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SEM guide to the morphology of nematode parasites of vertebrates
Br. vet. J. (1987) . 143, 480
BOOK REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW EDITOR: J .
Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals
Klaus Loeffler. 4th edn revised : Editor A . Darbre London and New York : Harper and Row . 383 pp . £17 .25 This book is intended as a concise guide to the gross anatomy, histology, and physiology of the domestic mammals and is primarily aimed at students of agricultural science . This concept is a good one, but faced with such a wealth of information, Professor Loeffler has clearly followed the principle, `if in doubt, leave it in', the result is a tidal wave of terminology and information . Unfortunately it would appear that neither the author nor his editor are familiar with conventional English veterinary nomenclature . This is no more obvious than in the anatomical sections where, to be on the safe side, everything is repeated in Latin . Many of the English terms, however, are not ones in current usage . To the informed English reader it is faintly amusing to find the eye described as the organum visus or the biceps as `the two-headed muscle of the arm', but a student with no background in Latin would surely be confused . The translations are not always correct, there are often inconsistencies in nomenclature (especially between text and illustrations), while some of the terminology is very obscure, and there are a number of major errors and omissions . The overall impression in many sections is of a welter of terminology, much of it not properly explained. Indeed the author is frequently reduced to listing terms without any explanation of them or any mention in the index . Many of the legends of the illustrations include complex terms that are not to be found in the text. The sections on the alimentary canal and reproductive systems, including pregnancy and lactation, as well as some of the tissue anatomy and histology, are quite well written and informative and there are a number of useful comparative tables, though with little consistency in the species represented .
M.
RUTTER
However, the illustrations are for the most part very poor. The histological photographs are black-and-white, badly reproduced with no labelling at all and no indication of scale . Most of the anatomical illustrations are rather small, inferior versions of drawings in Ellenberger & Baum (1943) or Nickel, Schummer & Seiferle (1968) . Overall the physiology is adequate, but a little dated . Several sections, notably those on the lymph system and defence mechanisms, haematology, placentology and embryology take little account of recent work. Throughout the book there is a tendency to use antique or zoological terms, making a good medical dictionary an essential companion . If the book was drastically re-edited to cut out excessive detail and inappropriate terminology and to allow space for better explanation of principle, it might become a useful textbook . Finally, the reader who takes the advice to read further may be in some difficulty . Of the 103 books and articles cited in the bibliography, 96 are in German! J . M . HOLMES
SEM Guide to the Morphology of Nematode Parasites of Vertebrates
Lynda M . Gibbons Slough : CAB International . 1986 . 199 pp . £45 .00 This is a compilation of scanning electron microscope photographs, and consists of a Foreword, a List of Abbreviations used, an Introduction (wherein one finds that Ostertagia ostertagi is a gastrointestinal nematode which is responsible for the loss of `tens of thousands of unborn calves'!) and a main part devoted to the surface morphology of the main anatomical regions of the nematodecephalic, buccal capsule and oesophageal funnel, cervical, somatic, vulvar and male and female caudal . Finally, there is a most valuable layout of the classification of the genera and species illustrated .
