar on nutrition of the rapidly growing dog is also useful for reference but much of it has been published elsewhere by Hedhammar. In the section on Behaviour the publication delay is even more noticeable ; there has been such a great upsurge in interest in the companion-animal/human bond of recent years that the contents are once again only of value as reference material . All the chapters are well written by acknowledged authorities and in general make good reading, though the tendency of behaviourists to use words such as "verbalize" when they mean "say" annoyed this reader . One point which worried me was the repeated comment that some of the "popular dog books" contain very out-of-date advice on puppy training ; as one who is constantly sent new books by breeders on individual breeds, I am pleased to say that the modern versions are greatly improved in this respect . The book is excellent in its way, but it should be purchased for its reference value, not as a source of new knowledge . M . J . R . STOCKMAN
Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery . By M . J . Bojrab . 2nd . edn . 1983 . Philadelphia : Lea & Febiger. Price $93 .00 A second edition eight years after the first shows that this text has become an accepted work of reference for the small animal surgeon . The format is similar, part one dealing with soft tissues and part two with bones and joints. A short introductory section discusses suture materials, electrosurgical techniques and methods of restraint to prevent self inflicted trauma . Other new chapters deal with traumatic wounds and burns, and there is a short section on some common surgical pro-
cedures in exotic species, mostly in relation to birds . The editor deserves credit for maintaining a clear homogenous style in a book with more than one hundred authors . Minor inconsistancies occur but they do not detract from the overall impression of the book . The other immediately striking feature of the book is the line drawings which for the most part are excellent and compliment the text, which is set in bold clear type on matt paper. The book is hard bound and well presented but this is an American textbook with little concession to the British reader and few references to work published other than in the United States . The techniques described are said to represent current practice but many readers will find that external splinting techniques are advocated more widely than are generally accepted and few will want to carry out a total pancreatectomy or nephrolithotomy in the dog . The joint section omits any reference to tunnel techniques in repair of cranial cruciate ligament injuries . In general the soft tissue section is the best part of the book with each subject tackled in a logical manner . In most cases a brief description of the cause of the condition is followed by clinical signs and some diagnostic features . Preoperative preparation is well described and the illustrations ensure that the surgical technique is very clearly described . A section on complications is well placed together with suggestions for post-operative care . Each section has a concise reference list and the book is provided with a comprehensive index . As the title suggests this is a techniques book and offers little discussion of the pathogenesis of the conditions described . Many clinicians will find that they will need some additional information on diagnosis and differential diagnosis . This is particularly so in the bone and joint section where radiographic illustrations of such conditions as osteochondrosis would be most helpful . The author's companion volume may meet these needs . This book forms a useful work of surgical reference and is worthy of a place on every small animal practice bookshelf . E. L .
GeRRING