BOOK REVIEWS
Although Dr Gibbons could have presented this collection of 443 figures without commentary, the author has, in many cases, redefined important features. Dr Gibbons quotes the more important theories on the function of various organs, often adding speculation of her own, and had this been more widely applied the text could well have stood independently as a valuable introduction for beginners . It would be easy to point out that one has seen a better picture of this worm elsewhere, or that an important worm is missing, but the book is not so much a selection of the available best, but rather all Dr Gibbons' own work-and splendid work it is too . The value of the SEM (scanning electron microscope) lies not only in expressing the morphology of an area in a 3-dimensional way, but in sometimes indicating the function of some feature which had previously been only guessed at . Looking at the head of Strongylus vulgaris, enface, one feels that here, at last, is the true expression of the function of the external leaf crown . Possibly the most difficult area to appreciate morphologically is the genital cone and though line drawings are essential to illustrate its internal anatomy and fine detail, they are difficult for the newcomer to visualize and comprehend . Seen by SEM the surface morphology is immediately illustrating topographical apparent, relationships and leading easily to an appreciation of line drawings, of which the best are probably those of Stringfellow, who comes nearest to a 3-dimensional effect . A small but irritating feature of the book's arrangement is that the abbreviations used in the figures are given on page 2, and are never repeated . This makes the interpretation of morphological features a somewhat tedious task, the legends beginning with SCP, OLP, ILP, ILP, LL, and A on Fig 4, and going all the way to AN on Fig . 436 . There are 66 abbreviations altogether, and it is sorely trying to have to turn back from an illustration to p . 2 and run down the columns to find the interpretation . It would surely have been more convenient had the few interpretations been on the same pages as the figures, even though it involved repetition . The new insights provided by this splendid book make it an essential purchase for every parasitology library-though the price is quite beyond the capacity of this reviewer's sporran! ANGUS M . DUNN
481
Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Edited by Murray E . Fowler Eastbourne : W . B . Saunders Co . 1986 . 1127 pp . £85 .00 The second edition of this `Bible' of the zoo veterinary world comes eight years after the first . The considerable increase in knowledge which has taken place means that the book now contains twice as much information as its progenitor . Not only are there more pages but smaller print has allowed the information to be presented in what is still a relatively compact volume . The pages are, however, flimsier and some readers will need to wear their glasses to cope with the print size . Nevertheless this presentation is preferable to a multi-volume work, given that many users will want to carry it with them for easy reference . The volume now contains more background information on, for example, aspects of behaviour, anatomy, general biology and physiology, all of which helps the zoo veterinarian to become a more comprehensive biologist. It also helps to extend the book's appeal . Many of the chapters in the first edition have been subdivided and about twice the number of authors have been involved . There are new sections on wildlife medicine, on poisoning and a comprehensive section on zoonoses ; the chapter on behaviour is excellent and covers a greatly underestimated subject in terms of its relevance to clinical medicine, new housing and enclosure design . Although the amphibian section has not been greatly expanded, the chapters on reptile biology and medicine take on a completely new look with a considerable amount of new information . This must be the best and most easily read of the texts on this subject . To a large extent this has been achieved by using authors who have themselves produced extensive previous texts on reptiles, which they have very ably summarized for this section . It would have been useful to have had introductory general chapters on avian anatomy and physiology similar to those for the reptile section, as many veterinary biologists still have a poor knowledge of this subject . A useful move in this section has been the division of chapters to deal with specific disease agents as well as providing expansions of the original sections on the husbandry and veterinary problems of specific families . There are excellent new
BOOK REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW EDITOR: J .
Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals
Klaus Loeffler. 4th edn revised : Editor A . Darbre London and New York : Harper and Row . 383 pp . £17 .25 This book is intended as a concise guide to the gross anatomy, histology, and physiology of the domestic mammals and is primarily aimed at students of agricultural science . This concept is a good one, but faced with such a wealth of information, Professor Loeffler has clearly followed the principle, `if in doubt, leave it in', the result is a tidal wave of terminology and information . Unfortunately it would appear that neither the author nor his editor are familiar with conventional English veterinary nomenclature . This is no more obvious than in the anatomical sections where, to be on the safe side, everything is repeated in Latin . Many of the English terms, however, are not ones in current usage . To the informed English reader it is faintly amusing to find the eye described as the organum visus or the biceps as `the two-headed muscle of the arm', but a student with no background in Latin would surely be confused . The translations are not always correct, there are often inconsistencies in nomenclature (especially between text and illustrations), while some of the terminology is very obscure, and there are a number of major errors and omissions . The overall impression in many sections is of a welter of terminology, much of it not properly explained. Indeed the author is frequently reduced to listing terms without any explanation of them or any mention in the index . Many of the legends of the illustrations include complex terms that are not to be found in the text. The sections on the alimentary canal and reproductive systems, including pregnancy and lactation, as well as some of the tissue anatomy and histology, are quite well written and informative and there are a number of useful comparative tables, though with little consistency in the species represented .
M.
RUTTER
However, the illustrations are for the most part very poor. The histological photographs are black-and-white, badly reproduced with no labelling at all and no indication of scale . Most of the anatomical illustrations are rather small, inferior versions of drawings in Ellenberger & Baum (1943) or Nickel, Schummer & Seiferle (1968) . Overall the physiology is adequate, but a little dated . Several sections, notably those on the lymph system and defence mechanisms, haematology, placentology and embryology take little account of recent work. Throughout the book there is a tendency to use antique or zoological terms, making a good medical dictionary an essential companion . If the book was drastically re-edited to cut out excessive detail and inappropriate terminology and to allow space for better explanation of principle, it might become a useful textbook . Finally, the reader who takes the advice to read further may be in some difficulty . Of the 103 books and articles cited in the bibliography, 96 are in German! J . M . HOLMES
SEM Guide to the Morphology of Nematode Parasites of Vertebrates
Lynda M . Gibbons Slough : CAB International . 1986 . 199 pp . £45 .00 This is a compilation of scanning electron microscope photographs, and consists of a Foreword, a List of Abbreviations used, an Introduction (wherein one finds that Ostertagia ostertagi is a gastrointestinal nematode which is responsible for the loss of `tens of thousands of unborn calves'!) and a main part devoted to the surface morphology of the main anatomical regions of the nematodecephalic, buccal capsule and oesophageal funnel, cervical, somatic, vulvar and male and female caudal . Finally, there is a most valuable layout of the classification of the genera and species illustrated .
BOOK REVIEWS
Although Dr Gibbons could have presented this collection of 443 figures without commentary, the author has, in many cases, redefined important features. Dr Gibbons quotes the more important theories on the function of various organs, often adding speculation of her own, and had this been more widely applied the text could well have stood independently as a valuable introduction for beginners . It would be easy to point out that one has seen a better picture of this worm elsewhere, or that an important worm is missing, but the book is not so much a selection of the available best, but rather all Dr Gibbons' own work-and splendid work it is too . The value of the SEM (scanning electron microscope) lies not only in expressing the morphology of an area in a 3-dimensional way, but in sometimes indicating the function of some feature which had previously been only guessed at . Looking at the head of Strongylus vulgaris, enface, one feels that here, at last, is the true expression of the function of the external leaf crown . Possibly the most difficult area to appreciate morphologically is the genital cone and though line drawings are essential to illustrate its internal anatomy and fine detail, they are difficult for the newcomer to visualize and comprehend . Seen by SEM the surface morphology is immediately illustrating topographical apparent, relationships and leading easily to an appreciation of line drawings, of which the best are probably those of Stringfellow, who comes nearest to a 3-dimensional effect . A small but irritating feature of the book's arrangement is that the abbreviations used in the figures are given on page 2, and are never repeated . This makes the interpretation of morphological features a somewhat tedious task, the legends beginning with SCP, OLP, ILP, ILP, LL, and A on Fig 4, and going all the way to AN on Fig . 436 . There are 66 abbreviations altogether, and it is sorely trying to have to turn back from an illustration to p . 2 and run down the columns to find the interpretation . It would surely have been more convenient had the few interpretations been on the same pages as the figures, even though it involved repetition . The new insights provided by this splendid book make it an essential purchase for every parasitology library-though the price is quite beyond the capacity of this reviewer's sporran! ANGUS M . DUNN
481
Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Edited by Murray E . Fowler Eastbourne : W . B . Saunders Co . 1986 . 1127 pp . £85 .00 The second edition of this `Bible' of the zoo veterinary world comes eight years after the first . The considerable increase in knowledge which has taken place means that the book now contains twice as much information as its progenitor . Not only are there more pages but smaller print has allowed the information to be presented in what is still a relatively compact volume . The pages are, however, flimsier and some readers will need to wear their glasses to cope with the print size . Nevertheless this presentation is preferable to a multi-volume work, given that many users will want to carry it with them for easy reference . The volume now contains more background information on, for example, aspects of behaviour, anatomy, general biology and physiology, all of which helps the zoo veterinarian to become a more comprehensive biologist. It also helps to extend the book's appeal . Many of the chapters in the first edition have been subdivided and about twice the number of authors have been involved . There are new sections on wildlife medicine, on poisoning and a comprehensive section on zoonoses ; the chapter on behaviour is excellent and covers a greatly underestimated subject in terms of its relevance to clinical medicine, new housing and enclosure design . Although the amphibian section has not been greatly expanded, the chapters on reptile biology and medicine take on a completely new look with a considerable amount of new information . This must be the best and most easily read of the texts on this subject . To a large extent this has been achieved by using authors who have themselves produced extensive previous texts on reptiles, which they have very ably summarized for this section . It would have been useful to have had introductory general chapters on avian anatomy and physiology similar to those for the reptile section, as many veterinary biologists still have a poor knowledge of this subject . A useful move in this section has been the division of chapters to deal with specific disease agents as well as providing expansions of the original sections on the husbandry and veterinary problems of specific families . There are excellent new